Timothy Olan Montgomery

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of American photographer, artist and actor Timothy Olan Montgomery on April 4, 2020 at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York from complications following his battle with the COVID-19 virus. One of the hospital’s first pandemic patients, he fought valiantly for 29 days, of which 26 he was sustained on a ventilator. He had recently been moved into recovery when his condition took a sudden turn and the doctors and nurses caring for him could not revive him.

Timothy Olan Montgomery, born April 12th, 1963, in Warner Robins, Georgia, was the second of identical twins to Eslye Lee Moate and Gary Misner Montgomery. He spent most of his youth in Macon, Georgia, graduating in 1980 from Northeast High School. On acceptance he continued his education with the Columbia University School of Journalism in the city of New York. Early in his career he established himself as a successful make-up artist working for many of New York’s major modeling agencies. Later in life, going by his middle name of Olan, he was very active in New York art circles and known for his talent as a photographer, painter and actor.

In 2008 Village Voice columnist Michael Musto wrote an article titled "Portrait Artist makes it Big by Upping the Subculture," concerning Olan's book of portraiture, "POP, Art inspired by New York's own subcultures from celebrity to subway something more through color & light", a collection of portraiture created from a combination of Olan's own photography combined with painting and plastic. Olan is known for his fine art portraiture both for and of several noted personalities including Alan Cumming, Rufus Wainwright, Anne Hathaway, Susan Jaffe, Ethan Stiefel, Dominic West and Courtney Love.

As an actor, Olan performed in supporting roles in feature films; The Roads not Taken (2020) directed by Sally Potter, The Irishman (2019) produced by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian, Already Gone (2019) directed by Christopher Kenneally, Green Dolphin (2018) directed by Christopher Kenneally, executive produced by Keanu Reeves, Alterscape (2018) directed by Serge Levin, Haymaker (2017) directed by Nicholas Sasso produced by Andrew van den Houten, Hollywood Dirt (2017) directed by Tosca Musk and Appropriate Behaviour (2014) directed by Desiree Akhavan. Olan and his twin brother starred in the American Film Institute Film Fest official selection short Ham Heads (2016) as conjoined twins directed by Efrén Hernández as well as Frankie: Italian Roulette (2015) which won the 2015 Oaxaca Film Fest in Mexico and the Nostro D'Argento in Rome in 2016. He also appeared in supporting roles in the series FBI: Most Wanted - Ghosts (2020), The Black List-Requiem (2017), Stranger Things, season 3 (2016), My New Roommate (2014), Boardwalk Empire - Peg of Old (2011). Olan wrote and produced several of his own short films Silence = (2017), Babies to the world (2017), Toggle (2017) and Al & Ollie (2017), Rush Call Clown (2016) (winner of the Judges Award in the Discover Film Festival 2016).

Olan will be fondly remembered by his son Shawn, his mother Eslye, Step-fathers Tim and Hugh, step-mother Shirley, his sister Kursti and his brothers Chuck, Mike, Thomas (twin brother), Tim and Daniel. Olan is predeceased by his father Gary and his brother Shawn Patrick. He will also be forever remembered by his numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, dear friends and his faithful companions Big Al and Tuxie.

A private graveside service and burial will be held at Eastside Cemetery.