Robert Montgomery

 Robert Montgomery (May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981)

He was an actor, director, producer, and father of Elizabeth Montgomery. Montgomery initially played exclusively in comedy roles, but portrayed a character in his first drama film in The Big House (1930). From The Big House on, he was in constant demand. Appearing as Greta Garbo's romantic interest in Inspiration (1930) started him toward stardom with a rush. Norma Shearer chose him to star opposite her in The Divorcee (1930), Strangers May Kiss (1931), and Private Lives (1931), which led him to stardom. During this time, Montgomery appeared in the original pre-Code film version of When Ladies Meet (1933), which starred Ann Harding and Myrna Loy. In 1935, Montgomery became President of the Screen Actors Guild, and was elected again in 1946. In 1937, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor as a psychopath in the chiller Night Must Fall, then returned to playing light comedy roles, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) with Carole Lombard, but continued his search for dramatic roles. He was concerned about communist influence in the entertainment industry, and appeared as a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. The next year, 1948, Montgomery hosted the Academy Awards. He hosted an Emmy Award-winning television series, Robert Montgomery Presents, in the 1950s. Robert Montgomery died of cancer at age 77 in 1981, and was cremated. Sadly, his daughter Elizabeth and son (Robert Jr.) also died from cancer.