The 5 Reasons We Love Cary Grant

We all have a list of people we admire. Men and women that we’d like to be more like, that we’d like to have as friends, and that we’d like to have as partners. These people come from many areas of our lives. They may be parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, celebrities or complete strangers. It’s one of the tools we use to measure ourselves, and to adjust and grow throughout our lives. I suspect each person’s list is as individual as their fingerprint.

My own list has included many wonderful people over the years. I’ve written about my grandmother, my father, Audrey Hepburn and my girlfriends. They, and many others, have inspired me and unknowingly guided me. There is another man that has influenced me, and many other people I’ve spoken with. His persona has captivated us for decades. That man is Cary Grant. He was the epitome of a gentleman. He was never boorish, conceited or mean. His biography doesn’t read a perfect upbringing, and there was no fairy tale marriage that lasted a lifetime, but he held to his principles and carried himself with great class and dignity. His quiet strength seemed effortless. He was self effacing and modest. I wanted to marry Cary Grant, and I was in love with his unflappable wit and that devilish grin.

Here are the top 5 reasons we all love Cary Grant~

1. He understood the art of being a well mannered man~Whether royalty, a fellow celebrity, or an employee at a shop he frequented; he was known for treating everyone with interest, courtesy and the utmost respect. He took the time to really listen, and knew how to make others feel important. He considered no one beneath him, and it was enchanting.

2. His quiet confidence spoke louder than words~He was never brash, boasting or arrogant, yet he commanded attention in every room he entered. He was also able to laugh at himself, even saying at one point “Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.” It’s intoxicating to be near someone that has that combination of traits.

3. He knew that style is about how you carry yourself, not about your clothes~He had great style, and knew what looked good on him, but he didn’t succumb to the latest fashion. He wore classics, and walked with head held high and that unmistakeable gait. He knew that clothes do not make the man, but that a man of substance makes the clothes.

4. He was a nurturing father~He became a father later in life, but he was devoted to his daughter. It made him real, and more like one of us. He was the celebrity equivalent of our own father, and had the same yin and yang we adored in our dad. That combination of strength and gentleness is a winning trait in a man.

5. He was a true romantic~He was known to relentlessly pursue the object of his affection with romance, manners and charm. He had the style and resources to do it the way we’d all like to. He also seemed a true best friend, and treated the woman as a partner in their relationship before it was in vogue. Another important fact, Cary Grant had his share of romances but you’ll never read any tell all book that he penned. He never spoke of what went wrong, except to address his own shortcomings.

This may appear to be a list of the qualities of the perfect man, and no such man (or woman) exists, but it’s important to look at the big picture. In the end, it comes down to Cary Grant symbolizing a man who was well mannered and nice; a man who gave of himself to others, and who gave romance the time it deserves; a man who was comfortable with who he was, and who treated others with respect; and a man who made mistakes, but took responsibility for his actions. Come to think of it, that does sound pretty perfect to me.