Hollywood Blacklist & Career Exile
Lee Grant’s rise in Hollywood was abruptly halted in the 1950s when she was blacklisted for refusing to name names during the McCarthy-era investigations. “I certainly was not going to give names in order to work in film or television,” she later stated. For 12 years, she was barred from film and TV, her career stalled by her association with her husband, Arnold Manoff, a blacklisted screenwriter.
Breaking Free & Comeback
Trapped in an unhappy marriage, Grant faced personal struggles as well. Manoff discouraged her ambitions, seeing her as a caregiver rather than an equal. When he gave her an ultimatum—stay home or separate—she chose independence. “If he hadn’t said, ‘You can’t take this job,’ I would never have gotten up the courage to leave,” she admitted. Their 1960 divorce marked a turning point, and by 1965, she made a triumphant return in “Peyton Place,” winning an Emmy and later an Oscar for “Shampoo.”
Finding Love & Stability
Grant found love again with producer Joe Feury, 12 years her junior. “This really cute boy, and so dear, and so in love,” she recalled. Unlike her first marriage, Feury provided unwavering support. Married in 1962, their enduring relationship brought her stability and happiness. “Joey, now 74, wakes up and takes my hand. He doesn’t want to lose me […] We’re so young,” she shared.
Defying Time & Embracing Legacy
Determined to stay in Hollywood, Grant openly underwent cosmetic surgery. “I was at a desperate place in my life,” she admitted. She even convinced a mayor to alter her birthdate. Now in her late 90s, she continues to inspire. “I’ve never seen a 90+ year-old lady look so great,” one fan marveled. With a remarkable career spanning decades, Grant’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and lasting beauty.
