biography
Born George Montgomery Letz in Brady, Montana, on August 29, 1916, George Montgomery was the youngest of 14 children, all of whom were raised on a ranch.
After briefly attending the University of Montana, he indulged in boxing before making his way to Hollywood in 1935. That same year, he made his first film
appearance in The Singing Vagabond, a Republic western starring Gene Autry.
Throughout the late 1930s, he took bit roles and did a lot of stuntwork in a number of Republic westerns, billed as 'George Letz.' In 1939, he signed with
20th Century Fox and shortened his name to George Montgomery. Fox featured Montgomery in dramas such as Star Dust (1940; with Linda
Darnell, John Payne, and Mary Beth Hughes) and Young People (1940; with Shirley Temple) as well
as westerns including The Cisco Kid and the Lady (1939; with Cesar Romero and Virginia Field) and The Cowboy and the Blonde
(1941; with Mary Beth Hughes). He also starred in musicals, such as Orchestra Wives
(1942; with Ann Rutherford and Lynn Bari) and Coney Island (1943; with Betty Grable and Cesar Romero). 
LEFT: With wife Dinah Shore in the 1940s. RIGHT: Studio promotional photo from the 1950sMilitary service during World War II interrupted his career, and while in the Army Air Froce, he married singer Dinah Shore in 1943. After returning from active duty in 1946, Montgomery found himself back in 'B' westerns such as Belle Starr's Daughter (1948; with Ruth Roman) and Dakota Lil (1950; with Marie Windsor), rather than the bigger budget films he'd been making at Fox before the war. With his career at 20th Century Fox going nowhere fast, George Montgomery headed over to Columbia in 1951, where he starred in many features in the 1950s. Also, he contracted with Columbia to build sets and props for the studio. Eventually, Montgomery became as well known for his furniture building and architectural talents as he was for his acting. Additionally, in the early 1960s, he went behind the camera to write, produce, and direct some of the films he starred in, including The Steel Claw (1961), Samar (1962; with Gilbert Roland), and Satan's Harvest (1970; with Tippi Hedren), among others. |
the films of george montgomeryAccent on Love (1941) From thte 20th Century Fox drama Accent on Love with Osa MassenThe Cowboy and the Blonde (1941)Cadet Girl (1941) With Carole Landis in Cadet GirlThe Girl From Manhattan (1948)
As Reverend Tom Walker in the drama The Girl From ManhattanBelle Starr's Daughter (1948)
From the 20th Century Fox western Belle Starr's DaughterThe Texas Rangers (1951)
With Gale Storm in the Columbia western The Texas RangersGun Belt (1953)
Montgomery roughs up Tab Hunter in the United Artists western Gun BeltThe Pathfinder (1953)
From The Pathfinder, which also features Helena Carter in one of her last films before retiring from the screenBlack Patch (1957)  
From the Warner Bros. western Black PatchGun Duel in Durango (1957)
With Ann Robinson in Gun Duel in DurangoLast of the Badmen (1957)
George Montgomery mixes it up with Douglas Kennedy in Last of the BadmenStreet of Sinners (1957)
Montgomery stars as a cop trying to clean up the streets in the little-seen crime drama Street of SinnersMan from God's Country (1958)
From the Allied Artists western Man from God's CountryWatusi (1959)  
Images from Watusi. The right photo includes Taina ElgSamar (1962)  
LEFT: Written and directed by George Montgomery, Samar stars Montgomery as Dr. Saunders. CENTER: Nico Minardos and Ziva Rodann are pictured. RIGHT: With Joan O'Brien, Ziva Rodann, and Gilbert RolandHallucination Generation (1966)
Montgomery as the sleazy drug dealer Eric in the campy exploitation flick Hallucination GenerationHostile Guns (1967)
From the Paramount western Hostile Guns with Tab Hunter and Yvonne De CarloStrangers at Sunrise (1969)
With Deana Martin in the independent western Strangers at Sunrise, lensed in South Africalater yearsDinah Shore and George Montgomery divorced in May 1962, after two children and nearly 20 years together. In August 1963, Montgomery was the intended victim of his former housekeeper, who attempted to murder him after a brief fling. In the 1970s, Montgomery's screen appearances became few and far between, as he settled into a life of semi-retirement while watching over his business interests. Shore passed away in 1994 at the age of 76 after a bout with cancer. Montgomery passed away on December 12, 2000, at the age of 84. He was survived by a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren. |
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This page premiered June 26, 2001.
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