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Robert Montgomery
RobertMontgomeryApr1939.jpg
President of the Screen Actors Guild
In office
1935–1938
Preceded by Eddie Cantor
Succeeded by Ralph Morgan
In office
1946–1947
Preceded by George Murphy
Succeeded by Ronald Reagan
Personal details
Born
Henry Montgomery, Jr.

(1904-05-21)May 21, 1904
Fishkill Landing, New York (now Beacon, New York), U.S.
Died September 27, 1981(1981-09-27) (aged 77)
New York City, U.S.
Spouses Elizabeth Bryan Allen (1928–1950; divorced); 2 children
Elizabeth Grant Harkness (1950–1981; his death)
Children Elizabeth Montgomery
Robert Montgomery, Jr.
Occupation Actor, director

Robert Montgomery (born May 21, 1904 – died September 27, 1981) was a famous American actor and director. He was born in Beacon, New York, a town in the United States. Robert Montgomery starred in many exciting movies during his career. He also became known for directing films and television shows. He passed away in New York City when he was 77 years old.

Who Was Robert Montgomery?

Robert Montgomery was a talented person who worked in Hollywood for many years. He was known for his good looks and his ability to play different kinds of characters. He acted in over 50 movies. Later in his career, he also stepped behind the camera to direct.

His Early Life

Robert Montgomery's full name was Henry Montgomery, Jr. He was born in a place called Fishkill Landing, New York, which is now known as Beacon, New York. His father worked for a railroad company. Robert went to school and grew up like many other kids.

Becoming a Movie Star

Robert Montgomery started his acting career on stage in New York City. He soon moved to Hollywood to try acting in movies. His first movie was in 1929. He quickly became a popular star.

He was known for playing charming and sometimes serious characters. One of his most famous movies was Night Must Fall (1937). In this film, he played a very different role than his usual charming characters. This showed how good he was at acting.

Leading the Screen Actors Guild

Besides acting, Robert Montgomery was also a leader in Hollywood. He served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) twice. SAG is a union that helps protect the rights of actors.

He was president from 1935 to 1938 and again from 1946 to 1947. This was an important job because he helped make sure actors were treated fairly. Other famous actors like Ronald Reagan also served as SAG president after him.

Directing Movies and TV

After World War II, Robert Montgomery started to direct movies. He directed films like Lady in the Lake (1947), which was unique because it was filmed entirely from the main character's point of view. This meant the audience saw everything as if they were the character.

He also directed many television shows. He hosted and directed a show called Robert Montgomery Presents in the 1950s. This show brought plays and stories to television. It was very popular and helped shape early TV.

His Family and Later Years

Robert Montgomery was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Bryan Allen, and they had two children together. One of their children, Elizabeth Montgomery, also became a very famous actress. She starred in the TV show Bewitched.

Robert Montgomery passed away in 1981 in New York City. He left behind a legacy as a talented actor, a pioneering director, and a strong leader for actors' rights.

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