Monte Jay Himmelbaum, later known as Monte Hellman, was born on July 12, 1929, in New York City, where his parents were visiting, but he spent most of his childhood in Los Angeles. Hellman's early career began as an editor's apprentice at ABC TV, where he honed his skills and laid the foundation for his future endeavors.
He made his directorial debut with the horror film "Beast from Haunted Cave" in 1959, produced by the renowned Roger Corman. This marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career, during which Hellman would go on to gain critical acclaim for his work in various genres.
In 1966, Hellman directed two Westerns, "The Shooting" and "Ride in the Whirlwind," both of which starred the talented Jack Nicholson. His next notable project was the independent road movie "Two-Lane Blacktop," released in 1971, which featured James Taylor and Dennis Wilson.
Hellman's later directorial work included the slasher film "Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!" in 1989 and the independent thriller "Road to Nowhere" in 2010. Throughout his career, Hellman demonstrated a versatility and range that earned him recognition and respect within the film industry.
