Cary Grant’s timeless good looks and extensive filmography have made him a subject of lasting fascination for Hollywood scholars and casual filmgoers alike. While his collaborations with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Howard Hawks remain some of the most popular films in the American canon, his personal life continues to inspire as much fascination as his work.
For years, rumors of Grant’s sexual involvement with other men, including her co-star and roommate Randolph Scott, have circulated from sources of varying credibility. Grant was married to five different women throughout his life, but his sexuality remained a subject of speculation until his death in 1986.
Questions about Grant’s orientation are unlikely to ever be fully answered, as neither Grant nor his alleged sexual partners are alive to speak of. But one of his daughters doubts she was keeping a secret from the world.
In a new interview with The GuardianCary’s daughter Jennifer Grant has denied ever seeing her father signal a romantic interest in men.
“If you are very close to your parents, you see them in a way that hardly anyone else does. And I never saw a hint of it,” Grant said. “I think I would have figured it out, not that I would have cared.”
Jennifer Grant clarified that she wouldn’t have had issues with her gay or bisexual father, but she simply hasn’t seen any evidence to support the theory beyond her close friendships.
“But I have to tell the truth: Dad was charming and had great friendships, but he wasn’t flirtatious with men,” she said. “A friend of mine sent me a picture the other day of Gregory Peck, my dad and Mervyn LeRoy, and they’re good friends. But I never got that hint… Maybe earlier in life than he was in a relationship (with a man). I’ll never know, but if he did, great. I hope he enjoyed it.
His comments come at a time when some cinephiles have reevaluated Hollywood’s fascination with the sex lives of dead stars. IndieWire’s Christian Blauvelt recently complained that the documentary “Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed” focuses on the late star’s death from AIDS at the expense of taking a deeper dive into his acting career.
“Fortunately, Hudson’s films are still there to be discovered and enjoyed anew,” he wrote. “Look at them for what they areTherenot what you think is there.
