Robert Montgomery (actor)

Robert Montgomery
Montgomery c. 1950s
Born	Henry Montgomery Jr. (1904-05-21)May 21, 1904 Beacon, New York, U.S.
Died	September 27, 1981(1981-09-27) (aged 77) New York City, U.S.
Occupations	Actor director producer
Years active	1924–1960
Spouses	Elizabeth Bryan Allen ​ ​ (m. 1928; div. 1950)​ Elizabeth Grant Harkness ​ ​ (m. 1950)​
Children	3, including Elizabeth Montgomery
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1941–1946
Rank	Lieutenant commander[1]
Unit	USS Barton (DD-722)
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Normandy
Awards	Bronze Star Medal w/ Combat V Combat Action Ribbon American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two stars Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars World War II Victory Medal[1]
3rd and 8th 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

Robert Montgomery (/mɒntˈɡʌməri/; born Henry Montgomery Jr.; (May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981) was an American actor, director, and producer.^[2] He began his acting career on the stage, but was soon hired by MGM. Initially assigned roles in comedies, he soon proved he was able to handle dramatic ones, as well. He appeared in a wide variety of roles, such as the weak-willed prisoner Kent in The Big House (1930), the psychotic Danny in Night Must Fall (1937), and Joe, the boxer mistakenly sent to Heaven in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). The last two earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

During World War II, he drove ambulances in France until the Dunkirk evacuation. When the United States entered the war on December 8, 1941, he enlisted in the Navy, and was present at the invasion at Normandy. After the war, he returned to Hollywood, where he worked in both films, and later, in television. He was also the father of actress Elizabeth Montgomery.