George Montgomery Fred MacMurray Cimarron City 1958

George Montgomery (born George Montgomery Letz; August 27, 1916 – December 12, 2000) was an American actor, best known for his work in

Western film The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

s and television. He was also a painter, director, producer, writer, sculptor, furniture craftsman, and

stunt A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat or an act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes usually on television, theaters, or cinema. Stunts are a feature of many action films. Before computer generated imagery sp ...

man. He was married to Dinah Shore and a boyfriend of Hedy Lamarr.

Early years

Montgomery was born George Montgomery Letz in 1916, the youngest of 15 children of German immigrant parents, from Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. He was born in Brady, in Pondera County, northern

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

near Great Falls. He was reared on a large ranch, where he learned to ride horses and work cattle as a part of daily life. Letz boxed as a heavyweight for a short while before enrolling in the

University of Montana The University of Montana (UM) is a public research university in Missoula, Montana. UM is a flagship institution of the Montana University System and its second largest campus. UM reported 10,962 undergraduate and graduate students in the fa ...

in Missoula. He was active in school athletics and majored in interior design, but he left after one year.

Career

Montgomery was more interested in a career in

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

than in a college education. Therefore, he left Montana for Hollywood. Two days after his arrival there, he was working as a stunt man on a

Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragic ch ...

film at MGM, ''

Conquest Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms. Military history provides many examples of conquest: the Roman conquest of Britain, the Mauryan conquest of Afghanistan and of vast areas of the Indian subcontinent, ...

'' (1937).

Republic Pictures

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City a ...

, his cowboy skills gained him stunt work and a small acting part at the age of 18 in a 1935

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...

film, ''

The Singing Vagabond ''The Singing Vagabond'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Carl Pierson and starring Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford, and Smiley Burnette. Written by Oliver Drake and Betty Burbridge, the film is about a cowboy who rides to the rescue when ...

''. He followed this with bit parts and additional stunt work as "George Letz" in mostly low-budget films. These included '' Springtime in the Rockies'' (1937) with Autry; ''

The Purple Vigilantes ''The Purple Vigilantes'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan, and Max Terhune. Written by Betty Burbridge and Oliver Drake, the film is about a rancher who organizes other ...

'' (1938) with Robert Livingston; the serial '' The Lone Ranger'' (1938); '' Outlaws of Sonora'' (1938) with Livingston; ''

The Old Barn Dance ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1938) and ''

Gold Mine in the Sky ''Gold Mine in the Sky'' is a 1938 Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Carol Hughes. Based on a story by Betty Burbridge, the film is about a singing cowboy and ranch foreman who, as executor of th ...

'' (1938) with Autry; '' Under Western Stars'' (1938), with

Roy Rogers Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebra ...

; '' Shine On, Harvest Moon'' (1938) with Rogers. Those had all been Westerns. He was in an African adventure tale '' Hawk of the Wilderness'' (1938) with Bruce Bennett (billed as Herman Brix, his real name) and the bigger-budgeted '' Army Girl'' (1938). In 1938, he appeared as one of the six men suspected of being the titular hero in '' The Lone Ranger''. That year, ''Life'' included him in a photo montage of "Hollywood's Movie-struck Kids" and described Montgomery, still using his full name, as "6 ft. 3 in. tall, weighs 210 lb., rides well, is superlatively handsome." He went back to Westerns in '' Southward Ho'' (1939) and '' The Arizona Kid'' (1939) with Rogers. He was in some non-Westerns such as ''

I Was a Convict ''I Was a Convict'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Aubrey Scotto and written by Robert Hardy Andrews and Ben Markson. The film stars Barton MacLane, Beverly Roberts, Clarence Kolb, Janet Beecher, Horace McMahon and Ben Welden. The fi ...

'' (1939), but mostly it was films such as '' South of the Border'' (1939) and ''

In Old Monterey ''In Old Monterey'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and June Storey. Based on a story by Gerald Geraghty and George Sherman, the film is about an army sergeant and former ranch ...

'' (1939) with Autry, ''

Saga of Death Valley '' Saga of Death Valley ''is a 1939 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers. Plot When the senior Roy Rogers is gunned down in front of little Tim Rogers, he is taken by the killers, leaving his older brother Roy ...

