Cary Grant Biography: Iconic Career, Top Films & Lasting Legacy
Discover Cary Grant’s legendary career, iconic films, and lasting legacy as one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men.
Cary Grant began his career in theater, leaving school at the age of 14. In 1918, he joined Bob Pender’s troupe, performing as a dancer and acrobat. In 1920, the troupe moved to the United States, where Cary performed on Broadway. He decided not to return to his home country and stayed in the U.S., working as a model and occasionally as an actor (he worked as a sandwich board man and sometimes as a gentleman’s escort).
After appearing in several musicals such as Golden Dawn and Nikki, he landed a contract with Paramount in 1932 and changed his name to Cary Grant—a play on the name of one of the era’s biggest stars, Gary Cooper. He made his film debut in Frank Tuttle’s This Is the Night in a supporting role. He appeared alongside Marlene Dietrich in Blonde Venus. Mae West was impressed by him and insisted he appear in two of her films.
After acting with various stars such as Katharine Hepburn, Irene Dunne, and Carole Lombard, he finally reached stardom. In 1941, he was nominated for an Oscar for Penny Serenade but lost to Gary Cooper. The following year, he lost to Bing Crosby. That same year marked the beginning of an important collaboration when he worked for the first time with Alfred Hitchcock in Suspicion. However, the film was somewhat compromised since Hitchcock’s original ending was replaced with a more subdued one.
The audience, however, wanted more of Grant. By starring in comedies, he proved his versatility as an actor. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, he enjoyed huge success in comedies, dramas, and thrillers. He retired from the screen in 1966.
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