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Cary Grant Facts
| Sign | Capricorn |
| Born |
Jan 18, 1904 Horfield, Bristol |
| Died |
Nov 29, 1986 Davenport, IA |
| Age | Died at 82 |
| Total Facts | 129 |
Received Kennedy Center honors in November 1981. President Ronald Reagan wrote how pleased he was to be able to honor his friend, while Grant stated that he was glad James Stewart was at the ceremony.
Refused the part of Humbert in Lolita (1962).
Replaced James Stewart as the hapless ad man "Roger Thornhill" in North by Northwest (1959). Stewart very much wanted the part, but director Alfred Hitchcock decided not to cast him because of the box office failure of Vertigo (1958), which Hitchcock unfairly blamed on Stewart for looking "too old" and chose Grant, instead. In reality, Grant was four years older than Stewart.
Said Indiscreet (1958), to be his personal favorite film.
Smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day until 1952, when his third wife Betsy made him give up in order to protect his voice. However, she recalled occasionally catching him smoking outside the house, so he probably never stopped completely.
Suffered a major stroke prior to performing in his one man show "An Evening With Cary Grant" at the Adler Theater in Davenport, Iowa, on November 29, 1986. Died later that night at St. Luke's Hospital at 11:22 p.m.
Thanks mainly to the strength and physical dexterity he gained as an acrobat when he was young, he did a majority of his own stunts during his film career (far more than people would think).
The late Christopher Reeve said that he based his portrayal of Clark Kent in the Superman films on Grant in the early part of his career.
Turned down James Mason's role in Lolita (1962) because he considered the film "depraved".
Turned down James Mason's role in A Star Is Born (1954).
Turned down roles opposite Audrey Hepburn in both Roman Holiday (1953) and Sabrina (1954); later he starred with her in Charade (1963). In Roman Holiday (1953), the offered role ended up going to Gregory Peck, and the role in Sabrina (1954) went to Humphrey Bogart.
Turned down the role of gunfighter Cherry Valance, which was to have been much larger, in Howard Hawks' epic western Red River (1948) opposite John Wayne and Montgomery Clift. The part went to John Ireland instead.
Turned down the role of James Bond in Dr. No (1962), believing himself to be too old at 58 to play the character.
Underwent a hernia operation in the spring of 1977.
Was a great fan of Elvis Presley, and attended his Las Vegas shows. He is seen discussing Elvis' performance with him backstage during the closing credits of "That's The Way It Is" (1970).
Was a very good friend of Frederique "Quique" Jourdan, the wife of Louis Jourdan.
Was considered one of the best-dressed men in the United States of America. George Francis Frazier, Jr., in "The Art of Wearing Clothes" (published in 'Esquire' magazine, September 1960), wrote "Although Grant, who is fifty-six, favors such abominations as large tie knots and claims to have originated the square-style breast-pocket handkerchief, he is so extraordinarily attractive that he looks good in practically anything. He insists upon tight armholes in his suit jackets, finds the most comfortable (and functional) of all underwear to be women's nylon panties." Other best-dressed American men cited in the article were Miles Davis, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clark Gable and Walter Pidgeon.
Was hyperopic or "far-sighted." That is why in many publicity stills, he is seen holding a pair of glasses.
Was largely self-educated as he had dropped out of school at age 14. He was, however, a voracious reader throughout life.
Was named #2 on The Greatest Screen Legends actor list by the American Film Institute.
Was once engaged to Queenie Smith.
Was still in love with Sophia Loren when it came time for them to film Houseboat (1958). She went to director Melville Shavelson, in tears, complaining that Grant was chasing her again - she had told Grant she was in love with Carlo Ponti, but he didn't believe her.
Was the only actor Alfred Hitchcock was said to "love." Hitch said that James Stewart was the "everyman", but never cast Stewart after Vertigo (1958) flopped, which he blamed on Stewart now looking too old to draw in the crowds. Ironically, Grant was actually four years older than Stewart.
Was the original choice to play "Rupert Cadell" in Rope (1948), but he was unavailable, so the part went to James Stewart, instead (whom Grant would later replace as the lead in North by Northwest (1959)). Rope (1948) features references to Grant and the earlier Hitchcock film he appeared in, Notorious (1946) with Ingrid Bergman.
Was very close friends with Ingrid Bergman, his co-star in both Indiscreet (1958) and Notorious (1946). Grant was one of the few who supported her throughout her notorious affair with Rossellini, and while Bergman was in exile in Italy he accepted her Best Actress Oscar in 1958.
Was very hurt when he lost his two Academy Award nominations, particularly None But the Lonely Heart (1944), which he thought was his best performance. This is why he was so excited when he accepted his Honarary Academy Award in 1970.
When Sophia Loren visited Los Angeles during the filming of An Affair to Remember (1957), Grant inundated her with dozens of phone calls and hundreds of flowers - even though she had called the affair off.
When his daughter Jennifer was born, he gave wife Dyan Cannon a diamond and sapphire bracelet as a keepsake.
Writer Sidney Sheldon used Grant as the prototype for Rhys Williams, a character in the novel "Bloodline."