The actor that we know as Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach on January 18, 1904 in Bristol, England.  He is known for being the epitome of class but he actually came from very humble beginings. 

At the age of 14, he ran away from his life in the England slums to join a comedy troup.  There, he developed his impecible comedic timing & learned the skill of acrobatics (probably why he appears so graceful on-screen).  The group came to the United States & Leach decided to stay on & try his hand at musical theater on Broadway.  He toured theaters throughout the U.S. & was eventually brought to Hollywood. 

He took a new name to become the screen legend, Cary Grant.  His first big break was the film, She Done Him Wrong (1933), starring Mae West.  It was Grant that she invited to "come up some time and see me."  After a few box office bombs, the comedies Topper & The Awful Truth (both from 1937) made him a star. 

He received Academy Award Nominations for his work in the dramas Penny Serenade (1941) & None but the Lonely Heart (1944).   He appeared in 4 Hitchcock movies & 5 Howard Hawks films.  His final film was Walk Don't Run (1966).  He received an honorary Oscar in 1970 for "his unique mastery of the art of screen acting." 

He was married 5 times: to actress Virginia Cherill (1934-1935), to the Woolworth's heress Barbara Hutton ...

Filmography: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, Destination Tokyo, Blonde Venus, Wings in the Dark, That's Entertainment!, Once Upon a Honeymoon, I Was a Male War Bride, Kiss and Make Up, The Grass Is Greener, Houseboat, Thirty-Day Princess, The Talk of the Town, Topper Takes a Trip, The Awful Truth (1937 movie), She Done Him Wrong, Only Angels Have Wings, The Bishop's Wife, Big Brown Eyes, The Last Outpost, People Will Talk, Suspicion (movie), The Pride and the Passion, In Name Only (movie), Penny Serenade, Wedding Present, Notorious, When You're in Love, Kiss Them for Me

Birth Date: January 18, 1904

Birth Place: Bristol, England

Height: 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches tall

Edit Details