'' (1939); ''

Wall Street Cowboy '' Wall Street Cowboy '' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers. Plot Wall Street stock marketeers try to swindle Roy Rogers out of his ranch, when molybdenum, a valuable mineral is discovered on the ...

'' (1939), ''

Frontier Pony Express '' Frontier Pony Express '' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers, Lynne Roberts (as Mary Hart) and Noble Johnson as the lead villain. Plot At the start of the American Civil War in 1861 the Pony Expre ...

'' (1939), '' Rough Riders' Round-up'' (1939) and ''

In Old Caliente ''In Old Caliente'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers. Plot Set after California's Statehood but before the American Civil War, Roy Rogers is working for a wealthy Spanish family. One of their me ...

'' (1939) with Rogers; '' The Night Riders'' (1939) with John Wayne. He worked on Republic's (relatively) big-budget '' Man of Conquest'' (1939).

20th Century Fox

In 1939, he signed with

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...

, which billed him as George Montgomery. His first film at the studio was ''

The Cisco Kid and the Lady ''The Cisco Kid and the Lady'' is a 1939 American Western film starring Cesar Romero as the Cisco Kid, replacing Warner Baxter, who'd won the Academy Award for the role, and is the fifth film in The Cisco Kid series. For Cesar Romero, this was t ...

'' (1939), the first of the Cisco Kid series. Montgomery was billed fourth. He had a small role in '' Star Dust'' (1940), and a bigger one in ''

Young People Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood ( maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as being a young adult. You ...

'' (1940),

Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple;While Temple occasionally used "Jane" as a middle name, her birth certificate reads "Shirley Temple". Her birth certificate was altered to prolong her babyhood shortly after she signed with Fox in ...

's last film for Fox. Montgomery was fourth-billed in a "B" about pilots, '' Charter Pilot'' (1940) with Lloyd Nolan and

Lynn Bari Lynn Bari (born Marjorie Schuyler Fisher, December 18, 1919 – November 20, 1989) was a film actress who specialized in playing sultry, statuesque man-killers in roughly 150 films for 20th Century Fox, from the early 1930s through the 1940s. ...

, and third-billed in '' Jennie'' (1940).

Leading man

Montgomery was promoted to leading roles in a melodrama written by Dalton Trumbo, '' Accent on Love'' (1941). Fox then starred him in some B Westerns: '' Last of the Duanes'' (1941), ''

Riders of the Purple Sage ''Riders of the Purple Sage'' is a Western novel by Zane Grey, first published by Harper & Brothers in 1912. Considered by scholars to have played a significant role in shaping the formula of the popular Western genre, the novel has been called ...

'' (1941), and ''

The Cowboy and the Blonde The Cowboy and the Blonde is a 1941 American Western comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and released by 20th Century Fox. Cast * Mary Beth Hughes as Crystal Wayne * George Montgomery as Lank Garrett * Alan Mowbray Alan Mowbray (born A ...

'' (1941). Montgomery was teamed with

Carole Landis Carole Landis (born Frances Lillian Mary Ridste; January 1, 1919 – July 5, 1948) was an American actress and singer. She worked as a contract player for Twentieth Century-Fox in the 1940s. Her breakout role was as the female lead in the 1940 ...

in ''

Cadet Girl ''Cadet Girl'' is a 1941 comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and written by Stanley Rauh and H.W. Hanemann. The film stars Carole Landis, George Montgomery, Shepperd Strudwick, William Tracy, Janis Carter and Robert Lowery. The film was relea ...

'' (1941). He was given the lead in an "A" when he top-lined '' Orchestra Wives'' (1942) with Ann Rutherford, a film best remembered today for giving a co-star role to

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the US Army Air Forc ...

. He starred in ''

Ten Gentlemen from West Point ''Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring George Montgomery, Maureen O'Hara and John Sutton. Its cinematography was nominated for an Academy Award in 1943. George Montgomery replac ...

'' (1942) with

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural redhead who was known for pl ...

, playing a role originally intended for

Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include ''Jesse James (193 ...

. He was Ginger Rogers' love interest in '' Roxie Hart'' (1942) and played opposite Gene Tierney in '' China Girl'' (1942) for Henry Hathaway. All these films were popular at the box office. The following year, Montgomery starred with

Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reign ...

in the Walter Lang-directed film ''

Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...

