Cary Grant's Daughter Opens Up on His Devotion, Style and Sexuality

There are memoirs by children of movie stars like the scathing 'Mommie Dearest,' about Joan Crawford, and then there are books like
'Good Stuff,' by Cary Grant's only child, Jennifer Grant. 'Good Stuff' is a loving portrait of her debonair dad who was 62 when she was born and died twenty years later. The star of so many classic movies like 'North by Northwest,' Notorious' and 'His Girl Friday,' was a devoted father who retired to raise his daughter and took endless photos and tape recorded their conversations to set it all in stone. Grant's mother, Dyan Cannon, divorced the screen legend when Jennifer was only a year old and although a bitter divorce and custody battle ensued, clearly they patched up their differences and co-parented their only child with no acrimony.
Jennifer Grant spoke to
PopEater about what inspired the wholly uncontroversial book (weird for a star-child memoir, we know), what it was like to have your dad retire from super-stardom to raise you, her befuddlement with rumors Cary was gay and she even lists his few and rare faults.
What's the emotion you feel when you stumble across one of your dad's films on TV?
I'm proud of him. He was such an amazing talent and he's fun to watch. It's fun to turn on one of his films. I know I'm going to laugh and be entertained and I'm always surprised even though I've seen them countless times. Last night I saw, 'To Catch a Thief,' at a film festival. It was the first time I'd seen one of his films on the big screen.
Really?
I know. I never went out to look for his films in theaters. I've seen them when they come on and I own several of them.
Which one is your favorite?
I have so many and a different one comes to mind every time I'm asked. The one that just came to mind when you asked was 'Bringing Up Baby' because I love Katharine Hepburn and it's just a sweet, happy movie. I love 'Suspicion,' 'North by Northwest,' 'An Affair to Remember,' 'His Girl Friday.' There are so many that's the thing. But last night I was struck by the economy of motion, the grace in his movements which on the big screen I particularly notice and he had it all through his life and it was something very signature to my father.
How did this book come about?
I was finally ready to share Dad with the world, it took me a while. I've always thought of a memoir as something nasty and terrible and I wouldn't have known what to write so it never really crossed my mind but a couple of friends of mine in the same week asked me if I had ever considered writing a book on Dad and something about it struck me deeply because these are people very close to me, know how private I am and have been my entire life and I realized my memoir didn't have to be like anybody else's. So I put pen to paper and started.
Explain the title, 'Good Stuff.'
Well it's something that he said. It could be about something very simple. It might be a quiet, lovely day and we'd be out on the lawn having a cup of tea and maybe Barbara (Grant's fifth wife) would walk out with some coffee cake and he'd say, 'Mmm, good stuff, isn't it?' He had a relish of life and that was one of his catchphrases.
Your Dad was an incredible father. Doesn't every man fall way short?
Thankfully I can put it in the Dad category. Really I just missed him, that was the resounding emotion and I don't think I ever really expected anyone to be like my father. First of all it's so unique that a father retires when you're born and really his life revolved around me so I had a very egocentric point of view. A tremendous amount of focus and one on one time. It took me a while to be accustomed to sharing, to more than a one on one relationship with any of my friends. I'm just used to one on one, for me to divide my focus is challenging. Hopefully I've gotten better at it.
What is also lovely is that you have a wonderful relationship with your step-mother.
We're very close friends. There's some luck in it but there's also a good measure of preparation. Dad didn't wait till he was gone and then have some reading of the will and Dad didn't wait to discuss his passing. We all got to sit and talk about it which I think is really helpful. Thankfully neither of us really wanted to hear about it. We just wanted him to stay around.
Can you believe how much style your Dad had?
More and more as I grow older. Again watching 'To Catch A Thief,' my God the way he carries himself. Simple timeless elegance.
I love the way you were raised. You had to pay for half of your car.
I'm glad as well. It was a very practical and kind thing to do. Still when it came time for me to leave college and go out in the real world, my father just happened to pass right then, it was a blow to look at the real world. I had no idea how to negotiate out there or little idea and those things like working for my car helped to prepare me.
Your Dad documented so much of your life!
As I got into my teen years he didn't document because I needed more privacy but until I was about 12 he would put that tape recorder in my room and talk to me and photograph everything he could. Once I hit 13 I got moody and didn't want my braces showing or something so he was restricted by my ego.
