Edward Montgomery Clift, nicknamed 'Monty' his entire life, was born on October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Ethel "Sunny" Anderson and William Brooks Clift. His father was a successful banker, but his family struggled during the Depression. His mother was born out of wedlock and spent her life searching for her southern lineage and raising her children as aristocrats.
Monty began his acting career at 13, appearing on in Broadway "Fly Away Home". He continued to work in New York theater for over a decade, gaining excellent reviews and attracting the attention of numerous actresses. In the early 1940s, he met Libby Holman, a wealthy former Broadway star who developed an intense obsession over the young actor.
Monty's relationship with Holman was the principal (and likely the last) heterosexual relationship of his life, causing him further anguish over his sexuality. She advised him in his early film career, influencing his decision to decline lead roles in "Sunset Boulevard" and "High Noon".
By the early 1950s, Monty was exclusively homosexual, though he continued to hide his sexuality and maintain close friendships with theater women. His film debut was "Red River" (1948),followed by "The Search" (1948),which earned him an Oscar nomination.
Monty struggled with allergies, colitis, and pill problems, and spent a great deal of time and money on psychiatry. In 1956, he was involved in a car accident, which left him with a rebuilt face and a deep sense of guilt over his homosexuality.
Despite occasional riveting performances, such as in "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961),Monty's Hollywood career began to decline. He returned to New York, trying to develop a more sensible lifestyle in his Manhattan brownstone. He was set to play in Elizabeth Taylor's "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) when he died on July 23, 1966, at the age of 45.
