Cary Grant in trailer for ”To Catch a Thief”, 1955
Birth Name: Archibald Alec Leach
Date of Birth: January 18, 1904
Place of Birth: Horfield, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, U.K.
Date of Death: November 29, 1986
Place of Death: Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, as well as one quarter Welsh, possibly some Scottish
Cary Grant was an English and American actor. A classic movie star, his roles included Blonde Venus, She Done Him Wrong, The Awful Truth, Bringing Up Baby, Gunga Din, Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, Penny Serenade, Suspicion, Arsenic and Old Lace, None but the Lonely Heart, Notorious, To Catch a Thief, Indiscreet, North by Northwest, That Touch of Mink, and Charade.
Born Archibald Alec Leach, he was the son of Elsie Maria (Kingdon/Kingdom) and Elias James Leach. Cary moved to the U.S. around 1920, and became a United States citizen in 1942. He also used the middle name Alexander.
Cary was married to Barbara Harris, until his death. He had a daughter, actress Jennifer Grant, with his former wife, actress Dyan Cannon.
Cary’s paternal grandfather was John James Lake/Leach (the son of John James Lake and Eliza Sweet). Cary’s grandfather John was born in Brent Knoll, Somerset, England. Cary’s great-grandfather John was the son of John James Lake and Jane Scott. Eliza was the daughter of James Sweet and Rebecca Lawes.
Cary’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Leafe/Leaf (the daughter of Henry Leafe/Leaf and Elizabeth Anness/Anniss). Cary’s grandmother Elizabeth was born in Poole, England. Cary’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of John Anniss and Elizabeth Cruwys.
Cary’s maternal grandfather was named William Kingdon (the son of William Kingdom/Kingdon and Ann). Cary’s grandfather William was born in St James, Bristol, England. Cary’s great-grandfather William was the son of William Kingdon.
Cary’s maternal grandmother was named Elizabeth Morgan. Elizabeth was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales.
Cary donated to the charity United Jewish Appeal. There are various statements on the internet that Cary had some degree of Jewish heritage, sometimes on his father’s side, sometimes on his mother’s. It appears that Cary himself may have said that he is of Jewish heritage. However, no Jewish ancestry has ever been verified/documented for Cary Grant.
Sources: Genealogies of Cary Grant – http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk
http://www.wikitree.com
http://www.geni.com
Birth registration of Cary Grant (as Archibald Alec Leach) – https://familysearch.org
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