As the premiere of the upcoming ITV drama series, "Archie," which delves into the life of Hollywood legend Cary Grant, approaches, his daughter, Jennifer Grant, has decided to address long-standing rumors surrounding her father's s----lity.
Jennifer Grant responded candidly, stating that she firmly believes her father "didn't flirt with men." The iconic actor, known for his roles in timeless classics like "North by Northwest" (1959) and "Charade" (1963), faced persistent rumors regarding his s----lity throughout his career.
Speaking to The Guardian, Jennifer emphatically denied that her father had any romantic relationships with men, asserting, "If you spend a lot of time with your parents, you see them in a way that almost no one else does. And I never saw a hint of that."
Jennifer continued, "I think I would have noticed, not that I would have cared. But I have to tell the truth of the matter: Dad was charming and had great friendships, but he didn't flirt with men."
Reflecting on a recent photo of her father with friends Gregory Peck and Mervyn LeRoy, Jennifer acknowledged their close bonds but reiterated that she never sensed any romantic undertones. She added, "Maybe earlier in her life, she had an affair [with a man]. I'll never know, but if he did it, fantastic. I hope he enjoyed it."
Jennifer Grant also mentioned her father's 2011 memoir, "Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant," in which he addressed the rumors. She noted that he received hate mail, which accused him of being anti-gay when he dismissed the rumors. She affirmed, "saying he was anti-gay, which couldn't be further from the truth."
In his memoir, Cary Grant acknowledged the attention he received and remarked, "I can't blame men for wanting it, and I wouldn't be surprised if Dad flirted back. When the question comes up, it usually reveals more about the person asking… Dad liked to be called gay. He would say that he made women want to prove the statement was wrong."
Cary Grant's journey began in Bristol, England, in 1904, where he was born into extreme poverty. At 16, he immigrated to the United States, initially pursuing a career in stage acting before making his mark in Hollywood as one of the definitive leading men of his era.
For approximately 12 years, he shared living spaces on and off with fellow actor Randolph Scott, a period that sparked speculation about their relationship. In 1980, comedian Chevy Chase made a defamatory joke about Cary's s----lity on a talk show, leading to a lawsuit and retraction.
Cary retired from acting in 1966 at the age of 62, dedicating himself to fatherhood after the birth of his daughter Jennifer with his fourth wife, actress Dyan Cannon. Throughout his life, Cary was married five times and passed away from a stroke in 1986 at the age of 82.
Last year, the biographical series "Archie," named after Cary's birth name, Archibald Leach, was announced, with Jason Isaacs set to portray Grant. The series, written by Jeff Pope and directed by Paul Andrew Williams, explores Cary Grant's complex life, struggles, and triumphs.
Jason Isaacs remarked, "There was only one Cary Grant, and I would never be foolish enough to try to step into his iconic shoes." He added, "It’s a man’s story, not a legend, and those are the shoes I can’t wait to step into."
