Known For
Acting
Known Credits
86
Gender
Male
Birthday
May 21, 1904 (122 years old)
Place of Birth
Fishkill Landing [now Beacon], New York, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Montgomery (born Henry Montgomery Jr.; May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer. He was also the father of actress Elizabeth Montgomery.
Montgomery settled in New York City to try his hand at writing and acting. He established a stage career, and became popular enough to turn down an offer to appear opposite Vilma Bánky in the film This Is Heaven (1929). Sharing a stage with George Cukor gave him an entry to Hollywood and a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he debuted in So This Is College (also 1929).
Montgomery initially played exclusively in comedy roles, but portrayed a character in his first drama film in The Big House (1930). MGM was initially reluctant to assign him in such a role, until "his earnestness, and his convincing arguments, with demonstrations of how he would play the character" won him the assignment. From The Big House on, he was in constant demand. Appearing as Greta Garbo's romantic interest in Inspiration (1930) started him toward stardom with a rush. Norma Shearer chose him to star opposite her in The Divorcee (1930), Strangers May Kiss (1931), and Private Lives (1931), which led him to stardom.
In another challenging role, Montgomery played a psychopath in the chiller Night Must Fall (1937), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination.
After World War II broke out in Europe in September, 1939, and while the United States was still officially neutral, Montgomery enlisted in London for American field service and drove ambulances in France until the Dunkirk evacuation. He then returned to Hollywood and addressed a massive rally on the MGM lot for the American Red Cross in July 1940. Montgomery returned to playing light comedy roles, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) with Carole Lombard. He continued his search for dramatic roles. For his role as Joe Pendleton, a boxer and pilot in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), Montgomery was nominated for an Oscar a second time. After the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, he joined the United States Navy, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander, and served on the USS Barton (DD-722) which was part of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.
In 1945, Montgomery returned to Hollywood, making his uncredited directing debut with They Were Expendable, where he directed some of the PT boat scenes when director John Ford was unable to work for health reasons. Montgomery's first credited film as director and his final film for MGM was the film noir Lady in the Lake (1947), in which he also starred, which received mixed reviews. Adapted from Raymond Chandler's detective novel and sanitized for the censorship of the day, the film is unusual because it was filmed entirely from Marlowe's vantage point. Montgomery only appeared on camera a few times, three times in a mirror reflection.
Active in Republican politics and concerned about communist influence in the entertainment industry, Montgomery was a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947.
Montgomery has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for movies at 6440 Hollywood Boulevard, and another for television at 1631 Vine Street.
| 2015 | Jornal Português (1938-1951)as Self (archive footage) | |
| 2010 | Lusitanian Illusionas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2006 | 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stageas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2004 | Checking Out: Grand Hotelas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2003 | Complicated Womenas Self (archive footage) | |
| 1996 | Ingrid Bergman Rememberedas Self (archive footage) | |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part IIas (archive footage) | |
