This made him an A-list actor and a multi-award-winning star. In fact, the attitudes he and his family held towards his relationships with men were strikingly modern. He was sick of being a symbol, a symptom, a testament to something. But something of the old talent remainedor at least enough to earn Clift a nomination for best-supporting actor, playing, in the words of film critic David Thomson, a victim irretrievably damaged by suffering. Plans for Clift to play the lead in the film adaptation of Carson McCullerss The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter fell through, in large part due to his uninsurability on set, and promises of a fourth collaboration with Taylor, this time with producer Ray Stark, never came to pass. He was, at least in the press, something approaching asexualthe title of a Motion Picture article, authored by Clift, declared simply, I Like It Lonely!. Tom Sizemore's acting dreams and troubled journey began in Detroit But for 12 years, he set Hollywood aflame. While filming a 15-minute supporting role as a mentally handicapped victim of the Holocaust in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), he had to ad-lib all of his lines. Universal Studios actuallysued him for the losses they incurred because of his troublesome behavior. Clift's reputation in the 1960s was coloured by the brutal comment of Robert Lewis, Clift's teacher at the Actors Studio, who called his late . Oh dear. But even Monroe reported that Clift was the only person I know who is in even worse shape than I am. The pictures from the set are as poignant as they are heartbreaking: its as if all three were meditating on their respective declines, and theres a sad, peaceful resignation at the difference between what their bodies could do and how people wanted to remember them. Clift's last 10 years prior to his death from his 1956 car accident were called the "longest suicide in history" by famed acting teacher Robert Lewis. Prior to leaving by train for Paris, a married American woman tries to break off her affair with a young Italian in Rome's Stazione Termini. Actor Montgomery Clift, 45, three times nominated for Academy Awards, died early Saturday of a heart attack in his plush East Side townhouse. A seeming exception was one in his final years with a man named Lorenzo who had been hired to help him. American Actor Montgomery Clift was born Edward Montgomery Clift on 17th October, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA and passed away on 23rd Jul 1966 Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA aged 45. 'The longest suicide in Hollywood history': who was the real Montgomery Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. He was not worried [about being gay], Larson asserts in the film. During the peak period of his career, the actor and some Hollywood friends were returning from a party held at Taylor's home. In all honesty, his face wasnt horribly changed at all, but there was one shocking difference. Taped interviews with his brother reveal that the actor felt those roles werent quite right for him and he didnt want to make the wrong first impression. You couldn't help but come. In 1961, Montgomery Clift went on to star alongside some of Hollywoods greatest legendsMarilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. According to this version of the story, when photographers arrived, Taylor announced that she knew each and every one of them personally-- and if they took pictures of Clift, who was still very much alive, shed make sure they never worked in Hollywood again. After Eternity he dropped out of Hollywood for several years, and signed a three-year contract with MGM in 1955 to make Raintree County, which re-united him with his Place in the Sun co-star Elizabeth Taylor. Marlon Brando: Portraits of a Charismatic Young Star, 1952, Marilyn, Arthur Miller and More: A Star Producers Spectacular Orbit. In his words, I learned that most writers dont need interviews to write about me. Montgomery Clift was an undeniably attractive man, and before long, he'd cultivated a rather passionate female fan base. However, he became more comfortable with her and eventually found it easy to open up about his sexuality. Of course, Clift didnt walk away unscathed either. Clifts teacher, Robert Lewis, called his gradual decline the longest suicide in Hollywood history. Although he had problems before filmingRaintree County, Clifts drinking was more pronounced than ever. Moreover? They took a risk on the troubled actorand it endedbadly. His body was found by his live-in personal secretary/companion Lorenzo James, who found Clift lying nude on top of his bed, dead from what the autopsy called "occlusive coronary artery disease." There are a few versions that detail the aftermath of Clifts accident, but one has all the drama of a motion picture itself. This showed in his consciousness of being seen as feminine in any way. He had a close friendship with a woman named Myra Letts, whom the gossip columnists tried arduously to frame as a love interest. