Montgomery Clift

Montgomery Clift (October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American actor. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Clift appeared on Broadway at the age of thirteen. He achieved success on the stage and starred there for ten years before moving to Hollywood, debuting in 1948's Red River opposite John Wayne. Along with Marlon Brando and James Dean, Clift was considered one of the most influential actors of his generation. Clift was also famous for his good looks and intense, penetrating eyes.

Related Topics:
October 17 - 1920 - July 23 - 1966 - Omaha, Nebraska - Broadway - Hollywood - 1948 - Red River - John Wayne - Marlon Brando - James Dean

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Clift was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor that same year for The Search. He had a highly successful film career, performing in many Oscar-nominated roles and becoming a matinee idol for his good looks. His love scenes with Elizabeth Taylor in A Place In The Sun (1951) set the standard for romance in cinema. His signature roles were George Eastman in A Place in the Sun (1951) and Prewitt in From Here To Eternity (1953). Then he was off the screen for 4 years, until Raintree County in 1957.

Related Topics:
Academy Award for Best Actor - The Search - A Place In The Sun - From Here To Eternity - Raintree County

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Amazingly, Clift was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for Judgment at Nuremberg in a role that only took up seven minutes of screen time. But his guilt over his hidden homosexuality led to alcoholism and drug use. In 1956, while filming Raintree County, he smashed his car into a tree, and only quick thinking by co-star Elizabeth Taylor, who pulled two teeth out of his throat to keep him from choking, saved his life. He needed reconstructive surgery on his face and returned to acting, although he could no longer play romantic leading roles.

Related Topics:
Judgment at Nuremberg - Homosexuality - Alcoholism - Drug - 1956 - Elizabeth Taylor

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He turned down the starring roles in East of Eden and Sunset Boulevard. However, he did appear in Wild River, a 1960 film listed in the United States National Film Registry.

Related Topics:
East of Eden - Sunset Boulevard - Wild River - United States National Film Registry

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Montgomery Clift died in 1966 at the age of 45 of a heart attack brought on by his severe drug and alcohol addictions. He was interred in the Quaker Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

Related Topics:
Heart attack - Brooklyn, New York

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The songs "Monty got a Raw Deal" by R.E.M. and "The Right Profile" by The Clash are about him, and even The Clash's live album was named for one of his films (From Here to Eternity).

Related Topics:
R.E.M. - The Clash

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