Montaigne, Lawrence

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 15/01/2023, 15:34

: Lawrence Montaigne in Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)

Lawrence Montaigne was an American actor, mostly in small parts, active in American and international film and television productions from the early 1950's. He continued to work in the industry in some capacity until his death in 2017. His relevance to Thrilling Forum comes from his having spent 3 years living and working in Italy between 1960-1962 (with one additional Italian film role from 1980).

Lawrence was born on February 26th 1931 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

He spent some of his childhood in Rome, being evacuated when the war began[1]. In the early 1950's he appeared in background roles in a number of Hollywood productions, appearing variously as a background actor, stuntman and dancer[2]. He also appeared on Broadway in several productions at this time and studied drama while in New York. It appears he was then away from the screen for a few years while he served his military service in the United States Marine Corps.

He next turned up in an Israeli film production in 1958. Two years later he was in Italy, where he played 2 lead roles in 1960. It seems he spent the next few years in Italy, appearing in small roles. In 1963 Lawrence appeared in 2 international productions shot in Germany and it was the success of one of these, The Great Escape, which reportedly led to him starting to receive offers to appear in American television shows (Lawrence's autobiography reportedly goes into detail on the earlier years of his career, including his years spent in Italy).

In 1964 Lawrence was back in the United States, where he would remain for the rest of his life. For the next 15 years or so he became a regular fixture on American television, appearing in pretty much every popular show being made, always in small roles. His appearances in feature films were more scattered, often in uncredited bit parts, though he did play one further lead in The Psycho Lover (1970). He also wrote one screenplay for a film produced in 1978 by an old friend from his days in Italy, Jerome Courtland.

In the 1980's his acting appearances became far less frequent and in 1988 he retired from acting. At this time he also taught film at the North Texas State University.

In 2001 he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. In his later years, in addition to continuing to teach, Lawrence became a regular fixture at Star Trek and other fan conventions. He also wrote 2 novels, translated medical texts, and in 2006 he published his autobiography, "A Vulcan Odyssey" (unfortunately out-of-print for many years and now commanding high prices on EBay and Amazon).

He died of natural causes on March 17th 2017, aged 86, in Henderson, Nevada, USA.

Lawrence has been quoted as saying that he appeared in over 200 TV episodes. If even half that figure is correct then there are plenty of titles missing from his filmography, presumably uncredited background roles. It could also be possible that there are a few undocumented background roles in Italian films from the early 60's to be found.

Filmography

1953

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms .... Soldier (uncredited)

1958
Amud Ha'Esh .... David (credit unknown)

1960
Mobby Jackson .... Mobby Jackson (credited)
Rapina al quartiere Ovest .... role unknown (poster credit)

1961
I briganti italiani .... One of Carbone's men (uncredited)
I mongoli .... Stephan's lieutenant (credited)

1962
Il tiranno di Siracusa .... Flute player (credited)

1963
Captain Sindbad .... Jafar (credited)
The Great Escape .... Haynes (credited)

1964
Combat (TV series) S. 3, Ep. 12: "A Rare Vintage" .... Sergeant Koch (credited)
The Outer Limits (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 2: "Cold Hands, Warm Heart" .... Construction (credited)

1965
Burke's Law (TV series) S. 3, Ep. 1: "Balance of Terror" .... Franz Werner (credited)
Daniel Boone (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 4: "My Name Is Rawls" .... Mawson (credited)
Hogan's Heroes (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 9: "Go Light on the Heavy Water" .... Sergeant Steinfeld (credited)
Perry Mason (TV series) S. 9, Ep. 6: "The Case of the Carefree Coronary" .... Dr. Chauncy Hartlund (credit unknown - role unconfirmed)
Synanon .... The Greek (credited)
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 5: "The Insolents" .... Purser (credited)
The Fugitive (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 29: "The Old Man Picked a Lemon" .... Sheriff (credited)
The Fugitive (TV series) S. 3, Ep. 5: "Conspiracy of Silence" .... Section leader (credited)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 11: "The Virtue Affair" .... Bernard (credited)
The Satan Bug .... Officer at the radar tracking station (uncredited)