'', which was his biggest hit to date. According to one obituary, "The actor's vocal mannerisms were often uncannily reminiscent of

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

, and when he grew a moustache his similarities to the greater star were even more apparent. This was never more so than in ''Coney Island''. He also starred in '' Bomber's Moon'' (1943).

World War II

Montgomery was announced for several films originally intended for Fox leading men

, who had joined the Marine Corps, and Henry Fonda, who had joined the Navy, including '' Down the Sea to the Ships'' and ''Bird of Paradise'' with Tierney. However, Montgomery wound up joining the

U.S. Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War ...

First Motion Picture Unit in 1943 where he appeared in such training films as ''Survival of the Fittest'' (1944). He returned to Fox in 1946, and played the lead in a musical '' Three Little Girls in Blue'' (1946). Fox then cast him as

Philip Marlowe Philip Marlowe () is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler, who was characteristic of the hardboiled crime fiction genre. The hardboiled crime fiction genre originated in the 1920s, notably in ''Black Mask'' magazine, in which Dashiel ...

in '' The Brasher Doubloon'' (1947), a B-picture version of the novel '' The High Window'' by

Raymond Chandler Raymond Thornton Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American-British novelist and screenwriter. In 1932, at the age of forty-four, Chandler became a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive durin ...

. Montgomery was unhappy at Fox. The song "This is Always", Montgomery's major duet (albeit dubbed) with June Haver in ''Three Little Girls in Blue'', was cut, and he was assigned to a minor Western, ''

Belle Starr's Daughter ''Belle Starr's Daughter'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring George Montgomery, Rod Cameron and Ruth Roman. Plot After the town marshal of Antioch is shot by Bob Yauntis, the newly appointed Tom Jackso ...

'' (1948). Montgomery left Fox in September 1947 unhappy with his roles.

Low-budget action star

Montgomery appeared in '' Lulu Belle'' (1948) and '' The Girl from Manhattan'' for

Benedict Bogeaus Benedict Bogeaus (May 4, 1904, in Chicago – August 23, 1968, in Hollywood), was an independent film producer and former owner of General Service Studios. Biography and filmography Bogeaus' business career started when he was seventeen, workin ...

. In 1950, he starred as the title role in '' Davy Crockett, Indian Scout'' for

Edward Small Edward Small (born Edward Schmalheiser, February 1, 1891, Brooklyn, New York – January 25, 1977, Los Angeles) was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970, who was enormously prolific over a 50-year career. He is best known for the movi ...

. He went back to Fox for '' Dakota Lil'' (1950) and made ''

The Iroquois Trail ''The Iroquois Trail'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Phil Karlson starring George Montgomery and Brenda Marshall. It is set during the French-Indian War. It is an adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's 1826 work ''The Last of ...

'' (1950) and '' The Texas Rangers'' (1951) for Small. Montgomery tried a swashbuckler at Fox, '' The Sword of Monte Cristo'' (1951), then returned to Small for '' Indian Uprising'' (1951) and '' Cripple Creek'' (1952), '' Gun Belt'' (1953), and ''

The Lone Gun ''The Lone Gun'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring George Montgomery and Dorothy Malone. It was originally known as ''Adios My Texas''. Plot After he drifts into town with Fairweather, a card-playing partner ...

'' (1954). For Sam Katzman, he made '' The Pathfinder'' (1952), ''

Fort Ti ''Fort Ti'' is a 1953 American 3-D Western film directed by William Castle, and starring George Montgomery and Joan Vohs. Written by Robert E. Kent, the film is the first Western to be released in 3-D and the first 3-D feature to be released i ...

'' (1952), '' Jack McCall, Desperado'' (1953), '' The Battle of Rogue River'' (1954), and '' Seminole Uprising'' (1955). Montgomery worked for other producers: '' Robbers' Roost'' (1955); '' Huk!'' (1956), a war movie shot in the Philippines; '' Canyon River'' (1956); '' Pawnee'' (1957); '' Black Patch'' (1957); ''

Gun Duel in Durango ''Gun Duel in Durango'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring George Montgomery. It was originally known as ''The Last Gun in Durango''. Plot Will Sabre, an outlaw, decides to reform and ride to a new territo ...

