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Robert Montgomery

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

Robert Montgomery

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

2015Jornal Português (1938-1951)as Self (archive footage)
2010Lusitanian Illusionas Self (archive footage)
200642nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stageas Self (archive footage)
2004Checking Out: Grand Hotelas Self (archive footage)
2003Complicated Womenas Self (archive footage)
1996Ingrid Bergman Rememberedas Self (archive footage)
1976That's Entertainment, Part IIas (archive footage)
1974That's Entertainment!as (archive footage) (uncredited)
1972Hollywood: The Dream Factoryas Self (archive footage)
1962The Merv Griffin Showas Self
1960The Gallant Hoursas Narration (American scenes)
1950The Colgate Comedy Houras Self
1950Your Witnessas Adam Heyward
1950What's My Line?as Self
1950Robert Montgomery Presentsas Self - Host
1949Breakdowns of 1949as Self
1949Once More, My Darlingas Collier Laing
1948June Brideas Carey Jackson
1948The Secret Landas Narrator
1948The Saxon Charmas Matt Saxon
1947Ride the Pink Horseas Lucky Gagin
1946Lady in the Lakeas Phillip Marlowe
1945They Were Expendableas Lt. John Brickley
1941Unfinished Businessas Tommy Duncan
1941Here Comes Mr. Jordanas Joe Pendleton
1941Rage in Heavenas Philip Monrell
1941Mr. & Mrs. Smithas David
1940A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Soundas Self
1940Busman's Honeymoonas Lord Peter Wimsey
1940The Earl of Chicagoas Robert Kilmount
1939From the Ends of the Earthas Self
1939Fast and Looseas Joel Sloane
1938Three Loves Has Nancyas Malcolm 'Mal' Niles
1938Hollywood Goes to Townas Self
1938Hollywood Handicapas Himself
1938Yellow Jackas John O'Hara
1938The First Hundred Yearsas David Conway
1937Live, Love and Learnas Bob Graham
1937The Romance of Celluloidas Self
1937Ever Since Eveas Freddy Matthews
1937Night Must Fallas Danny
1937The Last of Mrs. Cheyneyas Lord Arthur Dilling
1936Piccadilly Jimas James Crocker, Jr.
1936Trouble for Twoas Prince Florizel
1936Petticoat Feveras Dascom Dinsmore
1935Starlit Days at the Lidoas Self
1935No More Ladiesas Sheridan 'Sherry' Warren
1935Screen Snapshots Series 14, No. 8as
1935Vanessa: Her Love Storyas Benjamin Herries
1935Biography of a Bachelor Girlas Richard 'Dickie' Kurt
1934Forsaking All Othersas Dillon 'Dill" Todd
1934Hide-Outas Jonathan 'Lucky' Wilson
1934Riptideas Tommie L. Trent
1934The Mystery of Mr. Xas Nicholas Revel
1934Fugitive Loversas Paul Porter, aka Stephen Blaine
1933Going Hollywoodas Himself - Premiere Clip (archive footage)
1933Night Flightas Auguste Pellerin
1933Another Languageas Victor Hallam
1933When Ladies Meetas Jimmie
1933Hell Belowas Lieut. Thomas Knowlton USN
1933Made on Broadwayas Jeff
1932Faithlessas William 'Bill' Wade
1932Blondie of the Folliesas Larry Belmont
1932Letty Lyntonas Hale Darrow
1932But the Flesh Is Weakas Max Clement
1932Lovers Courageousas Willie Smith
1931Private Livesas Elyot Chase
1931The Man in Possessionas Raymond Dabney
1931Shipmatesas John Paul Jones
1931Strangers May Kissas Steve
1931The Easiest Wayas Jack Madison
1931Inspirationas André Montell
1930War Nurseas Wally O'Brien
1930Love in the Roughas Kelly
1930The Voice of Hollywoodas
1930Our Blushing Bridesas Tony Jardine
1930Estrelladosas Self (Guest Appearance at Premiere)
1930The Sins of the Childrenas Nick Higginson
1930The Big Houseas Kent Marlowe
1930The Divorceeas Don
1930Free and Easyas Larry
1929Their Own Desireas John 'Jack' Douglas Cheever
1929Untamedas Andy McAllister
1929So This Is Collegeas Biff
1929Three Live Ghostsas William Foster
1929The Single Standardas Party Boy (uncredited)

Production

1960The Gallant Hours...Director
1960The Gallant Hours...Producer
1950Your Witness...Director
1950Robert Montgomery Presents...Producer
1949Once More, My Darling...Director
1947Ride the Pink Horse...Director
1946Lady in the Lake...Director