“The best in the business”: the actor John Wayne and Burt Reynolds agreed “was touched by the gods”
John Wayne and Burt Reynolds both admired Cary Grant’s screen presence, with Wayne calling him “the best actor in the business” and Reynolds saying he was “touched by the gods”. Their praise highlights Grant’s rare mix of charm and appeal, which impressed even stars who had achieved great fame themselves.
Reynolds said Grant drew everyone’s attention when he entered a room, and that men as well as women liked him. Wayne envied Grant’s ability to remain handsome with age, while both actors reportedly regarded Spencer Tracy as the finest actor they had seen. The article places their comments against the backdrop of Reynolds’s rise after *Deliverance* and Wayne’s final film, *The Shootist*, released in 1976.
In short
- Wayne called Grant the best actor in the business.
- Reynolds praised Grant’s rare screen presence and charm.
- Both admired Spencer Tracy’s acting.
Explained simply
Cary Grant was a British-born actor who became one of Hollywood’s leading stars from the 1930s to the 1960s. He was known for a polished comic style and an easy charm, appearing in films such as *Bringing Up Baby* and *North by Northwest*.
John Wayne and Burt Reynolds were major American film stars from different generations. Wayne was best known for Westerns, while Reynolds rose to prominence in the 1970s; their admiration offers a glimpse of Grant’s standing among fellow actors.
Grant’s career spanned decades, when Hollywood stars were often promoted for their distinctive screen personas as well as their acting. Spencer Tracy, whom Wayne and Reynolds also admired, was another celebrated actor of the era.