1966
12 O'Clock High (TV series) S. 3, Ep. 13: "Six Feet Under" .... German Corporal (credited)
Blue Light (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 10: "Return of Elm" .... Gestapo Captain (credited)
Daktari (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 4: "Adventure of the Lion Cubs" .... Stokes (credited)
Dr. Kildare (TV series) S. 5, Eps. 51, 52 .... Raymond Rossi (credited)
I Spy (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 27: "It's All Done with Mirrors" .... Smollet (credited)
Lassie (TV series) S. 12, Ep. 25: "Avalanche" .... Bret (credited)
Mission: Impossible (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 6: "Odds on Evil" .... Kosta's aide (credited)
Run for Your Life (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 3: "The Borders of Barbarism" .... George Woodstock (credited)
Star Trek (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 14: "Balance of Terror" .... Decius (credited)
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 11: "The Contaminator" .... Scientist (credited)
The Time Tunnel (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 8: "Massacre" .... Yellow Elk (credited)

1967
Batman (TV series) S. 2, Eps. 47, 48 .... Mr. Glee (credited)
Hondo (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 7: "Hondo and the War Hawks" .... Soldado (credited)
Iron Horse (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 9: "Four Guns to Scalplock" .... Jud Moore (credited)
Laredo (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 18: "The Bitter Yen of General Ti" .... Rocco Calvelli (credited)
Star Trek (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 1: "Amok Time" .... Stonn (credited)
The Felony Squad (TV series) S. 1, Eps. 19. 20 .... George Carson (credited)
The Invaders (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 1: "The Experiment" .... First man (credited)
The Invaders (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 15: "The Ransom" .... Garth (credited)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series) S. 4, Ep. 13: "The Maze Affair" .... Oliver Barnes (credited)
The Time Tunnel (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 21: "Idol of Death" .... Captain Alvarado (credited)
Tobruk .... Italian officer (credited)

1968
It Takes a Thief (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 12: "Turnabout" .... Lieutenant Dorganoff (credited)
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 4, Ep. 5: "Death of a Fixer" .... Dick Amazeen (credited)
The Power .... Briggs (credited)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series) S. 4, Ep. 20: "Man-Beast" .... Dr. Braddock (credited)

1969
City Beneath the Sea (TV pilot) .... Dr. Raymond Aquila (credited)
Here Come the Brides (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 13: "Lorenzo Bush" .... Keenan (credit unknown)
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 4, Ep. 24: "The Young Warriors" .... George Fisher (credited)
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 5, Ep. 1: "Target of Interest" .... Eugene Moody (credited)
The Flying Nun (TV series) S. 3, Ep. 2: "My Sister the Star" .... Manuel Montique (credited)
Topaz .... Russian agent (uncredited)

1970
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 6, Ep. 10: "Antennae of Death" .... Gary Grove (credited)
The Psycho Lover .... Kenneth Alden (credited)

1971
Bearcats (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 10: "Tiger, Tiger" .... Koster (credited)
Mission: Impossible (TV series) S. 6, Ep. 6: "The Miracle" .... Steve Johnson (credited)
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 7, Ep. 13: "Bitter Harbor" .... Arly Carter (credited)

1972
Bonanza (TV series) S. 13, Ep. 21: "Search in Limbo" .... Sid Langley (credited)
The Streets of San Francisco (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 2: "The First Day of Forever" .... Officer Morgan (credited)

1973
Barnaby Jones (TV series) S. 2, Ep. 13: "Secret of the Dunes" .... Armand Duvall (credited)
Hawaii Five-O (TV series) S. 5, Ep. 17: "Here Today… Gone Tonight" .... Whitelaw (credited)

1974
Cannon (TV series) S. 4, Ep. 4: "Lady in Red" .... Armand Duvall (credited)
Chopper One (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 4: "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" .... Charlie (credited)
The F.B.I. (TV series) S. 9, Ep. 15: "The Betrayal" .... Hitman (credited)
The Underground Man (TV movie) .... Leo Broadhurst (credit unknown)

1975
Escape to Witch Mountain .... Ubermann (credited)
Framed .... Deputy Allison (credited)
McCloud (TV series) S. 5, Ep. 9: "Return to the Alamo" .... Willie Dee (credit unknown)

1977
The Feather and Father Gang (TV series) S. 1, Ep. 10: "Murder at F-Stop 11" .... Marks (credited)
Young Lady Chatterley .... Carl (credited)

1978
The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance .... Does not appear (credited as Screenwriter and Assistant to the Producer)

1980
Chissà perché... capitano tutte a me .... Military Sergeant (credited)
The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd (TV movie) .... Judge Holt (credited)