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. ), Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowell, Dean Martin, Kevin McCarthy, Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Jones, Libby Holman, Thornton Wilder, Salka Viertel, Stewart Granger, Jack Larson, Oscar Levant, Pilar Levi, Giuseppe Perrone, Fred Zinnemann, Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Abigail Tommye Adams. Whisked away to the morgue, Clifts body underwent an autopsy that shed some light on his sudden demise. From Scandals of Classic Hollywood: Sex, Deviance, and Drama from the Golden Age of Hollywood Cinema by Anne Helen Petersen, to be published by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC on September 30, 2014 2014 by Anne Helen Petersen. Hes never sucked my cock.. When he first arrived in Hollywood, he didnt sign a contract, waiting until after the success of his first two films to negotiate a three-picture deal with Paramount that allowed him total discretion over projects. Another confidant said his personal life didnt bother him. . Charles Castillo, author of "Elizabeth & Monty: The Untold Story," shared that the actress tried to seduce Clift. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. Not only would this film win him respect for his impeccable acting performance, but it would also fuel a brand new cycle of romance rumors. He got him going again. But that wasnt the wildest part of the story. His decline was never explicitly evoked, but with his visage in Raintree County, it was there for all to see. Welcome to Who Is Montgomery Clift?, a page dedicated to showcasing actors & movie makers of the Golden Age of Hollywood. It was a huge wager: since everyone knew how much booze and pills Clift was on, he was virtually uninsurable on set. Clift simply wasnt cut out for school, and unlike his siblings, turned his back on higher education. Allegedly, hed been forewarned that the truth would destroy his career, and as a result, the actor became increasingly wary of appearing feminine in any way. This year the young man . Thats why his work doesnt feel dated, Demmon said. Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), Columbia Pictures, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Larger Than Life Facts About Milton Berle, The King Of TV, Vulgar Facts About Lenny Bruce, Stand-Up Comedys Virtuous Villain, Daring Facts About Gina Lollobrigida, Golden Hollywoods Last Survivor, Stunning Facts About Yvonne De Carlo, The Technicolor Queen. ufff q hombre tan guapo y atractivo, y grn actor ademas, como me hubiese gustado conocerlo con unos ojos maravillosos. Following The Misfits, Clifts disintegration continued. She would wield considerable influence over the early part of his film career, advising him in decisions to decline lead roles in Sunset Blvd. Edward Montgomery Clift (nicknamed 'Monty' his entire life) was born on October 17, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska, just after his twin sister Roberta (1920-2014) and eighteen months after his brother Brooks Clift. Show more . Montgomery Clift was certainly one of a kind, and when he landed in Hollywood, it became extremely clear that he was going to do things his own way. (He never won an Academy Award, although most movie aficionados feel he deserved at least one, for his unforgettable turn as the tortured Robert E. Lee Prewitt in From Here to Eternity.). Yet, according to a new documentary, titled Making Montgomery Clift, the stars substance abuse had nothing at all to do with his sexuality. His interests lay elsewhere. The 'Red River star was then tagged a gay icon. His image was, more than anything else, confusingunmalleable to Hollywoods preexisting star categories. Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. After his accident, Clift had an arduous road to recovery. "Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift," she said. But even the troubled blonde bombshell recognized that her co-star was in dire straits. He had a holistic view.. Page 20230228-006 | e-Edition | rdrnews.com A successful man in the business world, Bill nevertheless deferred to this strong-willed, opinionated woman at home. When James offered to join him, the belligerent shot him down immediately, crying, Absolutely not.Sadly, this was Montgomery Clifts final interaction. He played the desperate, the drunken, and the deceived, and the trajectory of his life was as tragic as that in any of his films. But when hedid get a hankering for a fun excursion, Clift knew exactly where he wanted to be. The Tragedy of Montgomery Clift - TCM Message Boards I do not count myself as a member of the ripped-sweatshirt fraternity. He wasnt a young rebel, an old rebel, a tired rebel, or a rebellious rebelall he cared about was re-creating a slice of life on the screen. He could watch the real grit of humanity play out before himthe court a stage for some of the most sensational high-profile cases. While filming his next picture, Lonelyhearts (1958), Clift lashed out, proclaiming, I am notrepeat