Cary Grant was born Archibald Alec Leach on January 18, 1904 in Horfield, Bristol, England, to Elsie Maria (Kingdon) and Elias James Leach, who worked in a factory. Released in 1959 three years before the first bond flick, alfred hitchcock's north by northwest remains one of the most entertaining motion pictures of all time . They wanted Cary Grant to take the part of James Bond when the film series was launched with Dr No in the early Sixties. Three years before 007 made his big-screen debut in Dr. No , Alfred Hitchcock laid the groundwork by making a movie filled with James Bond DNA: North by Northwest. Hitchcock's north by northwest became a prototype for james bond movies to come, particularly the inaugural sean connery installments. 16. But the debonair actor turned it down. Cary Grant was fond of the neckerchief, and Roger Moore's James Bond wears it on two occasions. Despite being a fictional spy, James Bond's impact on menswear has been very real . North By Northwest James Bond / How Cary Grant Shaped The Future Of The ... English-American actor Cary Grant as Captain Anthony Trumbull of the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic war film 'The Pride and the Passion', 1957. The role then went to Sean Connery starting with Dr. No in 1962. The Name Could Have Been Bond, James Bond Quiz - Fun Trivia Cary Grant as James Bond 007? - Missed Movie Roles 8 Actors Who Turned Down the Chance to Play James Bond Then everything got so much worse. Hitchcock, famously derisive about movie stars, once said Grant was the only actor he ever loved. But even the most immaculately turned out celebrities still can't hold a candle to the inarguable king of style icons - the style icon's style icon - 007 himself. (Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) Cary Grant hiding on top of roof in a scene from the film 'To Catch A Thief . . Whilst hang gliding in his navy leisure suit, he ties a large navy silk scarf in a single knot around his neck and spreads it over his shirt and . It's too bad his talents were so wasted. Producers Harold Saltzman and Albert Broccoli considered Cary Grant and James Mason, among other actors, to play the British agent, while Bond author Ian Fleming preferred David Niven. Cary Grant | James Bond Wiki | Fandom This would also explain why Bond producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli were originally looking to cast Cary Grant as James Bond, but figured they wouldn't be able to persuade the star . Where Grant Found His Solace. Cary Grant Inspired James Bond. Higher-profile stars Richard Burton and Cary Grant were also said to have been offered the role of Bond, but both turned it down. Archibald Alexander Leach [2] (January 18, 1904 - November 29, 1986), better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was a British-American actor.