'' (1957) for Small; ''

Street of Sinners ''Street of Sinners'' is a 1957 American crime film directed by William Berke, written by John McPartland, and starring George Montgomery, Geraldine Brooks, Nehemiah Persoff, Marilee Earle, William Harrigan and Stephen Joyce. It was released i ...

'' (1957) a rare non-Western; ''

Last of the Badmen ''Last of the Badmen'' is a 1957 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Paul Landres and starring George Montgomery. Plot Cast *George Montgomery as Dan Barton *James Best as Ted Hamilton *Douglas Kennedy as Hawkins *Keith Larsen as ...

'' (1957); '' Man from God's Country'' (1958); '' The Toughest Gun in Tombstone'' (1958); and ''

Badman's Country ''Badman's Country'' is a 1958 American Western film directed by Fred F. Sears and written by Orville H. Hampton. The film stars George Montgomery. Plot Pat Garrett arrives in Abilene where he catches five of Butch Cassidy's gang. He calls in ...

'' (1958) as Pat Garrett.

Television

In the 1958–59 season, Montgomery starred in his own 26-episode NBC Western series, '' Cimarron City'' as Mayor Matt Rockford, with co-stars John Smith and

Audrey Totter Audrey Mary Totter (December 20, 1917 – December 12, 2013) was an American radio, film, and television actress and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player in the 1940s. Early life Audrey – some sources indicate "Audra" – Totter w ...

through his own production company Mont Productions. Montgomery claimed to have turned down the lead roles in the Western television series ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'' and ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

''. ''Cimarron City'' ran one season. Montgomery made an Imperial adventure for MGM, '' Watusi'' (1959), a sequel to ''

King Solomon's Mines ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1885) is a popular novel by the English Victorian adventure writer and fabulist Sir H. Rider Haggard. It tells of a search of an unexplored region of Africa by a group of adventurers led by Allan Quatermain for the ...

'' (1950). He followed it with '' King of the Wild Stallions'' (1959). He made guest appearances on a number of television shows, including NBC's ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'' and '' The Gisele MacKenzie Show''.

Director

Montgomery turned director with '' The Steel Claw'' (1961), a war film shot in the Philippines, which he also co-wrote and in which he starred. He was in ''

Samar Samar ( ) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided in ...

'' (1962), ''

From Hell to Borneo ''Hell of Borneo'' also known as Hell to Borneo and From Hell to Borneo is a 1964 English language Philippine film produced by and starring Torin Thatcher, Vic Diaz and George Montgomery (who also directed and co-wrote the screenplay). The film ...

'' (1963), and '' Guerillas in Pink Lace'' (1964). He was going to make ''Outlaw of Red River'' for Robert Lippert in Spain, but it appears to have not been made. As an actor, he was in the filmed in Spain ''

Battle of the Bulge The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...

'' (1965) and '' Django the Condemned'' (1966). He was in ''

Hallucination Generation ''Hallucination Generation'' is a 1967 film by Edward Mann. Purportedly intended as a warning against the dangers of pill-popping Sixties hedonism along the lines of 1936's ''Reefer Madness'', the film's primary purpose appears to have been tit ...

'' (1967) an anti-LSD movie. Montgomery was in '' Bomb at 10:10'' (1967), ''

Hostile Guns ''Hostile Guns'' is a 1967 Western starring George Montgomery, Tab Hunter and Yvonne de Carlo. Plot Cast * George Montgomery as Sheriff Gid McCool *Tab Hunter as Mike Reno *Yvonne De Carlo as Laura Mannon *Brian Donlevy as Marshal Willett * ...

'' (1967), ''

Warkill ''Warkill'' is a 1968 American drama film written and directed by Ferde Grofé Jr. and starring George Montgomery, Tom Drake, Conrad Parham, Eddie Infante, Henry Duval and Joaquin Fajardo. It was released in May 1968, by Universal Pictures. P ...

'' (1968), and '' Strangers at Sunrise'' (1970) (shot in South Africa). He also worked the dinner and stock theatre circuit, appearing in productions of ''Two for the Seesaw'' and '' A Hole in the Head''. He planned to make a

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

film ''The Ho Chi Minh Trail'' in Bangkok and the Philippines, but the film was cancelled.

