This post is a re-upload of a decades-old post from a different account (for which I no longer wish to pay an annual fee).
I've always admired the actor Lee Harcourt Montgomery. He was a child star who appeared in quite a number of films and TV shows, the most memorable (in my opinion) being his later role in the 1985 teen flick 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' (GJWTHF). Lee was around 24 when he played Jeff Malene and, for the genre, his acting was very natural and emotive. For various reasons, which I won't go into here, the film had quite an impact on me.
As there aren't many old pics of Lee on the web, I've made the effort to create a few screen captures from GJWTHF. Lee really was gorgeous and I must rather embarrassingly confess that he became my ideal for the kind of guy I'd like to meet one day. In the process of getting these screen grabs, I realised just how expressive Lee was as an actor. He had obviously continued to refine his talent since childhood and had he kept performing, would have been an actor to be reckoned with.
Why did he decide to give up acting? Did he continue to audition for roles? Why doesn't he have much of a web presence? For someone who was once a teen heartthrob, he has certainly been keeping a pretty low profile. That's definitely his prerogative.
Lee went into music production in the 1990's, and later composed the music for the movie 'Legend of the Phantom Rider' (2002) and the short film 'Trespasses' (2005).
These screen captures from GJWTHF are in sequential order. Click on individual pics for a larger view:
As there aren't many old pics of Lee on the web, I've made the effort to create a few screen captures from GJWTHF. Lee really was gorgeous and I must rather embarrassingly confess that he became my ideal for the kind of guy I'd like to meet one day. In the process of getting these screen grabs, I realised just how expressive Lee was as an actor. He had obviously continued to refine his talent since childhood and had he kept performing, would have been an actor to be reckoned with.
Why did he decide to give up acting? Did he continue to audition for roles? Why doesn't he have much of a web presence? For someone who was once a teen heartthrob, he has certainly been keeping a pretty low profile. That's definitely his prerogative.
Lee went into music production in the 1990's, and later composed the music for the movie 'Legend of the Phantom Rider' (2002) and the short film 'Trespasses' (2005).
These screen captures from GJWTHF are in sequential order. Click on individual pics for a larger view:
Finding out about the Dance TV contest
Boyish good looks suited to the teen movie genre
Rehearsing with his dance partner, Janey, for the first time
(with co-star Jonathan Silverman)
After their first date - the scene of the first kiss
Giving in to the threats and letting Janey down
Psyching each other up for the final dance-off
I hope you've enjoyed this nostalgic post about Lee Harcourt Montgomery, an actor who made an impact for a short time in the scheme of things, but who will not be forgotten. Here's a more recent pic of Lee Montgomery on the web. He's alive and well and working at what he loves! I won't go into details because I don't want to infringe on his privacy.
I'm glad to find out that he's still involved in the industry and is able to share his experiences and talents on a wider scale. Good one, Lee! We will have to finally accept that acting on the big screen is merely a part of your past...
Comments:
Anonymous Tuesday, 11 October, 2011
Wow, it was great to read this. Lee Montgomery was amazing in that movie. I wonder why he didn't get many other gigs. I'll always remember how cute he was, even though he's much older now.
Anonymous Thursday, 05 April, 2012
Thank u for this site because I also wondered what happened to him.
Anonymous Saturday, 24 October, 2020
Me too! I always thought he was an amazing actor, and always thought he might come back to acting...we all miss you lee!!!
Anonymous Saturday, 24 October, 2020
I agree 100% I miss those times..and really wish we could find out more about him but he seems like he wants to remain private.
Anonymous Monday, 18 June, 2012
I only saw Girls Just Want to Have Fun for the first time recently and totally fell for him, what a gorgeous guy. Strange how hard it is to find out anything about him given how much we rely on the internet for instant information these days! He must really want to draw a line behind his past. Thanks for posting this!
Anonymous Friday, 22 June, 2012
The more I read, the more I think that Lee's move into music in the late 80's might have made it quite hard to get back into the acting scene or, after 17 or so years of acting, he had come to the end. I recently looked Lee Montgomery up in fb and found out that he will be attending the 'Hollywood Show' weekend this August (2012) for the first time (with his sister Belinda Montgomery). If you live in LA you could meet him and buy an autographed pic!
Anonymous Friday, 22 June, 2012
I swear he was a dancer in a car commercial last year...Toyota I think. The guy looked just like him but older of course, but what caught my eye was that he did the same thing as in the Girls Fun movie, where he swung thru a poster during the dance audition, but I cant find any info.
