Robert Montgomery
“A debonair leading man of the 1930s who later turned to directing and pioneering television.”
Robert Montgomery became a star in the early 1930s after MGM signed him, charming audiences as a sophisticated light-comedy leading man. He earned critical respect and two Oscar nominations, then reinvented himself as a director, television pioneer and political media advisor.
Polished Leading Man
Born Henry Montgomery Jr., he joined MGM in 1929 and became a popular leading man in sophisticated comedies. Determined to be taken seriously, he pushed for dramatic roles, earning Oscar nominations for 'Night Must Fall' and 'Here Comes Mr. Jordan.'
War Hero and Director
Montgomery enlisted in the Navy in World War II and saw combat, including the Normandy invasion. Returning to Hollywood, he turned director, helping complete 'They Were Expendable' and pioneering first-person camerawork in 'Lady in the Lake.'
Television and Politics
He hosted the acclaimed anthology 'Robert Montgomery Presents' and twice led the Screen Actors Guild. An advisor on television to President Eisenhower, he was also father to 'Bewitched' star Elizabeth Montgomery before his death in 1981.
Career Timeline
- 1904Born Henry Montgomery Jr. in Beacon, New York
- 1929Signs with MGM and enters films
- 1931Stars opposite Norma Shearer in 'Private Lives'
- 1937Oscar nomination for chilling 'Night Must Fall'
- 1941Second Oscar nod for 'Here Comes Mr. Jordan'
- 1941Enlists in the U.S. Navy during World War II
- 1945Stars in and helps direct 'They Were Expendable'
- 1947Directs first-person noir 'Lady in the Lake'
- 1950Launches anthology series 'Robert Montgomery Presents'
- 1954Becomes TV advisor to President Eisenhower
- 1981Dies of cancer in New York City
Biggest Hits
- Montgomery served as an unpaid television advisor to President Eisenhower in 1954, coaching him on his on-camera appearances.
- His experimental 1947 film 'Lady in the Lake' was shot almost entirely from the detective's point of view, so the star is barely seen on screen.
The Moment You Remember
As the boyish, secretly murderous charmer in <em>Night Must Fall</em>, Montgomery overturned his debonair image, revealing a chilling menace beneath the easy smile that earned him an Academy Award nomination.
Portrait: NBC Television · Public domain (PD-US-no notice) · via Wikimedia Commons