Grant, Cary

Grant, Cary, professional name of Alexander Archibald Leach (1904-1986), American film actor, born in Bristol, England. After touring the United States in 1920 with an English theatrical company, he worked in vaudeville and subsequently became a leading musical comedy actor in New York. In 1932 he went to Hollywood, where he appeared that year in seven films, including This Is the Night. He then appeared in a long series of romantic and sophisticated comedies that established his reputation as one of Hollywood's leading men. He became an American citizen in 1942. Films in which Grant starred include Topper (1937), Holiday (1938) and The Philadelphia Story (1940) both with Katharine Hepburn, Suspicion (1941), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), North by Northwest (1959), and Walk, Don't Run (1966). In 1970 he received a special Academy Award for his contribution to films.