Cary Grant

Bringing up Baby. The Philadelphia Story. North by Northwest. An Affair to Remember. When Cary Grant passed away at age 82, fans from every generation mourned. Nearly 20 years later his star shines just as brightly from television and revival-house screens; his name remains synonymous with effortless charm. But perhaps the most remarkable fact about Grant, as renowned biographer Marc Eliot shows, is that his personal life was every bit as interesting and dramatic as that of any character he ever played. The new details Eliot has uncovered—on everything from the former Archibald Leach’s troubled childhood to his ambiguous sexuality to his dabbling with LSD—will satisfy even the fan who has read everything previously available. Equally compelling is Eliot’s incisive exploration of the magical amalgam of talent, looks, and charisma that made Grant a star.