Jennifer Diane Grant (born February 26, 1966) is an American actress. The daughter of actors Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, she is best known for roles in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 and Movie Stars.
Jennifer Grant | |
|---|---|
 Jennifer and her father, in 1976 at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles. | |
| Born | Jennifer Diane Grant February 26, 1966 Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Education | Stanford University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Cary Grant Dyan Cannon |
| Relatives | David Friesen (uncle) |
Early life
editGrant was born on 26 February 1966 at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, to actors Dyan Cannon and Cary Grant.[1] Her parents divorced when she was only two years old. Jennifer had a close relationship with her father for the rest of his life.
Partly because her father did not want her to become an actress, she tried other things for several years. As a teenager during high school at Santa Catalina School in Monterey and on break from college, she worked as a babysitter, stock clerk at the Village store in Pacific Palisades, grocery store checkout cashier at the Rainbow Grocery in Malibu, and waitress at the Pioneer Boulangerie restaurant in Santa Monica.[2] After graduating from Stanford University in 1987 with a degree in American Studies, she worked for a law firm, and followed that with a job as a chef at Wolfgang Puck's Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills.[2] When her father died in 1986, he left her half of his $60 million estate; the other half of the estate went to her stepmother Barbara Harris.[3]
Career
editIn 1993, seven years after her father's death, Grant played her first acting role in the Aaron Spelling television drama Beverly Hills, 90210, in the recurring role of Celeste Lundy. She appeared as a guest star in a variety of shows including Friends and Ellen, and appeared in several movies, including The Evening Star (1996). In 1999, she was the lead actress in the WB television sitcom Movie Stars.
Grant's memoir, Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant (2011), is a portrait of her relationship with her father, who was 62 when she was born and who died 20 years later.[4] The title refers to a favorite expression of his, said in reference to things he approved of or situations he was happy about.[2]
Personal life
editGrant has two children: son Cary (b. 2008), and daughter Davian (b. 2011).[5][6][7] She was married to director Randy Zisk from 1993 to 1996.[8]
Grant has volunteered as an actress and mentor with the Young Storytellers Foundation.[5][6]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Savage | Nicky Carter | |
| 1996 | The Evening Star | Ellen | |
| 1998 | Erasable You | Stephanie | |
| 1998 | My Engagement Party | Noa Roth | |
| 2000 | The View from the Swing | Jocelyn Whitaker | |
| 2005 | Going Shopping | Quinn | |
| 2005 | Welcome to California | Actress / Jennifer | |
| 2015 | Little Loopers | Attorney Landers | |
| 2015 | Ghost Squad | Carol | |
| 2015 | Christmas Trade | Trish | Video |
| 2017 | Becoming Cary Grant | Herself | Documentary |
| 2022 | Babylon | Mildred Yates | |
| 2025 | A Big Bold Beautiful Journey | Post-production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Moon Over Miami | Susie Knight | Episode: "Careless Dentist Blues" |
| 1993–1994 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Celeste Lundy | Recurring role (8 episodes) |
| 1994 | Robin's Hoods | Episode: "To Heir Is Human" | |
| 1994 | Time Trax | Linda | Episode: "The Crash" |
| 1995 | Super Dave's Vegas Spectacular | Sandi Cosgrove | TV series |
| 1995 | Friends | Nina Bookbinder | Episode: "The One with Two Parts: Part 1" |
| 1997 | Chicago Sons | Jane | Episode: "To Have and to Hold" |
| 1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Ellen Garrett | Episode: "Days Past" |
| 1997 | Ellen | Erin | Episode: "Roommates" |
| 1998 | Guys Like Us | Leah | Episode: "Maestro's First Crush" |
| 1999–2000 | Movie Stars | Jacey Wyatt | Main role (21 episodes) |
| 2006 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sedona Wylie | Episode: "Spellbound" |
| 2007 | My Daughter's Secret | Denise | Television film |
References
edit- ^ Parish, James Robert; Stanke, Don E. (1975). The Debonairs. Arlington House. ISBN 978-0-87000-293-9.
- ^ a b c Grant, Jennifer (2011). Good Stuff: a Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant. New York City: Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, Inc. ISBN 978-0-307-26710-8.
- ^ Decker, Cathleen (December 4, 1986). "Cary Grant Will Leaves Bulk of Estate to His Widow, Daughter" (Home-Collections). Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Calhoun, Ada (June 3, 2011). "A Daughter Remembers Cary Grant". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "A new Cary Grant is born". USA Today. August 22, 2008.
- ^ a b "Update: Jennifer Grant Gives Birth to Son Cary Benjamin". People. August 25, 2008. Archived from the original (Moms and Babies) on September 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
- ^ "Dyan Cannon Gushes Ex-Husband Cary Grant Was an 'Amazing Man': 'I Appreciate Him'". Closer. November 16, 2019.
- ^ Koski, Lorna (May 3, 2011). "Cary Grant: Life With Father". Women's Wear Daily.
External links
edit- Jennifer Grant at IMDb
- Sampling of photos from the book Good Stuff, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, publisher.