1981
Deadly Blessing .... Matthew Bluntz (credited)

1982
Dallas (TV series) S. 6, Ep. 12: "Barbecue Three" .... Secretary of Texas Energy Commission (credited)

1984
Licence to Kill (TV movie) .... Sergeant Hartman (credited)

1988
Dakota .... Mr. Diamond (credited)

2007
Star Trek: Of Gods and Men .... Stonn (credited)

????
Daniel Boone (TV series) Episode and year uncertain .... Hayes Fuller (credited)

Additional credits

40 Years of Star Trek (2006 documentary) as interviewee
Get a Life! (2012 documentary) credited, as himself

Titles to check

Scaramouche (1952) Star Trek website profile. I looked with no luck finding him, but available copies are fairly poor quality.
The Band Wagon (1953) IMDb. I checked this one pretty closely without recognising him, but there are plenty of extras who are not seen too clearly.
The Greatest Show on Earth (1964 TV series) S. 1, Ep. 30: "You're All Right, Ivy". IMDb as Felix
The Rogues (1964 TV series) S. 1, Ep. 6: "Death of a Fleming". IMDb as Arab
The Rogues (1964 TV series) S. 1, Ep. 10: "Fringe Benefits". IMDb as Brian Walker
The Rogues (1965 TV series) S. 1, Ep. 21: "Bow to a Master". IMDb as Guard
Theatre of Stars (1965 TV series) S. 2, Ep. 22: "A Time for Killing". IMDb as Lieutenant Sam Benzansun
Jericho (1966 TV series) S. 1, Ep. 2: "A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread - and POW". IMDb as Lucien
Hunter (1977 TV series) S. 4, Eps. 4 & 12. IMDb as Bassett
Julius Caesar (unknown version, but presumably the 1953 film) Star Trek website profile. I checked the 1953 film with no luck, but there are plenty of extras and stuntmen who are not identifiable.
The Three Musketeers (unknown version) Star Trek website profile. Maybe the 1948 film, though Lawrence would have only been 16 or 17 when this was shot.

No Montaigne!

Titles where Lawrence is listed as appearing somewhere online, but cannot be found. There always has to be one

Daniel Boone (1967 TV series) S. 3, Ep. 21: "The Long Way Home". IMDb as Hayes Fuller. The cast list on IMDb does not correspond to the cast for this episode, so someone has obviously mixed them up and Lawrence actually appears in a different episode. Rudy found the episode where he appears, but it was without a title.

Notes and sources

1. 2012 interview from Las Vegas Weekly
2. Profile and obituary on Star Trek.com

: Lawrence's autobiography

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 15/01/2023, 15:36

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) as Soldier.

So far this is the only one of Lawrence's early 50's Hollywood roles where I have been able to definitely identify him. It could be quite possible that he appears, but not identifiably, in at least some of the other films.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:08

Amud Ha'Esh (1958) as David.

After a few years away from the screen, Lawrence turned up in this production shot in Israel. I was only able to find a clip from this film, enough to verify his appearance and role, but not his credit status. It appears that he has a major role in the film.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:16

Mobby Jackson (1960) credited, as Mobby Jackson.

With only the Israeli film above as a calling card, Lawrence turned up in Italy in 1959/60, where he would remain for 3 years. In his first 2 Italian productions he somehow landed the leading roles, though both productions are pretty obscure ones (a 5-minute clip of this one recently appeared on You Tube after it being "lost" for many years).

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:23

Rapina al quartiere Ovest (1960) credited and pictured on the posters and fotobustas, role unknown.

Lawrence's second leading role of 1960 in an Italian production, appearing opposite Gloria Milland (credited under her real name of Mara Fiè) in one of her earliest roles. This one remains elusive.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:28

I briganti italiani (1961) as One of Carbone's men.

Following 2 leading roles, Lawrence now turned up in an uncredited background role - on the strength of this there could maybe be undocumented roles in other Italian productions to be found from 1961-62?

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:31

I mongoli (1961) credited in a minor role, as Stephan's lieutenant

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:37

Il tiranno di Siracusa, aka Damon and Pythias (1962) credited, as Flute player.

In the last of his 5 known Italian film appearances from this period, Lawrence is again credited in a rather minor role.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:43

Captain Sindbad (1963) credited, as Jafar.

Following 3 or 4 years spent in Italy, in 1963 Lawrence appeared in 2 international productions filmed in Germany.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 16/01/2023, 12:49

The Great Escape (1963) credited, as Haynes.

This film, shot in Germany, was a big international box office success and it was reportedly on the strength of his performance here that Lawrence began to receive offers to appear in American films and television, prompting him to return to the United States the following year. Other than his 2 Star Trek appearances, this is probably the film for which he is best remembered today.