Known For
Acting
Born
Jun 03, 1925
Died
Sep 29, 2010
Place of Birth
Bronx, New York, USA
Credits
217 titles
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.
Known For
Filmography
From Roger Moore with Love
Self (archive footage)
Pictures of Ghosts
Self (archive footage)
Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe, la célébrité à tout prix
Tony Curtis
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Morceaux de Cannes
The UnXplained
Self (archive footage)
Amicalement vôtre : Hollywood au service de sa Majesté
Danny Wilde
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive)
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Self - Actor (archive footage)
Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
Self (archive footage)
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Self
Marilyn at the Movies
Self (archive footage)
That's Insignificance
Self
Tony Curtis erzählt...
Self
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Eric (archive footage) (uncredited)
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
Self
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel
Self
Hollywood sul Tevere
David & Fatima
Mr. Schwartz
The Jill & Tony Curtis Story
Shrink Rap
Self
The Graham Norton Show
Self
The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'
Self
The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'
Self
Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Legenden
Self
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy
Self
Hope & Faith
Morris
Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Un film et son époque
Self
Reflections of Evil
Host
Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot
Self
Rescued from the Closet
Self
Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'
Self
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Tony Curtis
Play It to the Bone
Tony Curtis (Ringside Fan)
Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever
Bernard (voice)
Louis & Frank
Lenny Star Springer
Stargames
King Fendel
The Johannes B. Kerner Show
Self
Elvis Meets Nixon
Tony Curtis
The View
Self
The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man
Jack Steele
Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball
Wald
Suddenly Susan
Peter DiCaprio
The Celluloid Closet
Self
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Self