Lee Montgomery

Elliott Harcourt Montgomery (born November 3, 1961),[1] known as Lee Montgomery, is a United States-based Canadian real estate agent and retired actor. He is best known for his role as a lonely little boy who befriends a pack of killer rats in the film Ben (1972) and as Sarah Jessica Parker's hunky dance partner, Jeff Malene, in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985).

Hollywood

Brother of actresses Belinda and Tannis Montgomery and the son of actor Cecil Montgomery, Lee began his career as a model before venturing into the acting business. He made his debut in the Disney film The Million Dollar Duck in 1971, before landing a starring role in Ben (1972), the sequel to Willard (1971).

Montgomery played a dying boy in the Academy Award-nominated film Pete 'n' Tillie, starring Carol Burnett and Walter Matthau. He made appearances on television series such as Mod Squad, Columbo, Kojak, Adam-12, Emergency!, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He acted in an infamous incest-themed film by George C. Scott called The Savage Is Loose, and in a cult horror film with Oliver Reed, Karen Black, and Bette Davis, Burnt Offerings. In the 1980s, he made more cameo appearances such as CHiPs, Family Ties, Hotel, Fame, and Dallas, and he made a transition to adult roles in films such as Split Image (1982) with Peter Fonda, Night Shadows (aka Mutant) with Wings Hauser (1984) and Into the Fire (1988) co-starring Susan Anspach and Olivia D'Abo. One of his best known later roles was as Phil Grenville in Midnight Hour. He also played Jeff Malene in the teen comedy Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985), alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, and Shannen Doherty. He appeared in a CBS Schoolbreak Special called "Hear Me Cry" (1984).

Personal life

In 1985, Montgomery married actress/screenwriter Carole Burkett.

After Hollywood

Since dropping out of the limelight, Montgomery pursued other interests, such as music related projects. He composed the soundtrack for the film Trigon: The Legend of Pelgidium (2000). Montgomery completely disappeared from public view for more than 20 years. At least part of that time, he was working for a marketing firm. Montgomery resurfaced around 2012, appearing at Monster Con and other horror-themed conventions, signing photos and posing for pictures with fans.

A new on-camera interview with Montgomery is featured on the 2015 re-issue DVD and Blu-ray of "Burnt Offerings." In it, he discusses the making of the film, as well as other experiences during his time as an actor. As of March 2016, Montgomery is working as a full-time professional real estate agent in Simi Valley, California.

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ Some sources cite November 15, 1961.

Bibliography

  • Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 336-337.
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