Born in Queens, Montgomery began her career on the stage in the 1960s in Off-Off-Broadway theatrical groups.
She was a member of Negro Ensemble Company and the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club.
Later that year, she starred in the short-lived ABC program Married People as Olivia Williams.
[1] She has also appeared on many shows such as A Different World, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Disneyland, and Living Single.
In 2013, Montgomery made her directorial debut with the historical film Mitote, starring Ruby Dee and S. Epatha Merkerson.