What do you make of the rumors that your Dad was gay?
It's sort of odd to me really because I was so close to him and I never saw any evidence of anything. I think generally even though one may not be looking for something there would be hints and there were no hints so it was sort of out of left field for me to hear something. I wouldn't know what to say to that. I always knew my father's girl friends and I never thought about what they did behind closed doors. It's not as though his sexuality was foremost on my mind but certainly homosexuality didn't enter my picture with him. I wondered if that's something that happened before I was around - who knows?
Describe him as a father.
He was thoughtful to the tiniest detail. He was compassionate, a remarkable listener, he was wise, he was generous and he was fun and funny.
Any bad points?
He could be grumbly sometimes. Prior to travel especially for a day or two or if he was upset with me he gave me the silent treatment. I hated that.
Your Dad had a beautiful full head of white hair. Is it hard for you to look at balding men?
(Laughs) I've never thought of it that way. You know I've never really tried to compare men to my father. He was his own niche and it's sort of a fruitless endeavor to try and compare so I don't do it.
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Bubbles, your not a homophobe (an overused misnomer), you just do not like queers and that is fine and your right. You probably are not afraid of skunks, however, I would imagine you do not care for their odor either and teach your kids to stay away from them. And to all you super sensitive people, I would think 'queer' is a term of endearment for the morally twisted sodomite subculture we affectionately call 'homosexuals'.
Two words,D. Queer Science
Bubbles are you of THIS world....Queer???
Wow thus protest too much....look in at yourself....
Bubbles Seriously you should change your name to sludge or something nasty.. Since you seem to be the opposite of what a bubble is.. To the others who have said positive things about Mr Grant. I applaud you. It really doesn;t matter if he was or wasn't.. What matters is what it meant to his daughter. Everyone can learn from her. Including the filthy slime from Topeka Kansas.. And they know who they are. I am happy that Miss Jennifer had a happy life with her father. And ashamed of the people who outted him.. And still talk trash about him today. Shame on you.
Why would being gay deface this man? You say being gay like it's a bad thing.
If a man is homosexual, he is not attracted to women,period(no pun intened). But a Bi-centennial man,now that`s a different story/ Either way, gender preference is A PERSONAL issue.Hopefully we have evolved in the last century to respect people.He was an awesome actor and he did right by his family.Standards for actors since have declined
What a beautiful girl. With parents like this, why wouldnt she be beautiful. Has her moms eyes.
How nice to see.
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Jennifer appears to truly have such wonderful traits and was blessed with two great parents.It's such a pleasure to have someone write a book thats so positive and greatful of the life she was given.I always loved Diane shes so pretty and Cary Grant was truly what a great actor should be.Thanks Jennifer
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What a lovely, intelligent lady! She is just beautiful, inside and out, it seems. You can watch Cary Grant in ANYTHING and be just stunned at his talent. You can't your eyes away from him. Love her, loved her father, glad she wrote the book!
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Wow, Jennifer looks so much like her mother. I can hardly see any of Cary's genes in her.
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I disagree. I immediately saw her father in her eyes and cheeks.
Sorry....I spelled Dyan's name wrong. My apologies.
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Yay Jennifer! Your book would have made him proud. How lucky you were that he put acting aside to be a devoted father. What beautiful
memories you have.
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Grant was the best. He was dramatic, humorous and everything in between. He is truly a legend of the Big screen. RIP Cary....and Thank you for your Art !!!!!
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OMG!
Who cares if that terrific man was gay?
He appeared to be a wonderful Father.... a wonderful man.... a wonderful actor.
Obviously loved by all his fans ;0)
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I heard the rumors. It didn't change his style.
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The truth is what it is. Cary Grant was a very personable, devastatingly handsome, talented, unpretentious, lovely man, and obviously a great dad as well! Did I mention devastatingly handsome? However, maybe Jennifer and Christina did take the same route by merely telling the truth about their respective parents. June Allison’s autobiography described a very disturbing “family” dinner experience at Crawford’s house that gives much validity to Christina’s story. In fact, the incident was so disturbing that Allison said she never went to Crawford’s house again!
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I have allways liked him and still do . great actor and guy
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Cary Grant - the epitome of what agreat actor/movie star should be. No one can even close to him.
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He may have been THE best of "Old Hollywood" - at least in the top 3. My Mom sure loved him.
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