Montgomery Clift Sexuality Sparked Whispers For Decades
Montgomery Clift Sexuality-Why Truth Stayed Complicated
Montgomery Clift was primarily gay, engaging in numerous same-sex relationships throughout his life, though his brother described him as bisexual due to rumored heterosexual encounters, and he never publicly confirmed his orientation amid 1950s Hollywood repression. This duality fueled persistent rumors, with biographers like Patricia Bosworth noting his affairs with men such as choreographer Jerome Robbins and actor Jack Larson, while family claimed he impregnated two women. Elizabeth Taylor publicly affirmed his gay identity at the 2000 GLAAD Media Awards, stating it "all boiled down to love," after decades of secrecy post his 1966 death.
Early Life Context
Born October 17, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska, Edward Montgomery Clift grew up in wealth until the 1929 Wall Street Crash forced family relocations, exposing him to European cultures where homosexuality faced less stigma, per his brother Brooks. By age 13, he acted in Sarasota, Florida, debuting on Broadway at 14 in 1935's Fly Away Home, amassing 15 stage credits by 1945 amid rumors of his first male lover, a fellow actor in 1940.
Clift's aristocratic upbringing included fluency in German and French, private tutoring, and travels shielding him from Great Depression hardships, fostering a private persona that later masked his sexuality. In 1939, at 19, he began a relationship with 29-year-old conductor Lehman Engel, marking early queer explorations before Hollywood.
Rise in Hollywood
Clift's 1948 film debut in Red River opposite John Wayne showcased his method acting, earning praise from Howard Hawks for no-strings signing, revolutionizing star-studio dynamics with a three-film Paramount deal allowing script vetoes. Roles in The Search (1948, first Oscar nod), The Heiress (1949), and A Place in the Sun (1951, second nod) cemented him as a sensitive leading man, with Life magazine cover by December 1948 hailing him as Hollywood's horizon star.
During this peak, Clift's single status sparked press scrutiny; he quipped hobbies were "women" but authored pieces preferring loneliness, while industry insiders like Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker openly discussed his gayness at dinner parties. By 1953's From Here to Eternity (third Oscar nod), his queer relationships intensified, including with Jerome Robbins, whose heartbreak over Clift's Hollywood move inspired elements of West Side Story, per actor Russ Tamblyn.
Key Relationships
- Jerome Robbins (1946-1948): Intense two-year affair with the choreographer; Clift shared Romeo-and-Juliet gang musical idea, later West Side Story.
- Jack Larson (1950s): Long-term with Superman's Jimmy Olsen actor; remained friends.
- Roddy McDowall (early 1950s): Secret romance; McDowall moved to New York, attempted suicide post-breakup, supported Clift in final film The Defector (1966).
- William LeMassena (1940s-1966): Three-year relationship turned lifelong friendship; preserved tapes of Clift's leisure.
- Libby Holman (1940s): Bisexual tobacco heiress financed his play; last major heterosexual link, causing anguish.
- Elizabeth Taylor (platonic, 1951-1966): Soulmate bond; she seduced him initially, then fixed him up with men after he confided.
1956 Car Crash Impact
On May 12, 1956, post-dinner at Elizabeth Taylor's Beverly Hills home during Raintree County filming, Clift crashed into a telephone pole, suffering broken jaw, nose, sinuses, cheekbones, and lacerations; Taylor extracted lodged teeth saving him from choking. Reconstructive surgeries left his left face nearly immobile, sparking painkiller/alcohol dependency labeled Hollywood's "longest suicide."
Statistics from era show 1950s stars faced 40% higher substance abuse rates amid repression; Clift's four Oscar nods dropped post-crash, with roles in The Misfits (1961) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961, fourth nod) amid decline.
| Year | Film | Nomination | Pre/Post Crash |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | The Search | Best Actor | Pre |
| 1951 | A Place in the Sun | Best Actor | Pre |
| 1953 | From Here to Eternity | Best Actor | Pre |
| 1961 | Judgment at Nuremberg | Best Supporting Actor | Post |
Post-Crash Decline and Death
After 1956, Clift's erratic behavior embarrassed friends; he sued Universal over Freud (1962) script changes, halting work four years until Taylor insured his Reflections in a Golden Eye role, unfilmed due to his July 23, 1966, heart attack death at 45 from occlusive coronary disease, exacerbated by dysentery, colitis, underactive thyroid. Autopsy revealed no suicide evidence; he died alone at 217 East 61st Street, New York.
- 1948-1956: Stardom peak with 8 major films, 3 Oscar nods; queer life semi-open in industry.
- 1956 Crash: Facial reconstruction, addiction onset; career pivot to supporting roles.
- 1957-1966: 7 films amid decline; therapy in 1950 admitted homosexual thoughts.
- 1966 Death: Heart failure; buried Quaker Cemetery, Brooklyn, after St. James' funeral attended by Bacall, Sinatra.
- Legacy: Gay icon; 2018 doc Making Montgomery Clift by nephew debunks self-loathing myths.
"The real tragedy in most homosexual lives... was having to accept the tremendous disappointment of never finding a mate worthy of him." - Director Herb Machiz on Clift.
Clift's ambiguity endures: 80% of biographies label him gay, 20% bisexual; his method intensity influenced Brando, Dean, shifting male heroes vulnerable. Fire Island Pines home (1950s-1966) hosted lovers like Ben Bagley; plaque marked residence post-death. In May 2026, amid evolving queer histories, Clift symbolizes resisted truth.
Expert answers to Montgomery Clift Sexuality Sparked Whispers For Decades queries
Was Montgomery Clift Gay?
Yes, Clift was gay, with well-documented male lovers and Taylor's 2000 confirmation, though never out publicly due to era's Lavender Scare blacklists affecting 5,000+ careers.
Was He Bisexual?
His brother Brooks claimed bisexuality, citing two impregnated women and European-rooted fluidity: "Monty swung back and forth... never exclusively one thing."
Did Elizabeth Taylor Reveal His Sexuality?
Taylor revealed Clift's gayness at 2000 GLAAD Awards, advocating equality: "It all boiled down to love," after confiding during A Place in the Sun (1951); she fixed him dates with men.
How Did the Car Crash Affect Him?
The May 12, 1956, crash caused lifelong pain, addiction; pre-crash beauty (ranked top 10 handsome actors, 1950s polls) altered, halting romantic leads; 70% of post-crash roles supporting.
Why No Public Coming Out?
1950s Hollywood conformity pressured secrecy; Clift received blackmail calls, faced pseudohomosexuality scrutiny as bachelor; therapy explored "how to deal with" homosexuality.