Biography

Born in Bayside, Queens, and raised in Hempstead, LI, close enough to smell manure from Belmont Park Racetrack, which led to his first career as a professional racehorse jockey. However, by 18, Mother Nature caught up to him and outgrew his silks.





His struggles and addictions as a jockey were the impetus for his solo play, "SMALL".
Written and performed by Mr. Robert Montano.
SMALL premiered at The Penguin Rep Theatre, March 18th 2022.

SMALL, in 2024 was nominated for a Drama Desk & Outer Critics Circle Award.



* Winner of the ACOR Award.


Smitten by the film “Saturday Night Fever,” Robert traded his jockey boots for ballet slippers. Just one week shy of receiving his BFA from Adelphi Universities Dance Department, he booked his first gig in the Broadway smash hit, “Cats.”





His career took off jumping from one show to the next, working with great directors and choreographers such as Hal Prince, Rob Marshall, and Jerome Robbins. He has also had the pleasure of working with the legendary, Chita Rivera in Kiss Of The Spiderwoman, he sang and danced with Peter Allen in Legs Diamond, and starred as Ozzie in On The Town, directed by the innovative George C. Wolfe.


But he couldn’t contain his creative scope to only musical theatre so he ventured into plays, film, and television.


He has created roles for the Academy Award nominated writer, Jose Rivera in Cloud Tectonics, References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Lynn Nottages play, Fabulation, as Herve, Richard Vetere’s, One Shot One Kill, as Sgt. Nick Harris, and Edwin Sanchez’s, Diosa, as Miguel. At Actors Theatre Of Louisville, Robert portrayed Cal in the epic of East Of Eden, directed by Jon Jory, later to be invited back by Mr. Jory to exercise his Shakespeare in Comedy Of Errors. He has also played, Ralph, opposite John C. Reilly in Marty.

In television he appeared as one of Kim Cattrells lovers, “We William,” in Sex In The City. He has guest starred in, CSI: Miami, Third Watch, Six Degrees, Law & Order, New York Undercover, Law & Order: SVU, Harrison – Cry Of The City, numerous soaps, and as Resto in the HBO film Undefeated, directed by John Leguizamo.



He appeared opposite Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix in “The Yards” as Hector Gallardo, written and directed by James Gray. Robert also partnered Catherine Zeta - Jones in the Academy Award winner, “Chicago.” He was also seen as the militaristic Officer Bane in It Runs In The Family, Center Stage, Fresh Cut Grass, Passionada, Second Best, and The Producers.