Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis

Biography: Tony Curtis (June 3, 1925 – September 29, 2010) was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama. In his later years, Curtis made numerous television appearances. Although his early film roles were partly the result of his good looks, by the later half of the 1950's he became a notable and strong screen presence. He began proving himself to be a “fine dramatic actor,” having the range to act in numerous dramatic and comedy roles. In his earliest parts he acted in a string of "mediocre" films, including swashbucklers, westerns, light comedies, sports films, and a musical. However, by the time he starred in Houdini (1953) with his wife Janet Leigh, "his first clear success," notes critic David Thomson, his acting had progressed immensely. He won his first serious recognition as a skilled dramatic actor in Sweet Smell of Success (1957) with co-star Burt Lancaster. The following year he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in another drama, The Defiant Ones (1958). Curtis then gave what many believe was his best acting, in a completely different role, the comedy Some Like It Hot (1959). Thomson calls it an "outrageous film," and it was voted the number 1 funniest film in history from a survey done by the American Film Institute. It costarred Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, and was directed by Billy Wilder. That was followed by Blake Edwards’ comedy Operation Petticoat (1959) with Cary Grant. They were both “frantic comedies,” and displayed "his impeccable comic timing." He often collaborated with Edwards on later films. His most significant serious part came in 1968 when he starred in the true-life drama The Boston Strangler, which some consider his "last major film role." The part reinforced his reputation as a serious actor with his "chilling portrayal" of serial killer Albert DeSalvo. He gained 30 pounds and had his face "rebuilt" with a false nose to look like the real DeSalvo. Curtis was the father of actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis by his first wife, actress Janet Leigh.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: June 03, 1925

Deathday: September 29, 2010

Popularity:

12.66

Known For

Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot

1959-03-19

Spartacus
Spartacus

1960-10-13

Sweet Smell of Success
Sweet Smell of Success

1957-07-04

Don't Make Waves
Don't Make Waves

1967-06-20

The Count of Monte-Cristo
The Count of Monte-Cristo

1975-10-31

Casanova & Co.
Casanova & Co.

1977-03-01

Play It to the Bone
Play It to the Bone

1999-12-25

Paris When It Sizzles
Paris When It Sizzles

1964-03-01

Criss Cross
Criss Cross

1949-02-04

Center of the Web
Center of the Web

1992-05-15

Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball
Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball

1997-03-30

The Mummy Lives
The Mummy Lives

1993-07-10

The Mirror Crack'd
The Mirror Crack'd

1980-09-19

The Defiant Ones
The Defiant Ones

1958-08-14

The Great Race
The Great Race

1965-07-01

Murder in Three Acts
Murder in Three Acts

1986-10-01

The List of Adrian Messenger
The List of Adrian Messenger

1963-05-23

Naked in New York
Naked in New York

1993-11-10

The Black Shield of Falworth
The Black Shield of Falworth

1954-09-02

Allen in Movieland
Allen in Movieland

1955-07-02

Captain Newman, M.D.
Captain Newman, M.D.

1963-12-25

The Boston Strangler
The Boston Strangler

1968-10-08

Operation Petticoat
Operation Petticoat

1959-12-05

Sex and the Single Girl
Sex and the Single Girl

1964-12-25

Forbidden
Forbidden

1953-12-02

Hollywood Legenden
Hollywood Legenden

2004-01-01

The Manitou
The Manitou

1978-04-28

Trapeze
Trapeze

1956-05-30

The Immortals
The Immortals

1995-10-05

Six Bridges to Cross
Six Bridges to Cross

1955-01-21

Lepke
Lepke

1975-05-23

Winchester '73
Winchester '73

1950-07-12

The Lady Gambles
The Lady Gambles

1949-05-20

Insignificance
Insignificance

1985-08-02

The Vikings
The Vikings

1958-06-11

Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

2010-02-10

Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon
Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon

2010-02-10

Tony Curtis erzählt...
Tony Curtis erzählt...

2010-10-03

People, Hopes, Medals
People, Hopes, Medals

1960-03-14

Taras Bulba
Taras Bulba

1962-11-21

Houdini
Houdini

1953-07-02

Reflections of Evil
Reflections of Evil

2002-03-22

Beachhead
Beachhead

1954-02-05

The Last Tycoon
The Last Tycoon

1976-11-18

City Across the River
City Across the River

1949-04-07

Mission: Monte Carlo
Mission: Monte Carlo

1974-01-01

The Great Impostor
The Great Impostor

1960-12-23

Boeing, Boeing
Boeing, Boeing

1965-12-22

Lobster Man from Mars
Lobster Man from Mars

1990-02-09

Monte Carlo or Bust!
Monte Carlo or Bust!

1969-04-28

I Was a Shoplifter
I Was a Shoplifter

1950-05-13

Little Miss Marker
Little Miss Marker

1980-03-21

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

1978-06-30

Club Life
Club Life

1986-02-20

Walter and Carlo in America
Walter and Carlo in America

1989-11-24

Johnny Stool Pigeon
Johnny Stool Pigeon

1949-04-20

Goodbye Charlie
Goodbye Charlie

1964-11-18

Pepe
Pepe

1960-12-21

Son of Ali Baba
Son of Ali Baba

1952-08-15

The Prince Who Was a Thief
The Prince Who Was a Thief

1951-05-17

The Midnight Story
The Midnight Story

1957-06-04

Not With My Wife, You Don't
Not With My Wife, You Don't

1966-11-02

Christmas in Connecticut
Christmas in Connecticut

1992-12-22

BrainWaves
BrainWaves

1983-08-05

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel

2009-09-12

Kings Go Forth
Kings Go Forth

1958-06-28

Flesh and Fury
Flesh and Fury

1952-06-26

Kansas Raiders
Kansas Raiders

1950-11-15

The Rat Race
The Rat Race

1960-07-10

The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man
The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man

1997-05-13

Who Was That Lady?
Who Was That Lady?