1970s

Montgomery acted in and directed '' Satan's Harvest'' (1970) made in South Africa. He also starred in '' The Leo Chronicles'' (1972) and ''The Daredevil'' (1972) and helped produce '' The Proud and Damned'' (1972). He also starred in the TV movie '' Ride the Tiger'' (1970) and made guest appearances on 1970s television shows including '' The Odd Couple'' and ''

The Six Million Dollar Man ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' is an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, Austin ...

''.

Other interests

As a boy, George Montgomery had become an excellent wood craftsman. As an adult, he began building furniture, first for himself and then for a few friends. His skill was such that his hobby became a full-fledged cabinet-making business, in which he employed as many as 20 craftsmen. He appeared in

television advertisement A television advertisement (also called a television commercial, TV commercial, commercial, spot, television spot, TV spot, advert, television advert, TV advert, television ad, TV ad or simply an ad) is a span of television programming produce ...

s for

Pledge Pledge may refer to: Promises * a solemn promise * Abstinence pledge, a commitment to practice abstinence, usually teetotalism or chastity * The Pledge (New Hampshire), a promise about taxes by New Hampshire politicians * Pledge of Allegianc ...

furniture cleaner during the 1970s. Montgomery oversaw the furniture business for more than 40 years, and expanded his interest to house design. He became involved with the building of 11 homes for friends and family. His artistic instincts included learning how to sculpt in

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids suc ...

. Self-taught, he sculpted upwards of 50 bronze sculptures of subjects such as

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the " Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "'' Do ...

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor whose career spanned the years from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of ...

, and

Ronald W. Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

. He received renown in particular for a sculpture he did of Custer's Last Stand. His sculpture of his former wife, Dinah Shore, and their children is displayed at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. In 1981, he published a book ''The Years of George Montgomery''.

Personal life

Montgomery was briefly engaged to Hedy Lamarr. Montgomery and singer Dinah Shore married on December 5, 1943. They had one child, Melissa Ann "Missy" Montgomery (born 1948). George and Dinah also adopted a son, John "Jody" David Montgomery, in 1954. They divorced in 1963. Missy Montgomery also became an actress. In 1963, Montgomery's private life made headlines when his housekeeper was charged in a failed attempt to kill him. Allegedly suffering from a fanatical attraction to her employer, the woman planned to shoot Montgomery, then commit

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and ...

. Montgomery died at home on December 12, 2000, aged 84. After

cremation Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a Cadaver, dead body through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India ...

, Montgomery's ashes were divided and interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City) near his Palm Springs home and at the Highland Cemetery in

Great Falls, Montana Great Falls is the third most populous city in the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Cascade County. The population was 60,442 according to the 2020 census. The city covers an area of and is the principal city of the Great Falls, M ...

, near his birthplace.

Legacy

For his contribution to the television industry, George Montgomery has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

at 6301 Hollywood Blvd. In 1995, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated in his honor. He is also honored with a statue in the square of

Plentywood, Montana Plentywood is a city in and the county seat of Sheridan County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,669 at the 2020 census. History The first business in Plentywood opened in 1900, and a post office was established two years later. T ...

Filmography

* ''

'' (1935) as Soldier (uncredited) * '' Springtime in the Rockies'' (1937) as Cowhand at Dance (uncredited) * ''

'' (1938) as Gambler (uncredited) * ''

'' (1938) as Rider (uncredited) * '' The Lone Ranger'' (1938, Serial) as Jim Clark * '' Outlaws of Sonora'' (1938) as Bank Teller (uncredited) * ''

'' (1938) as Cowhand (uncredited) * '' Under Western Stars'' (1938) as Cowhand (uncredited) * '' Army Girl'' (1938) as Soldier (uncredited) * '' Pals of the Saddle'' (1938) as Rider (uncredited) * ''

Billy the Kid Returns '' Billy the Kid Returns '' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers. Plot Following the shooting of Billy the Kid by his former friend Sheriff Pat Garrett, lookalike deputy sheriff Roy Rogers, assisted ...

