Cary Elwes, a renowned British actor, and writer, has garnered acclaim for his exceptional roles in films including ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’. He comes from a prominent British family with a history of producing distinguished individuals. Some of his notable works include ‘Shadow of the Vampire’, ‘Georgia Rule’, and ‘Saw’.
Cary Elwes Childhood & Family
Cary Elwes, born on October 26th, 1962 in London, comes from a family with a long line of famous individuals, including artists, musicians, poets, diplomats, priests, and monks.
His father, Dominic Elwes, was a renowned portrait painter and his mother, Tessa Kennedy, was a heiress and well-respected interior designer. The couple caused quite a stir when they ran away to Havana, Cuba to get married.
Cary was the youngest child of his parents, with two older brothers named Cassian Elwes and Damian Elwes. Cassian went on to become a successful independent film producer, while Damian gained recognition as a renowned artist.
Cary also has two step-siblings, Dillon and Milica, from his mother’s second marriage to Hollywood film producer Elliott Kastner.
Little is known about his early life, other than the fact that he served as an altar boy at Westminster Cathedral. However, unlike his family members, he did not go to schools affiliated with a particular religious denomination.
After completing his education at Harrow School, he briefly attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before relocating to the United States in 1981.
In America, he enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College in New York to study acting, philosophy, and history. At the same time, he also began auditioning for acting roles.
While he was a student at Sarah Lawrence College, Elwes simultaneously pursued acting training under Charlie Laughton at the Actors Studio Inc. and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. To support himself, he took on various odd jobs, including working as a waiter and a busboy.
Career
After leaving college in 1984, Cary Elwes embarked on his film career and made his debut in ‘Another Country’. He played the role of James Harcourt, a homosexual student who becomes the love interest of Guy Bennett, the main character. Following this, he had small roles in ‘Oxford Blues’ (1984) and ‘The Bride’ (1985).
In 1986, Elwes made his debut as a lead actor in the romantic period movie “Lady Jane,” where he starred alongside Helena Bonham Carter.
But his breakthrough occurred the following year with his roles in “Maschenka” and “The Princess Bride.” It was the latter film, a fantasy adventure comedy directed by Rob Reiner, that propelled him to worldwide recognition.
Elwes starred as Westley, a former stable boy turned swashbuckler, in the movie adaptation of William Goldman’s novel. Afterward, he appeared as Major Cabot Forbes in the historical war film “Glory.”
During the 1990s, Cary Elwes was cast in a range of movies, such as the adrenaline-fueled “Days of Thunder,” the satirical “Hot Shots!,” the eerie “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” and “Leather Jackets.” Two notable films he acted in during 1993 were the comical adventure “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” by Mel Brooks and the mind-bending “The Crush.”
After that, Elwes appeared in smaller roles in “The Jungle Book,” “The Chase,” “Twister,” “Kiss the Girls,” and “Liar Liar.” He ended the decade by playing the role of renowned movie and stage producer John Houseman in Tim Robbins’s historical drama “Cradle Will Rock.”
During the 2000s, he was featured in several other movies such as “Edison Force,” “Neo Ned,” “Georgia Rule,” “The Alphabet Killer,” and “A Christmas Carol.”
In the following decade, Cary Elwes appeared in a variety of films including “Flying Lessons,” “No Strings Attached,” “New Year’s Eve,” “Hellgate,” “The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure,” “The Citizen,” “Being Charlie,” “Lost & Found,” “Sugar Mountain,” and “Billionaire Boys Club.”
In 1996, Elwes appeared on television for the first time in an episode of “Seinfeld.” Two years later, he took on a leading role in the HBO movie “The Pentagon Wars” and also had a part in the HBO miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon.”
Following this, Cary Elwes delivered a highly praised portrayal of serial killer Ted Bundy in the TV movie “The Riverman.” He then proceeded to star in two additional television films within the following two years: “Pope John Paul II” and “Haskett’s Chance.”
Between 2009 and 2014, Elwes played a recurring character on the show “Psych.” He also made appearances on episodes of “Leverage” and “Perception,” and starred in the television movie “The Anna Nicole Story.”
Afterward, Elwes had recurring roles on “Granite Flats” and “Family Guy,” as well as a leading role in the streaming series “The Art of More” on Crackle. Some of his other notable roles include recurring appearances in “Life in Pieces,” “Youth & Consequences,” “Stranger Things,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Personal Life
Cary Elwes became engaged to photographer Lisa Marie Kurbikoff in 1997, after their initial encounter at a chili cook-off in Malibu six years prior. They tied the knot in 2000 and have since welcomed a daughter named Dominique.
Net Worth
Cary Elwes, a British actor, holds a fortune of $6 million. Back in 1996, he purchased a residence in Malibu for $615,000. At present, this property is estimated to be valued at $3-4 million, taking into consideration similar sales.
