Large and hearty Monty Woolley was born to privilege on August 17, 1888, the son of a hotel proprietor who owned the Marie Antoinette Hotel on Broadway. A part of Manhattan's elite social circle at a young age, he studied at both Yale (Master's degree) and Harvard and returned to Yale as an English instructor and coach of graduate dramatics. Among ...
As Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942): "My, how time flies when you're having fun!"
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Fact
1
He appears as a character in a "Look" Magazine mystery story written by Alfred Hitchcock, "The Murder of Monty Woolley", reprinted in Games Magazine in November/December 1980. [1943]
2
He was once president of the Yale Dramatic Association.
3
Known for his famous whiskers. He once valued them at $8,000. When Paramount Pictures asked him to shave them off for a movie role, he asked for $2,000 down and $500 a week for the three months it would take to grow it back. Paramount declined the offer.
4
He is referred to in Cole Porter's song "Farming" and served as the witty player of words in Porter's classic "De-Lovely". Woolley's favorite song for entertaining at parties was Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets".
5
A member of the National Guard, Woolley served as an intelligence officer in France during World War I. After the war, he commandeered the Yale Experimental Theater, a position he held until 1927.
6
A member of New York's gay theatrical society during the Roaring 20s. Woolley was close friends with Clifton Webb and Cole Porter.
7
Long-time friend and confidant of Cole Porter stretching back to their days at Yale.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Five Fingers
1959
TV Series
The Director
Kismet
1955
Omar
The Best of Broadway
1954
TV Series
Sheridan Whiteside
As Young as You Feel
1951
John R. Hodges
Miss Tatlock's Millions
1948
Miles Tatlock
The Bishop's Wife
1947
Professor Wutheridge
Night and Day
1946
Monty
Molly and Me
1945
John Graham
Irish Eyes Are Smiling
1944
Edgar Brawley
Since You Went Away
1944
Col. William G. Smollett
Holy Matrimony
1943
Priam Farll
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
1942
Madden Thomas
The Pied Piper
1942
John Sidney Howard
The Man Who Came to Dinner
1942
Sheridan Whiteside
See Your Doctor
1939
Short
Doctor (uncredited)
Dancing Co-Ed
1939
Professor Lange
Honeymoon in Bali
1939
Parker, Smitty's Publisher (uncredited)
Man About Town
1939
Henri Dubois
Never Say Die
1939
Dr. Schmidt
Midnight
1939
The Judge
Zaza
1938
Fouget
Artists and Models Abroad
1938
Gantvoort
Young Dr. Kildare
1938
Dr. Lane-Porteus
Vacation from Love
1938
Wedding Guest in Car (uncredited)
Lord Jeff
1938
Jeweler
Three Comrades
1938
Dr. Jaffe
The Forgotten Step
1938
Short
The Art Collector
The Girl of the Golden West
1938
Governor
Arsène Lupin Returns
1938
Georges Bouchet
Everybody Sing
1938
John Fleming
Nothing Sacred
1937
Dr. Oswald Vunch (uncredited)
Live, Love and Learn
1937
Mr. Bawltitude
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Night and Day
1946
performer: "Miss Otis Regrets" 1934 - uncredited
Molly and Me
1945
performer: "Always Eat When You Are Hungry" - uncredited
Irish Eyes Are Smiling
1944
performer: "Turn Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday" - uncredited
Since You Went Away
1944
"Hinky Dinky Parlay Voo Mad'moiselle from Armentieres" 1921, uncredited