16 March 2025

Lee Montague 1927-2025

Lee Montague 1927-2025

We are deeply sad to announce the death of Lee Montague at the age of 97.

Lee was a highly respected BAFTA award winning actor. 

Born in the East End his talent shone, he trained at the Old Vic School and worked in the early part of his career in the Royal Exchange Manchester, the RSC at the Old Vic (with Laurence Olivier), Bristol Old Vic and Oxford Playhouse, he toured in Moscow and New York.

Moving into film he worked with great directors, appearing in some 30 films including Moulin Rouge in 1952 directed by John Huston, Bill Budd directed by Peter Ustinov, Brother Sun, Sister Moon and Jesus of Nazareth both directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence with Tom Conti and David Bowie.

In the 70s in television he had long runs in The Sweeney, Bergerac and Seconds Out with Robert Lindsay.  He was the first storyteller on the BBC children’s programme Jackanory on 1965, narrating 15 episodes.

Lee was married to his beautiful wife Ruth Gorb, also an actor, for 67 years and had 2 children and grandchildren.  He was an avid Arsenal fan, and a formidable bridge and tennis player!   

But to local people, he was the saviour of Hampstead’s library. He saved it once before from closure, but in 2011 it was finally closed by Camden, so it was Lee who formed a committee of neighbours to set up the Keats Community Library charity as it is today.  In recognition of this he became President for Life of the library.

In the last few years Lee wrote many literary and biographical scripts which he performed as fundraisers for the library with fellow actors, Michael Palin, Robert Powell, Simon Callow and Janet Suzman, always played to full houses.

Stephen Bobasch, Chair of Keats Community Library, said “Lee was a lovely person and modest about his career, and he was so well read. He did so much for the community.  We were touched by the lovely comments we have received from distinguished performers and writers as well as his friends and neighbours. He will be greatly missed.”