| 1974 | That's Entertainment!as (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| 1972 | Hollywood: The Dream Factoryas Self (archive footage) | |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Showas Self | |
| 1960 | The Gallant Hoursas Narration (American scenes) | |
| 1950 | The Colgate Comedy Houras Self | |
| 1950 | Your Witnessas Adam Heyward | |
| 1950 | What's My Line?as Self | |
| 1950 | Robert Montgomery Presentsas Self - Host | |
| 1949 | Breakdowns of 1949as Self | |
| 1949 | Once More, My Darlingas Collier Laing | |
| 1948 | June Brideas Carey Jackson | |
| 1948 | The Secret Landas Narrator | |
| 1948 | The Saxon Charmas Matt Saxon | |
| 1947 | Ride the Pink Horseas Lucky Gagin | |
| 1946 | Lady in the Lakeas Phillip Marlowe | |
| 1945 | They Were Expendableas Lt. John Brickley | |
| 1941 | Unfinished Businessas Tommy Duncan | |
| 1941 | Here Comes Mr. Jordanas Joe Pendleton | |
| 1941 | Rage in Heavenas Philip Monrell | |
| 1941 | Mr. & Mrs. Smithas David | |
| 1940 | A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Soundas Self | |
| 1940 | Busman's Honeymoonas Lord Peter Wimsey | |
| 1940 | The Earl of Chicagoas Robert Kilmount | |
| 1939 | From the Ends of the Earthas Self | |
| 1939 | Fast and Looseas Joel Sloane | |
| 1938 | Three Loves Has Nancyas Malcolm 'Mal' Niles | |
| 1938 | Hollywood Goes to Townas Self | |
| 1938 | Hollywood Handicapas Himself | |
| 1938 | Yellow Jackas John O'Hara | |
| 1938 | The First Hundred Yearsas David Conway | |
| 1937 | Live, Love and Learnas Bob Graham | |
| 1937 | The Romance of Celluloidas Self | |
| 1937 | Ever Since Eveas Freddy Matthews | |
| 1937 | Night Must Fallas Danny | |
| 1937 | The Last of Mrs. Cheyneyas Lord Arthur Dilling | |
| 1936 | Piccadilly Jimas James Crocker, Jr. | |
| 1936 | Trouble for Twoas Prince Florizel | |
| 1936 | Petticoat Feveras Dascom Dinsmore | |
| 1935 | Starlit Days at the Lidoas Self | |
| 1935 | No More Ladiesas Sheridan 'Sherry' Warren | |
| 1935 | Screen Snapshots Series 14, No. 8as | |
| 1935 | Vanessa: Her Love Storyas Benjamin Herries | |
| 1935 | Biography of a Bachelor Girlas Richard 'Dickie' Kurt | |
| 1934 | Forsaking All Othersas Dillon 'Dill" Todd | |
| 1934 | Hide-Outas Jonathan 'Lucky' Wilson | |
| 1934 | Riptideas Tommie L. Trent | |
| 1934 | The Mystery of Mr. Xas Nicholas Revel | |
| 1934 | Fugitive Loversas Paul Porter, aka Stephen Blaine | |
| 1933 | Going Hollywoodas Himself - Premiere Clip (archive footage) | |
| 1933 | Night Flightas Auguste Pellerin | |
| 1933 | Another Languageas Victor Hallam | |
| 1933 | When Ladies Meetas Jimmie | |
| 1933 | Hell Belowas Lieut. Thomas Knowlton USN | |
| 1933 | Made on Broadwayas Jeff | |
| 1932 | Faithlessas William 'Bill' Wade | |
| 1932 | Blondie of the Folliesas Larry Belmont | |
| 1932 | Letty Lyntonas Hale Darrow | |
| 1932 | But the Flesh Is Weakas Max Clement | |
| 1932 | Lovers Courageousas Willie Smith | |
| 1931 | Private Livesas Elyot Chase | |
| 1931 | The Man in Possessionas Raymond Dabney | |
| 1931 | Shipmatesas John Paul Jones | |
| 1931 | Strangers May Kissas Steve | |
| 1931 | The Easiest Wayas Jack Madison | |
| 1931 | Inspirationas André Montell | |
| 1930 | War Nurseas Wally O'Brien | |
| 1930 | Love in the Roughas Kelly | |
| 1930 | The Voice of Hollywoodas | |
| 1930 | Our Blushing Bridesas Tony Jardine | |
| 1930 | Estrelladosas Self (Guest Appearance at Premiere) | |
| 1930 | The Sins of the Childrenas Nick Higginson | |
| 1930 | The Big Houseas Kent Marlowe | |
| 1930 | The Divorceeas Don | |
| 1930 | Free and Easyas Larry | |
| 1929 | Their Own Desireas John 'Jack' Douglas Cheever | |
| 1929 | Untamedas Andy McAllister | |
| 1929 | So This Is Collegeas Biff | |
| 1929 | Three Live Ghostsas William Foster | |
| 1929 | The Single Standardas Party Boy (uncredited) |
| 1960 | The Gallant Hours...Director | |
| 1960 | The Gallant Hours...Producer | |
| 1950 | Your Witness...Director | |
| 1950 | Robert Montgomery Presents...Producer | |
| 1949 | Once More, My Darling...Director | |
| 1947 | Ride the Pink Horse...Director | |
| 1946 | Lady in the Lake...Director |