Cary Grant’s daughter Jennifer slams speculation he was gay
Cary Grant was a staple of Old Hollywood, known for his dashing good looks, romances and iconic transatlantic accent.
The “Charade” star also allegedly had some dalliances with men, as claimed in the 2016 documentary, “Women He’s Undressed.”
Now, Grant’s daughter, Jennifer, is shutting down allegations that her famous dad was really gay.
Jennifer, 57, is producing the ITV series “Archie,” based on the early life of her famous pops.
Ahead of the biopic’s upcoming release later this year, Jennifer told The Guardian that Grant was “not flirtatious with men.”
“If you’re around your parents a lot, you see them in ways that almost no one else does. And I never saw a hint of that,” the “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress said.
“I think I would have picked up on it – not that I would’ve cared. But I have to speak the truth of the matter: Dad was charming, and he had great friendships, but he wasn’t flirtatious with men,” she explained.
She further denied any speculation about the “North by Northwest” star’s sexual orientation.
“A friend of mine sent me a picture the other day of Gregory Peck, my father and Mervyn LeRoy and they’re good buddies. But I never got that hint,” Jennifer added.
However, she then wondered that “perhaps earlier in his life he had an affair [with a man].”
“I’ll never know, but if he did, fantastic. I hope he enjoyed it,” she said.
Jennifer is Grant’s only child, who was born when he was 62 years old. He was married five times during his decades-long career.
While Grant — who died in 1986 — fashioned a persona for himself where he was a ladies’ man, conjecture that he was a homosexual still spun throughout his life.
For over a decade, he was roommates with friend Randolph Scott, which spurred rumors of a romantic relationship — especially after a spread of them frolicking shirtless at home in their “bachelor’s paradise” was printed in film fan magazines.
Jennifer also touched upon the age-old talk about her dad in her 2011 memoir, “Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant” — in which comments that she made resulted in hate mail alleging that she was homophobic.
She penned in her book: “Can’t blame men for wanting him, and wouldn’t be surprised if Dad even mildly flirted back.”
“When the question arises, it generally speaks more about the person asking… Dad somewhat enjoyed being called gay. He said it made women want to prove the assertion wrong,” she scribed.
The “Philadelphia Story” actor even had to battle the gay rumors just a few years before his passing.
In 1980, comedian Chevy Chase made an ill-fated joke about Grant. “Homo. What a gal!” Chase said during a talk show appearance.
Grant later took the controversial “Saturday Night Live” alum, 79, to court and sued him for defamation.
The “His Girl Friday” actor won the suit and Chase had to withdraw his statements.
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