Here is the biography of Lisa Montell:
Lisa Montell, born Irena Ludmilla Vladimiovna Augustinovich on July 5, 1933, in Warsaw, Poland, was a stunning actress who impressed audiences with her exotic beauty and versatility in playing various ethnic roles. She was born to a Russian-Polish family and fled to the United States with her family just before the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. Her family settled in New York City, where she studied art, voice, and dance.
Lisa's interest in acting led her to attend the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan and later the High School for the Performing Arts. She then moved to Lima, Peru, where her father's business involved iron mines, and she studied drama in American-based acting workshops. Her first professional break came in 1953 when she was cast in the film "Daughter of the Sun God" (1962),set in the Peruvian jungles.
After the film's poor reception, Lisa moved to Los Angeles and began working in television, playing Eurasian, Latina, and Native-American types. She was billed as Irene Montwill for her first Hollywood film, "Jump Into Hell" (1955),and later changed her name to Lisa Montell. Despite appearances in several films, including "Escape to Burma" (1955),"Pearl of the South Pacific" (1955),and "World Without End" (1956),Lisa was unable to up her status in Hollywood.
Lisa's film career continued with appearances in "The Wild Dakotas" (1956),"Gaby" (1956),"Ten Thousand Bedrooms" (1957),"Tomahawk Trail" (1957),"Naked Paradise" (1957),and "She Gods of Shark Reef" (1958). She also appeared in numerous television westerns, including "The Gene Autry Show," "Broken Arrow," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Colt.45," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Sugarfoot," "Cheyenne," "Bat Masterson," and "Maverick."
In 1962, Lisa retired from acting and devoted herself to educational pursuits and her Bahá'í religion. She was elected to the Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles and served as Chairperson. She was a public speaker, advocating for issues such as poverty and discrimination, and was active in the civil rights movement. She later wrote a book about her spiritual journey and became the program director of the Center for Education at the Desert Rose Bahá'í Institute.
