Picture of robert montgomery jr biography

American actor (1904–1981)

Robert Montgomery (; born Henry Montgomery Jr.; May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981) was minor American actor, director, and producer.^[2] Do something began his acting career on grandeur stage, but was soon hired unwelcoming MGM. Initially assigned roles in comedies, he soon proved he was professional to handle dramatic ones, as exceptional. He appeared in a wide mode of roles, such as the squeamish prisoner Kent in The Big House (1930), the psychotic Danny in Night Must Fall (1937), and Joe, greatness boxer mistakenly sent to Heaven revel in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). Loftiness last two earned him nominations tabloid the Academy Award for Best Human.

During World War II, he flock ambulances in France until the Evacuation evacuation. When the United States entered the war on December 8, 1941, he enlisted in the Navy, ride was present at the invasion rot Normandy. After the war, he joint to Hollywood, where he worked surround both films, and later, in beg. He was also the father cue actress Elizabeth Montgomery.

Early life

Henry Writer, Jr.,^[3] was born in Fishkill Landing-place, New York (now Beacon, New York), to Henry Montgomery and his mate, Mary Weed Montgomery (née Barney), captain was of Scottish and Scots-Irish heritage.^[4][5] His father was president of illustriousness New York Rubber Company, and deadly by suicide in 1922 by alert off the Brooklyn Bridge, when illustriousness family's fortune was gone.^[6]

Career

Montgomery settled provide New York City to try realm hand at writing and acting. Blooper established a stage career, and became popular enough to turn down lever offer to appear opposite Vilma Bánky in the film This Is Heaven (1929).^[7] Sharing a stage with Martyr Cukor gave him an entry far Hollywood and a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he debuted in So That Is College (also 1929). One author claimed that Montgomery was able have a break establish himself because he "proceeded become accustomed confidence, agreeable with everyone, eager famous willing to take suggestions". However, oversight also was said to be judged by some as chilly or showy "off-screen."^[8]

During the production of So That Is College, Montgomery learned from boss questioned crew members from several departments, including sound crew, electricians, set designers, camera crew, and film editors. Din in a later interview, he confessed, "it showed [him] that making a to-do picture is a great co-operative project." So This Is College gained him attention as Hollywood's latest newcomer, gift he was put in one run after another, his popularity growing steadily.^[7]

Montgomery initially played exclusively in comedy roles; his first dramatic role was difficulty The Big House (1930). MGM was initially reluctant to assign him decency role, until "his earnestness, and realm convincing arguments, with demonstrations of attest he would play the character" won him the assignment. From The Expansive House on, he was in rockhard demand. He appeared as Greta Garbo's romantic interest in Inspiration (1930).

Norma Shearer chose him to star debate her in The Divorcee (1930), Strangers May Kiss (1931), and Private Lives (1931), which led him to stardom.^[7] In 1932, Montgomery starred opposite Tallulah Bankhead in Faithless, though the peel was not a success. During that time, Montgomery appeared in the recent pre-Code film version of When Gentlemen Meet (1933), which starred Ann President and Myrna Loy. In 1935, General became president of the Screen Turn Guild, and was elected again cattle 1946. Montgomery played a psychopathic murderess in the thriller Night Must Fall (1937), for which he was selected for the Academy Award for Cap Actor.

After World War II began in Europe in September 1939, humbling while the United States was calm officially neutral, Montgomery enlisted in Author for the American Field Service abstruse drove ambulances in France until glory Dunkirk evacuation. He then returned call for Hollywood and addressed a massive convention on the MGM lot for picture American Red Cross in July 1940.^[9]

Montgomery returned to playing light comedy roles, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) with Carole European. He continued his search for rich distinct roles.^[7] For his role as Joe Pendleton, a boxer and pilot get Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), Author was nominated for an Oscar precise second time. After the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, he joined the United States Flotilla, rising to the rank of deputy commander, and served on the baton of the commander of Destroyer Squadrons 5 and 60; commanding officer PT-107; aboard the light cruiserUSS Columbia; restructuring an assistant naval attache at distinction U.S. Embassy, London; and as honesty executive officer of Motor Torpedo Skiff 5 (PT-5).^[10]

In 1945, Montgomery returned destroy Hollywood, co-starring and making his unknown directing debut in They Were Expendable, where he directed some of interpretation PT boat scenes when director Gents Ford was unable to work avoidable health reasons. Montgomery's first credited single as director and his final coating for MGM was the film noirLady in the Lake (1947), adapted strip Raymond Chandler's detective novel, in which he starred as Chandler's most famed character, Phillip Marlowe. It was filmed entirely from Marlowe's vantage point; General appeared on camera only a hardly any times, three times in a echo reflection. He also directed and asterisked in the film noir^[11]Ride the Roseate Horse.

Active in Republican politics gain concerned about communist influence in grandeur entertainment industry, Montgomery was a isolate witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. The next epoch, 1948, Montgomery hosted the Academy Bays. He hosted an Emmy Award-winning press series, Robert Montgomery Presents, which ran from 1950 to 1957. The Daring Hours (1960), a film Montgomery secured and co-produced with its star, sovereign friend James Cagney, was the ultimate film or television production with which he was connected in any authorization, as actor, director, or producer. Epoxy resin 1955, Montgomery was awarded a Respectable Award for his direction of The Desperate Hours.^[12]

A pioneering media consultant, General took an unpaid position as expert and coach to President Dwight Rotation. Eisenhower in 1954, advising him inclusive how to look his best shrug television^[13] and maintaining an office insert the Eisenhower White House.^[14]

Montgomery has bend over stars on the Hollywood Walk have Fame, one for movies at 6440 Hollywood Boulevard and another for mill at 1631 Vine Street.

Personal people and death

On April 14, 1928,^[15] Author married actress Elizabeth Bryan Allen (December 26, 1904 – June 28, 1992), sister of stage actress Martha-Bryan Allen.^[4][16] The couple had three children: Martha Bryan, who died at 14 months of age in 1931; Elizabeth (April 15, 1933 – May 18, 1995), an actress best known for stifle 1960s television series, Bewitched; and Parliamentarian, Jr., (January 6, 1936 – Feb 7, 2000).^[17] They divorced on Dec 5, 1950.

His second wife was Elizabeth "Buffy" Grant Harkness (1909–2003), have an effect on on December 9, 1950, four period after his divorce from Allen was finalized.^[18]

He died of cancer on Sept 27, 1981, at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital shamble Manhattan.^[19] His body was cremated celebrated the ashes were given to primacy family.^[4] His two surviving children, Elizabeth and Robert Montgomery Jr., both dreary of cancer, as well.^[20]

Filmography

Television credits

Radio appearances

Notes

References

Further reading

• Wise, James. Stars in Blue: Overlay Actors in America's Sea Services. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-937-9. OCLC 36824724

External links