1960-04-08

The Rawhide Years
The Rawhide Years

1956-07-01

The Purple Mask
The Purple Mask

1955-06-15

Johnny Dark
Johnny Dark

1954-06-25

Sierra
Sierra

1950-05-26

Death Becomes Me
Death Becomes Me

1979-01-01

The Masqueraders
The Masqueraders

1980-01-01

The Persuaders!
The Persuaders!

1973-04-01

The Last Appointment!
The Last Appointment!

1977-06-11

Sextette
Sextette

1978-03-03

No Room for the Groom
No Room for the Groom

1952-06-13

You Can't Win 'Em All
You Can't Win 'Em All

1970-07-23

Midnight
Midnight

1989-07-01

Mister Cory
Mister Cory

1957-02-23

Where Is Parsifal?
Where Is Parsifal?

1984-01-01

The Million Dollar Face
The Million Dollar Face

1981-03-12

The Outsider
The Outsider

1961-12-27

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983-02-25

The Passenger – Welcome to Germany
The Passenger – Welcome to Germany

1988-05-04

The Users
The Users

1978-10-01

Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration
Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration

1979-05-07

Magic with the Stars
Magic with the Stars

1982-01-17

The Third Girl from the Left
The Third Girl from the Left

1973-10-16

Balboa
Balboa

1983-01-02

Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten
Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten

2006-03-15

The Perfect Furlough
The Perfect Furlough

1958-11-30

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'
Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

2001-05-22

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'
The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006-06-25

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'
The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006-06-25

Prime Target
Prime Target

1991-09-27

The All American
The All American

1953-10-01

40 Pounds of Trouble
40 Pounds of Trouble

1962-12-31

How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border

1949-01-01

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

1970-09-11

Portrait of a Showgirl
Portrait of a Showgirl

1982-04-09

Arrivederci, Baby!
Arrivederci, Baby!

1966-12-28

Stargames
Stargames

1998-06-03

Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever
Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever

1998-12-15

Meet Danny Wilson
Meet Danny Wilson

1952-02-08

Louis & Frank
Louis & Frank

1998-07-08

The Square Jungle
The Square Jungle

1955-12-30

Tarzan in Manhattan
Tarzan in Manhattan

1989-04-15

Rat Pack
Rat Pack

2022-01-11

Black Commando
Black Commando

1982-11-15

Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day

1990-11-19

On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...
On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...

1967-12-01

It Rained All Night the Day I Left
It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980-08-05

The Celluloid Closet
The Celluloid Closet

1996-01-30

The Scarlett O'Hara War
The Scarlett O'Hara War

1980-05-19

David & Fatima
David & Fatima

2008-06-27

Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class

1995-11-16

Francis
Francis

1950-02-08

So This Is Paris
So This Is Paris

1954-12-15

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal

1986-07-31

Half Nelson
Half Nelson

1985-03-24

Sparky's Magic Piano
Sparky's Magic Piano

1987-01-01

Woman in Hiding
Woman in Hiding

1950-01-06

Wild and Wonderful
Wild and Wonderful

1964-06-09

Mafia Princess
Mafia Princess

1986-01-19

Banter
Banter

1986-08-25

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

2012-03-20

Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box
Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box

1991-11-29

Rosemary's Baby
Rosemary's Baby

1968-06-12

Title Shot
Title Shot

1979-09-09

A Star Is Born World Premiere
A Star Is Born World Premiere

1954-09-28

The Re-Inforcer
The Re-Inforcer

1951-10-04

Come Back Little Shiksa
Come Back Little Shiksa

1952-01-01

Chamber of Horrors
Chamber of Horrors

1966-10-19

Fairfax Avenue
Fairfax Avenue

1951-01-01

An Eye for an Eye
An Eye for an Eye

1952-01-02

Nightmare
Nightmare

1956-01-01

Hugh Hefner: American Playboy
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy

2003-11-18

And the Oscar Goes To...
And the Oscar Goes To...

2014-02-01

A Century of Cinema
A Century of Cinema

1994-01-01

London Conspiracy
London Conspiracy

1974-10-04

That's Insignificance
That's Insignificance

2011-06-14

Norman Jewison, Film Maker
Norman Jewison, Film Maker

1971-01-01

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

2014-09-20

Nobody's Perfect - The Making of Some Like It Hot
Nobody's Perfect - The Making of Some Like It Hot

2001-12-31

Sporting Chance
Sporting Chance

1975-01-01

The Switch
The Switch

1976-06-07

Inmates: A Love Story
Inmates: A Love Story

1981-02-13

Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor
Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

1994-11-09

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

2010-05-05

Rescued from the Closet
Rescued from the Closet

2001-05-29

The World's Most Beautiful Girls
The World's Most Beautiful Girls

1953-01-29

Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit
Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit

1994-04-03

Elvis Meets Nixon
Elvis Meets Nixon

1997-08-12

From Roger Moore with Love
From Roger Moore with Love

2024-12-15

Nickel Boys
Nickel Boys

2024-12-13

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