nota member of the Beat Generation. Montgomery Clift girlfriend, wife list. He was set to play in Taylor's Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967), when he died in the early morning hours of July 23, 1966, at his home at age 45. Montgomery Blair (May 10, 1813 - July 27, 1883) was an American politician and lawyer from Maryland. Guided by the key biographies of Clift, they reliably parrot a narrative which paints the actor as a startlingly attractive and prodigiously gifted man who, according to one notably overheated tabloid TV show became a drug-addicted alcoholic living in a self-imposed hell because he had a secret he couldnt live with. In Truman Capotes unpublished novel Answered Prayers, for example, the author imagines a dinner party between Clift, Dorothy Parker, and flamboyant stage actress Tallulah Bankhead: . A way into the 70s, there was more clarification to his sexuality. Montgomery Clift - Turner Classic Movies Have I said something wrong? Although hed only been away from Hollywood for four and a half years, the handsome Montgomery Clift looked incrediblyoldand the reason was downright heartbreaking. He read books about Montgomery Clift and James Dean, and credited seeing "Taxi Driver" at age 13 with fueling his desire to be in movies. As such, Taylors intervention only enhances the very real love story that existed between her and Clift. Montgomery Clift | 20 Gay Hollywood Legends | Purple Clover "I love men in bed, but I really love women," Montgomery Clift is quoted as saying in a 1978 biography. Luckily, his isolated lifestyle gave him an advantage. (The Clash famously referenced that awful scene, which changed the course of Clifts career and set him on a winding path of booze-and-painkiller-fueled decay, in the song The Right Profile from London Calling: I see a car smashed at night. Observers also point out that Clift had sexual relationships with women. Montgomery Edward "Monty" Clift (October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American movie, television, radio, and stage actor who is known for his roles in From Here to Eternity, A Place in the Sun, The Misfits, Red River, and in Judgement at Nuremberg.He was nominated four times for an Academy Award.His great-great-grandfather was politician Francis Preston Blair. Fearful for her friends image, she threatened the press: If they even dared to take one photo of her friend, she would personally ensure the end of their careers. d-d-darling, I r-r-really wouldnt know. In its May 28, 1951, issue, meanwhile, LIFE magazine wrote of A Place in the Sun: It is easy for an ambitious young man to get himself involved simultaneously with a simple-hearted girl who lives in a cheap boarding house and an extravagant rich girl who gives gay parties. A four-time Oscar nominee who died at 45, Montgomery Clift was a bright young talent, a tabloid fixture, and a posthumous gay icon. The next year, Taylor used her status to wrangle an acting part for Clift; she demanded that he be a part ofSuddenly, Last Summer. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Montgomery Clift Filmography - IMDb Firstly, he didnt even like Hollywood, preferring to stay in New York as much as he could. The Life and Sad Ending of Montgomery Clift - YouTube He still drank, but not as heavily. cocksucker, isnt he, Tallulah? Miss Bankhead said: Well, When he read the story that criticized his bare-bones wardrobe, the scandalized actor lashed out with a biting response. Upon closer inspection, Clifts career reveals notable clues as to who he genuinely was and the private struggles he faced. Soon, Montgomery Clift became almost impossible to work with. It shows a different side to Clift, portraying him as a man who enjoyed life and love, and was comfortable enough with him being a gay man. yo tambien hubiera tenido algo con el claro que si, Monty, I love you. Lessons from the Lives of Celebrities: Actor, Montgomery (Monty) Clift (38) and his wife, Meghan Markle (41), officially . She noted that they needed to live a life of equality while being able to get married and adopt kids. Eyebrows were raised when the actor shared in an article he authored that he liked it "lonely. According to two A-list biographers, the late star was gay. While his brother claimed that Clift was bisexual, writer Truman Capotes unpublished work alludes to Clifts gayness quite explicitly. He looked about ten years older than the Montgomery Clift audiences remembered and adored. When The Heiresscame out, Clifts loyal fanatics came with their claws out and wrote vicious letters to Olivia de Havilland for rejecting Clifts character in the film. And yet, the mystery persists. William Brooks Clift (Was A Vice-President Of Omaha National Trust Company. He also helped bring a more natural acting style to film. They were even called the most beautiful couple in Hollywood. As hard as the press tried, they couldnt seem to breathe life into this nonexistent romance. . I wanted to figure out why there was such a difference., A deep trove of never-before-revealed