Cary Grant was born on January 18, 1904 in Horfield, Bristol, England. Archibald Alexander Leach would one day become one of the most celebrated actors of all time.

1. 1. Douglas Fairbanks was his idol when he was growing up.
   2. Paramount Pictures named him Cary Grant when he began his film career. They liked the similarity of the name Cary to Gary Cooper, their biggest male star at the time.
   3. Was very much a self-educated man, having dropped out of school at age 14. He would be a voracious reader throughout his life.
   4. He was married five times (Virginia Cherrill, Barbara Hutton, Betsey Drake, Dyan Cannon, and Barbara Harris).
   5. He became a father for the first time (to a baby girl) at age 62, with fourth wife Dyan Cannon.
   6. After his and Barbara Hutton’s divorce, Grant remained very close to her son Lance Reventlow. Lance regularly stayed with Grant on weekends. In fact, he referred to him as his son and was devastated when he died in a plane crash. He helped Barbara with the funeral arrangements.
   7. He gave his entire fee for The Philadelphia Story (1940) to the British war effort.
   8. Donated his entire salary for Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) ($100,000) to the U.S. War Relief Fund.
   9. Ian Fleming modeled the character James Bond partially after Cary Grant.
   10. Turned down the role of James Bond in Dr. No (1962), believing himself to be too old at age 58 to play the hero. The role went to Sean Connery instead.
   11. In Cary Grant imitations, people often use the phrase, “Judy, Judy, Judy!” Ironically, he never uttered this quote! He did, however, say, “Susan, Susan, Susan!” in Bringing Up Baby.
   12. Cary Grant was a huge Elvis fan.
   13. Often spoke of his relationship with Sophia Loren as one of the most passionate romances in his life.  Some have intimated that she was the great love of his life.
   14. Fell head over heels in love with Sophia Loren while filming The Pride and the Passion in 1957. At the time Grant was still married to actress Betsy Drake and Loren was involved with 45-year-old producer Carlo Ponti, who was also married. Both men eventually separated from their wives and proposed to Sophia Loren at the same time! She chose Ponti. (Ponti would be the only man she married and she was with him to his death in 2007.)
   15. 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.
   16. Was quite “far-sighted,” which is why he is often seen holding a pair of glasses.. they weren’t props!
   17. He maintained his famous year-round suntan to avoid having to wear makeup.
   18. Everyone (outside of the business as well as inside the business) were surprised when Cary Grant announced his retirement in 1966.  Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder, and Stanley Kubrick are a few of the directors who tried (unsuccessfully) to lure him out of retirement.
   19. Cary Grant enjoyed good health during his retirement years until he suffered a mild stroke in 1984.
   20. Cary Grant passed away on November 29, 1986, almost two months away from what would have been his 83rd birthday on January 18, 1987.