Melanie Saturday, 23 June, 2012
Really? I saw a clip of Lee Montgomery on the web recently and he was quite bald. He looked in great shape physically, but had lost most of his hair :( Do you think it could have been him? This is a recent impression I saw of him:
http://woodcuttingfool.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/actor.html
Unknown Thursday, 04 October, 2012
I still have movies with him in them now. My grand kids enjoy the family movies, He was and is very nice.
Anonymous Wednesday, 10 October, 2012
Yeah sad he disappeared. Wonder why? Would love to hear how he is. Just weird he completely disappeared and can't find anything. Thanks for updated info.
Melanie Thursday, 07 February, 2013
Thanks, Mitch Clem, for the lovely email :) I did reply to your message but perhaps it went to your 'Junk' or 'Spam' folder. It was great to hear from someone who was part of the movie-making experience in the 80's! It was a simpler time, what with its montages, and soppy endings... but I loved it!
Gail Bartley Gannon Monday, 13 January, 2014
I would really like to meet Lee again, lots has happened since public school where we both went when we were very young in Highland Creek, I work at Walmart still in West Hill. Gail Bartley Gannon
Anonymous Friday, 11 April, 2014
Just watched gjwhf "again" lol love this film and Lee you are and always will be easy on my eye xx
trish Thursday, 01 May, 2014
Love Lee Montgomery. I'm 40 and I watch girls just want to have fun now and then still to this day. He was awesome in that movie and love see him in more films now.
Anonymous Friday, 29 August, 2014
I am so glad to know he's alive and well! I was a tot (now 36) but had a huge crush back when GJWTHF was out in the 80's. I have looked and looked myself...just wish I knew a little more... is he married? Does he have kids? Does anyone know?? :(
Anonymous Tuesday, 30 December, 2014
He was not the only 'child' actor to disappear from the movie scene... remember Jason Presson? Same All-American boy, heart throb to girls/women everywhere. I wonder how much of their disappearances is due to the nasty secrets hidden behind Hollywood's closed doors. It's sick, really, the prices some of these youngsters have to pay to stay in the game [aka the two Coreys]. Anyways, would love to hear directly from him but appreciate the desire to avoid publicity. Thanks for a movie that brings me back to a much better time in my life, Mr. M!
Anonymous Wednesday, 29 April, 2015
Lee was in his late 20's when he stopped appearing in films. It was probably a personal choice. Lee does not strike me as the kind of person to get caught up in it all, which is why he probably chose a more private life. I once chatted online with someone who was in a film with him. Lee was just a carefree guy with lots of talent. He never took the whole thing too seriously--more power to him!
Anonymous Wednesday, 29 April, 2015
For some recent pics of Lee with fans, google 'Monster Mania Lee Montgomery' and click on the images tab. Or, go to the facebook tribute page for 'Lee Montgomery'. There are heaps of great pics.
Anonymous Friday, 18 September, 2015
I miss Lee Montgomery, growing up I would stay up late just to watch him, In movies like Ben and Burnt offerings, and also episodes of colombo, just to name a few.Lee I wish you would tell your fans who miss you your ok.you always had beautiful and expressive eyes that showed when you were happy or sad. I respect your privacy, but we would love to hear your ok. Thanks J.R.
Anonymous Saturday, 24 October, 2020
You said it all about his eyes... very true all his fans are wondering what happened to this child actor who was also quite a good actor... we all miss you lee!
Jules Sunday, 08 November, 2015
It's been questioned whether Lee is/was married. Sadly for those of us still nursing our teenage fantasies, I have discovered that to be true. I recently had the opportunity to buy a few slides of photos taken of Lee back in the late '80s. When they arrived, I was stunned to see one of them had the caption "Lee Montgomery with Wife" written on the white cardboard border. He is pictured with a pretty brunette. Both look very happy. In one of the other photos, he is clearly wearing a wedding band. Recently, I was perusing Lee's bio in an original "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" press kit. The last paragraph begins, "Married last spring to actress/screenwriter Carol Burkett..." In the recent photos taken at various conventions, he is NOT wearing a ring, so it's quite possible he is no longer married.
