Cary Grant

David Thomson, the film industry's leading historian, called Cary Grant "the best and most important actor in the history of the cinema." Over the course of his life, the British-born star made over 70 films, became one of the first successful freelance actors, and won a myriad of awards.

Beyond those professional achievements, Grant is also remembered for being a savvy businessman, a devoted father, and a generous friend. Among his closest companions were celebrities like Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Alfred Hitchcock, and Howard Hughes.

Archibald Alexander Leach was born on January 18, 1904, in Bristol, England. Life in the seaside town was far from idyllic, as Archie was the only surviving child of an alcoholic father and an overbearing mother. The family lived in abject poverty, staying afloat on his father's clothing factory salary until Archibald turned 11.

In what would become one of the most defining events of his life, Grant's mother disappeared when he was about 11 years old. Initially, he was told she had simply gone to a seaside resort for a little rest and relaxation, and later that she had died. It wasn't until he turned 30, and his father passed from liver disease, that Grant discovered she'd actually been placed in a mental asylum to be treated for "mania." He then orchestrated her release and cared for her financially for the rest of her life.

Cary Grant ran away from home at 13 to perform as a juggler with a comedy troupe. They later toured the United States, where he honed his acting skills. In the 1930s he signed with Paramount Pictures. He made films well into the 1960s, establishing a debonair persona that made him a screen icon. Sometimes referred to as the "epitome of elegance," Grant exuded style, charm and sophistication. But that on-screen persona was a carefully crafted image, one that hid a very difficult personal life. He died in 1986, having received an honorary Oscar in 1970.