Final public appearance by Cary Grant. The special aired one day after his death. CBS paid tribute to Mr. Grant with the following statement after the closing credits: "The All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood was taped on September 28, 1986 in Los Angeles. We at CBS extend our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and fans or Mr. Cary Grant...actor, humanitarian. His contributions to the performing arts is everlasting."
The show was taped on September 28, 1986 on an NBC stage at the network's Burbank headquarters and broadcast by CBS on November 30. Proceeds from the evening were used to expand the existing drug and alcohol center operated by Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, near Carmel.
Hardly anyone in the large audience knew Clint Eastwood personally, per Sondra Locke's autobiography: "James Stewart, whom we'd never met, gave a speech; Joan Collins, whom we'd never met, sat very near us. Yet everyone acted like good friends."
"All-Star Party for Lucille Ball" (1984) also featured Monty Hall, Sammy Davis Jr., James Stewart, Joan Collins, Bea Arthur, and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Cary Grant reads a letter from President Ronald Reagan. Reagan was honored with an All-Star Party the previous year, 1985. Grant also read a congratulatory telegram from President Reagan in 1984, when Lucille Ball was honored.