In the 1984 cult classic “Revenge of the Nerds,” a group of socially awkward students takes on the jock culture of their college. Among the memorable characters of this iconic film, one actress stood out with her charm and grace: Julia Montgomery.
Portraying the role of Betty Childs, the popular sorority girl, Montgomery’s performance captured the hearts of audiences and left a lasting impression.
But what ever happened to this talented actress after her rise to fame in the ’80s? Where did her career take her, and what has she been up to since her days as a beloved nerd’s dream girl?
Early Life
Julia Montgomery’s story begins in Kansas City, Missouri on July 2, 1960. She would end up attending Livingston High School in New Jersey, and was part of an extremely talented graduating class. Jason Alexander and Chelsea Handler got their diplomas at the same time as Montgomery, and she would even act opposite of Alexander in a few school plays.
Acting Career
One Life To Live was the show which introduced Julia Montgomery to the entire country. She played the role of Samantha Vernon from the show’s inception in 1977 through 1980.
Much to her surprise as a young actress, Montgomery received excellent feedback from other established cast members such as Jameson Parker and Farley Granger. They told Montgomery’s parents that she would be tremendous in this role.
Vernon’s character was also a great part for Montgomery because she didn’t have to stray too far from her actual mannerisms.
The girl she played on One Life To Live was depicted as a 16-18 year old, which is the exact age range Montgomery was in real life during some of her stint on the show.
Although management loved her work, she decided to leave One Life To Live after three years. Montgomery was very honest about how challenging it became to work with Phil Carey towards the end of her run.
She described him as a nice enough person, but due to combining medicine and alcohol on set, he would become detached from the scene and the rest of the cast.
Revenge Of The Nerds
“Revenge of the Nerds” is a 1984 American comedy film directed by Jeff Kanew, focusing on a group of socially awkward students who are targeted by the jock fraternity on campus.
The nerds decide to fight back, forming their own fraternity and challenging their rivals. Julia Montgomery plays the role of Betty Childs, a popular sorority girl initially aligned with the jocks but who eventually becomes romantically involved with one of the nerds.
Her character’s transformation and relationship with the nerds add depth to the film’s plot, providing a romantic subplot that complements the main theme of acceptance and self-confidence.
Montgomery, Brian Tochi, and Larry B. Scott were notable cast members in the 1984 comedy film “Revenge of the Nerds,” where they played key roles that contributed to the film’s humorous take on college life and nerd culture.
Although Julia Montgomery did not appear in the sequel of the film, she did reprise her role in the third and fourth installments.
By that point, her character had married Lewis Skolnick, and was helping to defend the very nerds she once made fun of earlier in her life.
Later Career
The talented actress would have a few other notable roles in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. She played doctor Sally Arthur in a series called Earth Star Voyager in conjunction with Disney.
Julia Montgomery would also make appearances in fabled shows such as Columbo, Cheers and Full House, where she played the adult version of Stephanie Tanner in one episode.
She did not appear in any TV or movies from 1995-2011, but picked her acting career back up in 2012.
What is Julia Montgomery Doing Now?
Julia Montgomery is still acting, although in small roles. Most recently, she appeared in minor parts on television shows including the comedy Bothered in 2020 and 2022 and the comedy series Covid Book Club in 2022.
Aside from acting, Julia Montgomery has found another calling. She has become a licensed real estate agent, and is focused on selling properties on behalf of Kaptain Real Estate Group.
According to her personal page, she has made several transactions involving homes worth over $1 million.
Her worlds remarkably intersected in a 2022 appearance in The Young And The Restless. Montgomery was all of a sudden back on high profile soap opera television, and much like her days on One Life To Live, she did not have to deviate much from reality. She got to play a woman named Tayna, who was a real estate agent on the show.
Family Life
Julia Montgomery and Jon David Reede have been married since 1996. The couple has had two children together, and Montgomery took a break from acting to raise them.
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