evidence makes that disparity bracingly clear. The long suicide was complete. There were even speculations that he was warned about being gay. Determined to keep his gayness under wraps, Clift made sure that his masculine facade shone onscreen. The director, John Huston, supposedly brought in Clift because he thought hed have a soothing effect on Monroe, who was deeply embroiled in her own addictions, with her own personal demons. Montgomery Clift Born: 1920-10-17, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Education: NA Ethnicity: Caucasian Death Date:-0001-11-30 Addition Websites. Oddly enough, when he died, the homocons on Gay Patriot praised him on . Merv Griffin's Sexual Relations with Rock Hudson, Marlon - Queerty Some sources have the crash occurring when Clift was leaving the event, while others state he was on his way there. Hailed as one of Hollywood's first true Method actors, Edward Montgomery Clift was born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. Lorenzo was one of the reasons.. Close friends, such as actor Kevin McCarthy and his wife, tried to get Clift to slow down and dry out, but their pleas . Dazzling Facts About Elizabeth Taylor, The Queen Of Hollywood, Stabbed In The Back: These Real-Life Betrayals Are Straight Up Brutal, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Plot Twist: These Surprise Endings Made Our Jaws Hit The Floor, These Ultra-Spoiled Brats Made Our Eyes Roll Into Our Heads. Her interests include the European Renaissance, popular culture, and Internet history. A portrait of Elizabeth Taylor And Montgomery Clift from the film "A Place In The Sun", 1951 | Photo: Getty Images. In his first film, Red River, Clift had the chance to play opposite the western superstar John Wayne. When The Heiress came out, Clift's loyal fanatics came with their claws out and wrote vicious letters to Olivia de Havilland for rejecting Clift's character in the film. You see, Clift wasnt just a pretty face, he also had a bunch of quirks that made him incredibly singular in comparison to other leading men. The revelation of his sexuality did not emerge until the 70s, when two high-profile biographers, one endorsed by his close confidants, revealed as much, rendering him a gay icon within the span of two years. Montgomery Blair. . During the filming of Raintree County, Clift and Taylor seemed to have rekindled their is-it-or-isnt-it relationship; according to one of Clifts biographers, Some days he would threaten to stop seeing Elizabeth Taylorthen, the thought would make him burst into tears. Other apocryphal legend has Taylor sending Clift piles of love letters, which he then read aloud to his male companion at the time. Clift had a fraternal twin sister, Roberta, and a brother, William Brooks Clift Jr, who had an illegitimate son with actress Kim Stanley. He may have been lonely but the distance he put between his public life and his work life helped keep his mysterious bachelorhood in check. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Free delivery for many products! There were no wild outings for this reserved homebody. Woodbury Blair was the son of Montgomery Blair, after whom his great-grandson received his middle name, and wife Mary Elizabeth Woodbury, daughter of Levi Woodbury (1789-1851), United States Supreme Court, and wife Elizabeth Wendell Clapp. We bring you all the headlines and gossip in one place! His own mother, in a voice recording played in Making Montgomery Clift, said, "Monty was a . In remembering Clift, McCarthy said, his face was torn awaya bloody pulp. Sumner Redstone in Love: The Cringey Sexcapades of a Horny Billionaire, The elderly media titan flexed his MTV ownership, rang his grandson at 3 a.m. for hookups with new women, and rewarded companions with stock options and TV shows. Not only are you not allowed to be smart, but you were not allowed to be funny in the 90s, the actor said of her career. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. A bout five years ago, filmmaking duo Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon Clift decided to make a documentary about Robert's long-dead uncle. Montgomery Clift (1920-1966) is one of the most tragic figures in Hollywood history. Over the next decade, the burgeoning actor dug his heels in and made a name for himself on the stage. Regardless of the veracity of this story, one thing remains true: theres not a single picture of Clifts broken face. With Clift on board, Suddenly, Last Summer morphed into a verifiable mess. On the morning of July 23, 1966, Montgomery Clift's housemate couldn't wake the actor. However, his worry began to mount when the actor didnt respond to his insistent knocking. He wasnt the only one who challenged such norms at the time. Edward Montgomery Clift was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska. Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun. Connect any celebrity with Montgomery Clift to see how closely they are linked romantically! . They seem to have their stories all written out beforehand..