Melanie Sunday, 08 November, 2015
Yes, apparently Lee was married many years ago but it ended not too long afterwards. It was so long ago, and before the internet, that not much has been publicised about it. It is amazing that you still have/were able to obtain an original "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" press kit! Fabulous film with a few die-hard fans still around the place :)
Michael David Colasante Wednesday, 06 January, 2016
Cool to find this place. Very nice interview on the burnt offerings Blu-ray which I'm sure you all know. Good to see Lee and hear his stories. He was in so much good stuff when I was a kid. Now I'm 42. -Mike in Cleveland Ohio
Anonymous Sunday, 28 February, 2016
https://bloodypopcorn.com/2013/08/21/monster-mania-25-photos/#jp-carousel-743
This has a current photo of Lee H. Montgomery today
Anonymous Thursday, 01 September, 2016
hey, fellow leemaniacs: check out this video of a lee montgomery ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW!! it's a bonus feature on the 2015 dvd/blu-ray re-release of 'burnt offerings', which came out in oct. of '15, which would probably place the interview at somewhere in earlier '15, so about a year old as of this posting.
the interview focuses mainly on 'b.o.', but also touches on his early career, generally, which is very cool to hear his stories of & general feeling about (all positive).
it's 16 mins & some, but of course it should be 6 HRS long, touching on not only his '80s career, but also why the hell he left us at the alter, what he's been up to all this time, what his favorite color is, etc, etc - but it is what it is, and more than I thought would ever be happen, so it's a treasure for sure.
he seems happy, healthy, and is clearly as sweet a soul as ever. check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYU-QCbiCSM
or just search youtube for 'lee montgomery interview'
Melanie Tuesday, 20 September, 2016
Thank you for your contributions and for sending through another YouTube clip of Lee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TaEw-46uq0
I could not post your latest message as it was a little lengthy. 'Til next time :)
Bonnie Brown Tuesday, 13 September, 2016
Yes, I loved all of his movies too. I was watching one of the movies he played in called Baker's Hawk. It made me think of him and I started Googling. I was thinking the same thing. I didn't find out much, but I did find out that he and I share a birthday. Mine is Nov. 3 1968. He's a little older than me and yes I had a crush on him too when Girls just wanta have fun came out. I was about 17 when that movie came and loved it.
Billy V Monday, 29 May, 2017
I knew Lee Montgomery well in the mid 1980's when he was married to Carole Burkett. Her brother Phil was one of my best friends, and was then terminally ill and at the end of his life. He spent his last few weeks on Carole's parents' farm outside of San Antonio. Lee came to visit with Carole, and later I met him again when Carole's sister Molly got married on the Burkett's family ranch near San Antonio. He was so pleasant and caring to my friend, and much loved by his in-laws. Phi Burkett was an Army Ranger, wounded in Vietnam and I thought of them all tonight as I watched the 2017 Memorial Day Concert in Washington DC. I found this thread while Googling his family. If anyone knows of him or Carol, give them my best. Billy V, New York
K.T Monday, 29 January, 2018
Billy, Carole is in NYC. I know she would like to talk to you. How to reach you?
Anonymous Sunday, 25 October, 2020
Looks like Lee is now a real estate agent: https://reach150.com/m/review/36851/nexthome-decker-realty-lee-montgomery-solvang-ca
Anonymous Thursday, 03 December, 2020
He was super duper hot in GJWHF but did not age well. He must be one super heavy smoker judging by all the wrinkles and mainly his voice in this interview even though he is only around 60.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4sgIP6lAaw
He was great in GJWHF - such a great film I never tire from.
Anonymous Thursday, 05 January, 2023
I can't agree more - he was soooo adorable
musicmanbamman Tuesday, 26 October, 2021
I think he was so adorable as a kid star and grew into such a hot hunk in movies like "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". That hairy chest! Just KILL ME !! He is working in real estate in California now for many years, has never come out of the closet but hey, his life is his own. An actor's sexuality is really none of the public's business. A really sweet, talented guy. God bless Lee H. Montgomery!
Anonymous Tuesday, 04 June, 2024
Omg! That’s so crazy because after watching and interview I also got the gay vibes!! As long as he’s happy!!
Omg! That’s so crazy because after watching and interview I also got the gay vibes!! As long as he’s happy!!
Anonymous Saturday, 04 February, 2023
I just watched Burnt Offerings and started to wonder what happened to Lee and here I am. Grew up with this good looker and enjoyed his acting.
Love ya Lee H Montgomery!
Kellzg Friday, 13 October, 2023
He's a real estate agent in southern California now.
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