biography

George Montgomery 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).

Dinah Shore and George MontgomeryGeorge Montgomery

LEFT: With wife Dinah Shore in the 1940s. RIGHT: Studio promotional photo from the 1950s


Military 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 montgomery

Accent on Love (1941)

George Montgomery and Osa Massen

From thte 20th Century Fox drama Accent on Love with Osa Massen

The Cowboy and the Blonde (1941)

George Montgomery and Mary Beth Hughes

From the 20th Century Fox second feature The Cowboy and the Blonde with Mary Beth Hughes

Cadet Girl (1941)

Carole Landis and George Montgomery

With Carole Landis in Cadet Girl

The Girl From Manhattan (1948)

George Montgomery

As Reverend Tom Walker in the drama The Girl From Manhattan

Belle Starr's Daughter (1948)

George Montgomery

From the 20th Century Fox western Belle Starr's Daughter

The Texas Rangers (1951)

George Montgomery and Gale Storm

With Gale Storm in the Columbia western The Texas Rangers

Gun Belt (1953)

George Montgomery and Tab Hunter

Montgomery roughs up Tab Hunter in the United Artists western Gun Belt

The Pathfinder (1953)

George Montgomery

From The Pathfinder, which also features Helena Carter in one of her last films before retiring from the screen

Black Patch (1957)

George MontgomeryGeorge MontgomeryGeorge Montgomery

From the Warner Bros. western Black Patch

Gun Duel in Durango (1957)

George Montgomery

With Ann Robinson in Gun Duel in Durango

Last of the Badmen (1957)

George Montgomery

George Montgomery mixes it up with Douglas Kennedy in Last of the Badmen

Street of Sinners (1957)

George Montgomery

Montgomery stars as a cop trying to clean up the streets in the little-seen crime drama Street of Sinners

Man from God's Country (1958)

George Montgomery

From the Allied Artists western Man from God's Country

Watusi (1959)

George MontgomeryGeorge MontgomeryGeorge Montgomery

Images from Watusi. The right photo includes Taina Elg

Samar (1962)

George MontgomeryGeorge MontgomeryJoan O'Brien, George Montgomery, Ziva Rodann, and Gilbert Roland

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 Roland

Hallucination Generation (1966)

George Montgomery

Montgomery as the sleazy drug dealer Eric in the campy exploitation flick Hallucination Generation

Hostile Guns (1967)

Tab Hunter, Yvonne De Carlo, and George Montgomery

From the Paramount western Hostile Guns with Tab Hunter and Yvonne De Carlo

Strangers at Sunrise (1969)

George Montgomery

With Deana Martin in the independent western Strangers at Sunrise, lensed in South Africa

later years


Dinah 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.



