Montague Love was a newspaper man in London, specializing in field illustration and cartooning, particularly during the Boer War. His realistic battle sketches gained popularity among readers, but he eventually decided to pursue an acting career.
Love honed his stage talents in London before moving to the US in 1913 with a road-company production of Cyril Maude's "Grumpy". He made an early appearance on Broadway and continued to work in important plays from 1913 to 1934.
Montague Love started his film career at World Studios in New Jersey in 1914 and went on to appear in nearly a hundred silent films. He became famous for his authoritative figures, often playing villains, and was credited as the best villain of the silent era.
In 1926, he starred in "The Son of the Sheik" alongside Rudolf Valentino and "Don Juan" alongside John Barrymore, featuring the longest sword duel in silent history. He also appeared in "The King of Kings" (1927) as a Roman centurion.
As the silent era transitioned to sound films, Love's movies began to feature recorded music and dialogue. He continued to work in films throughout the 1930s, often playing characters of authority such as colonels, generals, and prime ministers.
Montague Love's most notable roles include his portrayal of Henry VIII in "Prince and the Pauper" (1937) and the Bishop of the Black Canons in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938). He continued to work in films until his passing in 1943, lending his voice and acting skills to a total of 81 films.
