Dyan Cannon Reflects On Her Life With Cary Grant: Love, Challenges, And Rediscovery

Deanna Runolfsdottir 17 May 2025

Dyan Cannon Spotted Out in Brentwood, California

Hey there, friends! Let’s talk about a legendary figure in Hollywood: Dyan Cannon. Recently, she was seen out and about in Brentwood, California, enjoying lunch with a close friend. This appearance happened just days after the Academy Award nominee opened up about her complex and unforgettable marriage to the iconic Cary Grant. It’s like flipping through the pages of history, isn’t it?

“About four months ago, I stumbled upon some notes from Cary while going through my safe,” Dyan, now 86, revealed in an interview with Page Six published on December 6. “They were so charming and brought back memories of why I fell in love with him in the first place. It was like rediscovering a part of myself that I thought was lost forever.”

Looking Back at a Complex Marriage

For those who don’t know, Dyan isn’t shy about the challenges she faced during her marriage to Cary. In her 2011 memoir, Dear Cary: My Life with Cary Grant, she dives deep into the ups and downs of their relationship. As she wrote, their union wasn’t without its struggles, and she shared some of the "fundamental problems" they encountered along the way.

“There were moments when I didn’t know what would set him off next,” Dyan recalled. “When Cary wasn’t working, he’d follow me around the house, pointing out every little thing I did wrong. I didn’t place a coaster under my water glass. My car was parked crooked in the driveway. Even being too friendly with the postman or the maid became an issue for him. It was as if he was constantly on edge, and I felt the weight of his expectations every single day.”

Dyan admitted that there were countless other instances of Cary’s criticisms that didn’t make it into the book. “Writing this memoir was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” she confessed. “Cary had so many admirers, and I didn’t want to tarnish the image people had of him. For a while, the admiration I once had for him faded, but strangely enough, I’ve found those stars shining brightly in my eyes again.”

Dyan Cannon standing in front of car in black jacket — EXCLUSIVE: Dyan Cannon, 86, a Hollywood classic, was spotted after having lunch with a female friend without her signature oversized sunglasses. 12 Dec 2023 Pictured: Dyan Cannon. Photo credit: APEX / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA1071169_004.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]

Cary Grant: A Life Beyond the Silver Screen

Archibald Alec Leach, better known as Cary Grant, was born in 1904 and became a household name in Hollywood. The star of films like Blonde Venus was married to Dyan from 1965 to 1968, and together, they welcomed their only child, Jennifer Grant. Cary’s life is the subject of the four-part miniseries Archie, now available on ITVX and BritBox.

“The arrival of Jennifer brought immense joy into Cary’s life,” said Barbara Jaynes, Cary’s fifth wife, in an interview with Closer in November 2022. “Our relationship brought him peace, and many who knew him well noted how much happier he seemed in his later years. It’s as if he found a sense of fulfillment that had been missing for so long.”