filmography

FILM
Wild Wind (1986)
The Daredevil (1972) with Terry Moore
Satan's Harvest (1970) with Tippi Hedren
Strangers at Sunrise (1969) with Deana Martin
Bomb at 10:10 (1967)
Hostile Guns (1967) with Yvonne De Carlo, Tab Hunter, John Russell, Brian Donlevy, James Craig, and Richard Arlen
Warkill (1967) with Tom Drake
Hell of Borneo (1966) with Rita Moreno
Hallucination Generation (1966)
Outlaw of Red River (1965) with Raf Baldassarre
Battle of the Bulge (1965) with Henry Fonda, Ty Hardin, Robert Shaw, Robert Ryan, Dana Andrews, Pier Angeli, and Charles Bronson
Guerillas in Pink Lace (1964)
Samar (1962) with Gilbert Roland, Ziva Rodann, and Joan O'Brien
The Steel Claw (1961)
King of the Wild Stallions (1959)
Watusi (1959) with Taina Elg, David Farrar, and Rex Ingram
Badman's Country (1958) with Neville Brand, Buster Crabbe, and Karin Booth
Toughest Gun in Tombstone (1958) with Jim Davis
Man from God's Country (1958) with Phillip Terry
Black Patch (1957) with Diane Brewster and Sebastian Cabot
Pawnee (1957) with Bill Williams and Dabbs Greer
Street of Sinners (1957) with Geraldine Brooks
Gun Duel in Durango (1957) with Ann Robinson, Steve Brodie, Don 'Red' Barry, and Denver Pyle
Last of the Badmen (1957) with Keith Larsen, James Best, Douglas Kennedy, Willis Bouchey, and Michael Ansara
Canyon River (1956) with Peter Graves, Marcia Henderson, and Alan Hale
Huk! (1956) with Mona Freeman
Robbers' Roost (1955) with Bruce Bennett, William Hopper, Richard Boone, Peter Graves, and Warren Stevens
Seminole Uprising (1955) with Karin Booth
Masterson of Kansas (1954) with Nancy Gates; directed by William Castle
The Lone Gun (1954) with Dorothy Malone, Frank Faylen, and Neville Brand
The Battle of Rogue River (1954) with Richard Denning and Martha Hyer
Fort Ti (1953)
Gun Belt (1953) Tab Hunter, Jack Elam, Douglas Kennedy, and Willis Bouchey
Jack McCall Desperado (1953) with Angela Stevens and Douglas Kennedy
The Pathfinder (1953) with Helena Carter, Jay Silverheels, and Elena Verdugo
Indian Uprising (1952) with Carl Benton Reid
Cripple Creek (1952) with Karin Booth, Jerome Courtland, Richard Egan, and Don Porter
The Sword of Monte Cristo (1951) with Acquanetta, William Conrad, Rita Corday, Steve Brodie, and Lillian Bronson
The Texas Rangers (1951) with Gale Storm, Jerome Courtland, Noah Beery Jr., Douglas Kennedy, and Jock Mahoney
Dakota Lil (1950) with Marie Windsor, Rod Cameron, and Lillian Bronson
The Iroquois Trail (1950) with Brenda Marshall, Glenn Langan, Monte Blue, Sheldon Leonard, and Dan O'Herlihy
Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950) with Ellen Drew, Philip Reed, Noah Beery Jr., and Kenne Duncan
Belle Starr's Daughter (1948) with Ruth Roman and Rod Cameron
The Girl from Manhattan (1948) with Dorothy Lamour, Charles Laughton, Hugh Herbert, and William Frawley
Lulu Belle (1948) with Dorothy Lamour, Albert Dekker, Otto Kruger, and Glenda Farrell
The Brasher Doubloon (1947) with Nancy Guild and Conrad Janis
Three Little Girls in Blue (1946) with June Haver, Vivian Blaine, Celeste Holm, and Vera-Ellen
Bomber's Moon (1943) with Annabella and Kent Taylor
Coney Island (1943) with Betty Grable and Cesar Romero
China Girl (1942) with Gene Tierney and Lynn Bari
Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942) with Maureen O'Hara
Roxie Hart (1942) with Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Phil Silvers, William Frawley, Spring Byington, and Morris Ankrum
Orchestra Wives (1942) with Lynn Bari, Glenn Miller, and Ann Rutherford
Accent on Love (1941) with Osa Massen, J. Carrol Naish, Cobina Wright, and Minerva Urecal
Cadet Girl (1941) with Carole Landis
The Riders of the Purple Sage (1941) with Kane Richmond
The Last of the Duanes (1941) with Eve Arden
The Cowboy and the Blonde (1941) with Mary Beth Hughes, Alan Mowbray, Minerva Urecal, and Fuzzy Knight
Charter Pilot (1940) with Lloyd Nolan, Lynn Bari, and Arleen Whelan
Jennie (1940) with William Henry
Star Dust (1940) with John Payne and Linda Darnell
Young People (1940) with Shirley Temple, Jack Oakie, Charlotte Greenwood, and Arleen Whelan
Hi-Yo Silver (1940) with Bruce Bennett
The Cisco Kid and the Lady (1939) with Cesar Romero and Marjorie Weaver
The Lone Ranger (1938) with Bruce Bennett
Springtime in the Rockies (1937) with Gene Autry

TELEVISION SERIES
Cimarron City, 1958-1959 TV series. Montgomery was both star and narrator for this hour-long NBC western

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Odd Couple, episode The Hollywood Story, originally aired October 3, 1974
The Six Million Dollar Man, episode The Coward, originally aired April 19, 1974
Alias Smith and Jones, episode Jailbreak at Junction City, originally aired September 30, 1971
I Spy, episode A Day Called 4 Jaguar, originally aired March 9, 1966
Bonanza, episode The Code, originally aired February 13, 1966
Hawaiian Eye, episode Boar Hunt, originally aired February 5, 1963
Wagon Train, episode The Jesse Cowan Story, originally aired January 8, 1958
General Electric Theater, episode Thousand Dollar Gun, originally aired October 20, 1957
The Ford Television Theatre, episode The Quiet Stranger, originally aired January 9, 1957
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode Ten Percent, originally aired August 28, 1956
Screen Directors Playhouse, episode Claire, originally aired April 25, 1956
Stage 7, episode The Traveling Salesman, originally aired June 12, 1955
Studio One, episode The Conviction of Peter Shea, originally aired March 14, 1955
General Electric Theater, episode The Return of Gentleman Jim, originally aired February 6, 1955

george montgomery trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for George Montgomery's 1942 comedy Roxie Hart

george montgomery television appearances

Watch George Montgomery in a June 1955 episode of the CBS anthology series Stage 7 titled The Traveling Salesman

george montgomery film now showing

Watch George Montgomery's 1961 war flick The Steel Claw
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