The 5 Most Famous Montanas – Besides Joe, Hannah, Tony and the State
Ask any sports fan and they'll tell you that Joe Montana is one of the greatest football players of all time. Ask any movie buff and they'll rave about Al Pacino's legendary performance as the fictional gangster Tony Montana in the 1983 film Scarface. And even though her reputation has been sullied lately, we all remember pop star Miley Cyrus from her days as Hannah Montana.
However, those aren't the only actors, athletes, musicians and models named after our state. Here's five more famous Montanas.
1. Lenny Montana - Born Leonard Passafaro, he later adopted the stage name Montana as a professional wrestler in the 1950's and 60's. After a brief stint working for the Columbo family mafia, he gained famed playing a gangster on the big screen. His acting career peaked in 1972, when he scored the role of hitman Luca Brasi in The Godfather. He continued to star in movies and television series throughout the 70's and 80's.
2. Patsy Montana - Born Ruby Blevins, this singer and songwriter would eventually become one of the first female country music stars. Her 1935 single "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" sold over a million copies. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame shortly after her death in 1996.
3. Manny Montana - In 2012, Montana was cast as Johnny Tuturro in the television series Graceland. He recently landed his first movie role in the 2015 action thriller Blackhat.
4. Amber Montana - This teenage television star got her big break in 2013, when she scored the lead role in the popular Nickelodean series The Haunted Hathaways. Earlier this year she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Youth/Children’s Program at the NAACP Image Awards.
5. Riley Montana - This supermodel is widely considered to be one the freshest faces in the New York fashion scene. Last year, she was featured on the cover of Bazaar's Beauty Issue and has modeled for many notable designers, including Oscar de la Renta, DKNY and Givenchy.
Honorable Mention:
Karla Montana - This actress starred in several critically acclaimed movies in the 80's, including Colors and Stand and Deliver. She was also featured in recurring roles on the television series Beverly Hills 90210 and Blossom before leaving the business in the mid 90's.
Billy Montana - You might not know him by name, but you've probably heard a few of his songs over the years. This singer has written songs for many of country's biggest stars, including Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and Kenny Rogers.
Small Montana - Born Benjamin Gan, this Filipino boxer won 83 bouts in professional career and reigned as the World Flyweight Champion for several years in the 1930's. Nearly forty years after his death, he remains a revered figure in the Philippines and is regarded as a role model and hero by his fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao.