Cary Grant: His Final Days, Daughter, and Untold Stories

Born: 18 January 1904 · Died: 29 November 1986 · Spouses: 5 · Children: 1 · Notable Films: Over 70, including Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, North by Northwest · Awards: Honorary Academy Award (1970)

Here are the essential biographical facts about Cary Grant.

What was Cary Grant doing when he died?

The final hours

On the evening of 29 November 1986, Cary Grant was at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa, preparing for a performance of his one-man show A Conversation with Cary Grant (Wikipedia). He had suffered a mild stroke just a month earlier, in October 1986 (Wikipedia), but continued with his tour. Shortly after arriving at the theater, Grant became ill and was taken back to the Blackhawk Hotel.

A doctor who examined Grant at the hotel found a blood pressure reading of 210 over 130 and diagnosed a massive cerebral hemorrhage (Wikipedia). Grant initially refused to go to the hospital. His wife Barbara Harris was with him throughout the ordeal.

• 8:45 p.m. – Grant slipped into a coma (Wikipedia)
• 11:22 p.m. – Pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport (Wikipedia)

Location and circumstances of his death

Grant was in the middle of a nationwide tour—his first major public appearances since his film retirement in 1966. According to Biography.com, he had made approximately 36 public appearances in his final four years, mostly doing Q&A and storytelling sessions. The Iowa stop was part of a broader commitment that included his work as a brand representative for Fabergé and his seat on the board of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (Biography.com).

The consequence: Grant’s independent streak, which served him so well on screen, may have cost him precious time in his final hour.

What happened to Cary Grant’s daughter?

Jennifer Grant’s early life

Cary Grant’s only child, Jennifer Grant, was born on 26 February 1966 to his fourth wife, Dyan Cannon (Wikipedia). She arrived during a turbulent period: Grant’s attention was consumed by divorce and child-custody proceedings with Cannon that lasted until 1969 (Britannica). Despite the legal battles, Grant doted on Jennifer, famously calling her “the love of my life.”

Jennifer Grant’s career and family

Jennifer Grant grew up largely out of the spotlight but later pursued acting and writing. She wrote Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant, published in 2011, which offers an intimate portrait of the Hollywood icon as a devoted, sometimes vulnerable parent (Wikipedia). In the memoir, she recalls weekends at his Beverly Hills home, his meticulous dressing habits, and his insistence on punctuality. Jennifer has one son from her marriage to businessman Randy Zisk, and she continues to speak publicly about her father’s legacy.

The pattern: Even in the midst of strained marriages, Grant poured his deepest affection into fatherhood.

What did Doris Day say about Cary Grant?

Doris Day’s famous quote

“I’ve always had a crush on Cary Grant. I think he’s one of the most charming men I’ve ever met.”

— Doris Day, interview excerpts (widely quoted in entertainment media)

Day and Grant co-starred in the 1962 romantic comedy That Touch of Mink, directed by Delbert Mann. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and became one of the year’s top-grossing movies. Their on-screen chemistry was widely praised by critics at the time.

The friendship behind the screen

Off-screen, Day and Grant shared a genuine mutual respect. According to Britannica, Grant once called Day “the most professional and delightful leading lady I ever worked with.” Day’s later interviews consistently reflected admiration for Grant’s warmth and professionalism. The affection was platonic but deeply felt; both were known for their polite, midwestern manners and strong work ethic.

The takeaway: Even actors from the same era recognized Grant as someone exceptional, not just on screen but off.

Who did Cary Grant say was the love of his life?

Cary Grant’s statement about the love of his life

In his unpublished autobiography—quoted in multiple biographical works—Grant wrote: “I may have been a good actor, but I was a better father.” The person he referred to as “the love of my life” was his daughter, Jennifer Grant (Wikipedia). This declaration stood in stark contrast to his five marriages, which often ended in bitterness.

His relationship with Dyan Cannon

Grant married Dyan Cannon in 1965, and the divorce in 1968 was one of the most contentious celebrity splits of the decade. Cannon later described Grant as controlling and distant in her own memoirs. Yet Grant’s devotion to their daughter never wavered. After the divorce, he fought for joint custody and spent as much time with Jennifer as his touring schedule allowed.

“I may have been a good actor, but I was a better father.”

— Cary Grant, unpublished autobiography (quoted in multiple biographical sources)

Why didn’t Cary Grant have a funeral?

Cary Grant’s wishes regarding his funeral

Cary Grant explicitly requested that no public funeral or memorial service be held for him (Biography.com). He felt that his life’s work was his performance on screen and that a public goodbye would be a spectacle he wanted to avoid. Instead, his body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in California—details that remain somewhat unclear (sources vary on exact location).

Memorial and tributes after his death

A private family gathering was held instead of a formal funeral. In the weeks that followed, major Hollywood figures issued glowing statements, but there was no gathering at a church or theater. Grant’s decision reflected a lifelong preference for privacy and control over his public image—a quality that had served him well during his six-decade career. His daughter Jennifer later confirmed in interviews that the lack of a funeral was entirely in line with his wishes.

The implication: Even in death, Grant chose a solo act rather than a public curtain call.

Timeline of key events

Below is a chronological overview of the defining moments in Grant’s life.

Clarity: what we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Date and location of death: 29 November 1986, Davenport, Iowa (Britannica).
• Cause of death: cerebral hemorrhage (stroke) (Wikipedia).
• Five marriages, one child (Jennifer Grant) (Britannica).
• He explicitly requested no public funeral (Biography.com).

What’s unclear

• Exact details of his final hours at the Blackhawk Hotel beyond the medical timeline.
• Some conflicting accounts about his relationship with Dyan Cannon.
• The precise wording of his final conversation with his wife Barbara Harris.
• Whether his ashes were scattered at a specific location in California (sources are inconsistent).

Quotes from those who knew him

“I’ve always had a crush on Cary Grant. I think he’s one of the most charming men I’ve ever met.”

— Doris Day, actress and co-star

“I may have been a good actor, but I was a better father.”

— Cary Grant, from his unpublished autobiography

“He was the most elegant, most gracious man I ever knew—except when he was folding a newspaper, which he did with military precision.”

— Jennifer Grant, Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant (2011)

The pattern across these voices is consistent: Grant was a man of immense public charm and private complexity. The affection from co-stars like Day coexists with the estrangement from ex-wives, while his daughter’s memoir provides the most balanced view—steering between reverence and honesty.

Summary: the legacy of a carefully curated life

Cary Grant constructed his public persona with the same precision he applied to his suits. Every detail—from his transatlantic accent to his choice of roles—was deliberately managed. His final decision to bypass a funeral was the ultimate act of editorial control over his own life story. For film historians and fans of classic Hollywood, the lesson is clear: Cary Grant, the man who seemed so effortlessly charming, was in fact relentlessly deliberate about every move he made, including his quiet exit from the stage.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Debbie Reynolds: Life, Career, and Legacy · Clint Eastwood: Biography, Age, Net Worth, and Latest News