Montano was born in Bayside, Queens, New York, and raised in Hempstead on Long Island, 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 he outgrew his silks. His struggles and addictions as a jockey were the impetus for his screenplay, Under the Wire, currently in negotiations with major Hollywood production companies. Montano had a life before Broadway: three years as a jockey at Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga, Atlantic City, and Hialeah. Montano attended Adelphi University, where a couple of teachers told him that he would never become a dancer. One teacher who did not scoff was Rochelle Zide-Booth. The day after Montano graduated from Adelphi in 1983, choreographer Gillian Lynne signed him to a small role in the Vienna production of Cats. Two years later he played Mr. Mistoffelees in the New York production. He has created roles for the Academy Award-nominated writer José Rivera in Cloud Tectonics, References To Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot, Lynn Nottage's 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 East of Eden, directed by Jon Jory, later to be invited back by Mr. Jory to exercise his Shakespeare in The Comedy of Errors. He has also played Ralph, opposite John C. Reilly, in Marty. In 2000 he played the role of Hector Gallardo in the film The Yards. In television he appeared as one of Kim Cattrall's lovers, "We William," in Sex and the City. He has guest starred in ', Third Watch, Six Degrees, Law & Order, New York Undercover, ', Harrison: Cry of the City, numerous soaps, and as Resto in the HBO filmUndefeated, directed by John Leguizamo. In 2006, Montano played Sergio Francone in several episodes of As the World Turns. In May 2007, Montano filled in for an injured Kamar de los Reyes in the role of Antonio Vega for seven episodes of the ABCsoap operaOne Life to Live between May 17, 2007 and May 28, 2007 due to an undisclosed injury. In 2013 he played the role of Tommy Vasquez in "No Regrets" the 18th episode of the 3rd season of the CBS police procedural dramaBlue Bloods. He has one daughter... Aurora Rae Adele Montano.
Filmography
Law & Order as Father Romano Aguera / Clemente / CSU Technician / Rivera 4 episodes TV Series
Harrison: Cry of the City as Octavio Ruiz TV Movie
New York Undercover as Daniel Reinaldo 1 episode TV Series
Sex and the City as We William 1 episode TV Series
The Yards as Hector Gallardo Movie
Center Stage as ABA Pas De Deux Class Teacher Movie
Law & Order as U.S. Attorney Raul Menedez / Mr. Barrera 2 episodes TV Show