'' (1938) as Henchman (uncredited) * '' Come On, Rangers'' (1938) as Ranger in Black Hat (uncredited) * '' Hawk of the Wilderness'' (1938) as Tom (uncredited) * '' Shine On, Harvest Moon'' (1938) as Rustler (uncredited) * ''

The Mysterious Miss X ''The Mysterious Miss X'' is a 1939 film directed by Gus Meins and starring Michael Whalen (actor), Michael Whalen, Chick Chandler and Lynne Roberts, Mary Hart.I Was a Convict ''I Was a Convict'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Aubrey Scotto and written by Robert Hardy Andrews and Ben Markson. The film stars Barton MacLane, Beverly Roberts, Clarence Kolb, Janet Beecher, Horace McMahon and Ben Welden. The fi ...

'' (1939) as Prison Guard (uncredited) * '' Rough Riders' Round-up'' (1939) as Patrolman Joe (uncredited) * '' Southward Ho'' (1939) (uncredited) * '' The Night Riders'' (1939) as Mob Member (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) as Lieutenant Harris (uncredited) * '' Man of Conquest'' (1939) as Young Lieutenant, Jackson Aide (uncredited) * '' S.O.S. Tidal Wave'' (1939) (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) as Curly Henchman (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) as Cowhand (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) as Soldier (uncredited) * '' The Arizona Kid'' (1939) as Soldier (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) as Henchman (uncredited) * '' South of the Border'' (1939) as Bandit (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) as Tommy Bates * '' Star Dust'' (1940) as Ronnie * ''

'' (1940) as Mike Shea * '' Charter Pilot'' (1940) as Charlie Crane * '' Jennie'' (1940) as Franz Schermer * ''

'' (1941) as Lank Garrett * '' Accent on Love'' (1941) as John Worth Hyndman * '' Last of the Duanes'' (1941) as Buck Duane * ''

'' (1941) as Jim Lassiter * ''

'' (1941) as Tex Mallory * '' Roxie Hart'' (1942) as Homer Howard * ''

'' (1942) as Joe Dawson * '' Orchestra Wives'' (1942) as Bill Abbot * '' China Girl'' (1942) as Johnny Williams * ''

'' (1943) as Eddie Johnson * '' Bomber's Moon'' (1943) as Capt. Jeffrey Dakin * ''Survival of the Fittest'' (1944) as a downed USAAF pilot * '' Three Little Girls in Blue'' (1946) as Van Damm Smith * '' The Brasher Doubloon'' (1947) as Philip Marlowe * '' Lulu Belle'' (1948) as George Davis * '' The Girl from Manhattan'' (1948) as Rev. Tom Walker * ''

'' (1948) as Marshal Tom Jackson * '' Davy Crockett, Indian Scout'' (1950) as Davy Crockett * '' Dakota Lil'' (1950) as Tom Horn / Steve Garrett * ''

'' (1950) as Nat Cutler / Hawkeye * '' The Sword of Monte Cristo'' (1951) as Captain Renault * '' The Texas Rangers'' (1951) as Johnny Carver * '' Indian Uprising'' (1952) as Capt Chas McCloud * '' Cripple Creek'' (1952) as Bret Ivers * '' The Pathfinder'' (1952) as Pathfinder * '' Jack McCall, Desperado'' (1953) as Jack McCall * ''

'' (1953) as Capt. Jed Horn * '' Gun Belt'' (1953) as Billy Ringo * '' Battle of Rogue River'' (1954) as Maj. Frank Archer * ''

'' (1954) as Cruze * ''

Masterson of Kansas ''Masterson of Kansas'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by William Castle and starring George Montgomery, Nancy Gates and James Griffith. It was produced by Sam Katzman for distribution for Columbia Pictures. Synopsis Bat Masterson ...

'' (1954) as Bat Masterson * '' Studio One in Hollywood'' (1955, episode "The Conviction of Peter Sea") as Bakeland * '' Seminole Uprising'' (1955) as Lt. Carn Elliott * '' Robbers' Roost'' (1955) as Jim 'Tex' Wall * ''

Stage 7 ''Stage 7'' is a 30-minute American TV drama anthology series that was broadcast on CBS from December 12, 1954, through September 25, 1955. This program premiered in December 1954 with the title ''Your Favorite Playhouse'' with all episodes being ...

'' (1955, episode "The Traveling Salesman") as Dan Kelly * ''

General Electric Theater ''General Electric Theater'' was an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations. Radio After an audition show ...

'' (1955, episode "The Return of Gentleman Jim") as Gentleman Jim Corbett * '' Screen Directors Playhouse'' (1956, episode "Claire") as Dr. Stanley Wayne * '' Canyon River'' (1956) as Steve Patrick * '' Huk!'' (1956) as Greg Dickson * '' Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre'' (1956, episode "Ten Percent") as Mark Weston * '' The Ford Television Theatre'' (1957, episode "The Quiet Stranger") as Daniel McKee * ''

'' (1957) as Dan Barton * ''

'' (1957) as Dan * ''

'' (1957) as John Dean * '' Pawnee'' (1957) as Paul 'Pale Arrow' Fletcher * '' Black Patch'' (1957) as Marshal Clay Morgan * ''

'' (1957, episode "Thousand Dollar Gun") as Buchanan Smith * ''

'' (1958, episode "The Jesse Cowan Story") as Jesse Cowan * '' Man from God's Country'' (1958) as Dan Beattie * '' The Toughest Gun in Tombstone'' (1958) Captain Matt Sloane * '' Cimarron City'' (1958–1959, TV Series) as Mayor Matt Rockford * ''

'' (1958) as Pat Garrett * '' Watusi'' (1959) as Harry Quartermain * '' King of the Wild Stallions'' (1959) as Randy Burke * '' Sea Hunt'' (1960, Season 3, Episode 4) * '' The Steel Claw'' (1961, also director, writer, producer) as Capt. John Larsen * ''

'' (1962, also director, writer, producer) as Dr. John David Saunders * ''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele ( Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian partner, Tom Lopaka ( Robert ...

'' (1963, episode "Boar Hunt") as Maitland * '' Guerillas in Pink Lace'' (1964, also director, writer, producer) as Murphy * ''

'' (1965) as Sgt. Duquesne * '' Django the Condemned'' (1965) as Pat O'Brien * ''

'' (1966, episode "The Code") as Dan Taggert * ''

I Spy I spy is a guessing game where one player (the ''spy'' or ''it'') chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that "I spy with my little eye something beginning with...", naming the first letter of the object. Other players a ...

'' (1966, episode "A Day Called 4 Jaguar") as Nicolai * ''

'' (1966) as Eric * '' Bomb at 10:10'' (1967) as Steve Corbit * ''

'' (1967) as Sheriff Gid McCool * '' Hell of Borneo'' (1967) as John Dirkson (shot in 1963) * ''

'' (1968) as Col. John Hannegan * '' Strangers at Sunrise'' (1969) as Grant Merrick * '' Satan's Harvest'' (1969, also director, writer, producer) as Cutter Murdock * '' Ride the Tiger'' (1970, TV Movie, also directed) * '' Alias Smith and Jones'' (1971, episode "Jailbreak at Junction City") as Curt Clitterhouse * ''

NET Playhouse ''NET Playhouse'' was an American dramatic television anthology series produced by National Educational Television. NET subsequently merged with WNDT Newark to form WNET, and was superseded by the Public Broadcasting Service, though the NET tit ...

'' (1972, episode "Portrait of the Hero as a Young Man") as Christopher Gist * '' The Leo Chronicles'' (1972) * '' The Proud and the Damned'' (1972, producer) * ''

The Daredevil ''The Daredevil'' (german: Der Draufgänger) is a 1931 German crime film directed by Richard Eichberg and starring Hans Albers, Gerda Maurus and Mártha Eggerth.Bock & Bergfelder p. 105 The film's sets were designed by the art directors Hans ...

'' (1972) as Paul Tunney * ''

'' (1974, episode "The Coward") as Christopher Bell / Garth * '' The Odd Couple'' (1974, episode "The Hollywood Story") as Griff * '' Blood, Money and Tears'' (1980) * '' Children's Island'' (1984, TV Series) as The President * '' Wild Wind'' (1985) as Major Nestorovic (final film role)

Bibliography

* Montgomery, George ''The Years of George Montgomery'' Sagebrush; 1st edition (1981)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Montgomery, George 1916 births 2000 deaths American male television actors United States Army personnel of World War II American people of German descent American stunt performers Burials at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City) First Motion Picture Unit personnel Male actors from Montana Male Western (genre) film actors People from Greater Los Angeles People from Pondera County, Montana People from Rancho Mirage, California United States Army soldiers University of Montana alumni 20th Century Studios contract players Western (genre) television actors 20th-century American male actors