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Tony Curtis


Birth name: Bernard Schwartz
Birth: 3 June 1925
Died: 29 September 2010
Nationality: American
Hollywood Walk Star: Yes
Tony Curtis

Career / Biography

Tony Curtis appeared in a wide range of films, most notably Some Like it Hot and Spartacus. He also appeared in TV including the Persuaders with Roger Moore in the 1970's. His career spanned six decades and he appeared in over 100 films. He was married six times, including to Janet Leigh, who were the parents of actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
He came from a difficult and poor background of Hungarian-Jewish immigrants. He nearly turned to crime but found drama nd then enlisted in the navy in World War 2. He then signed for Paramount and appeared in a few films as Anthony Curtis. Then 1951 he married Janet Leigh and got his first major role in The Prince Who Was A Thief. In 1953 he starred in Houdini, one of several films that he worked with his wife Janet Leight in. Houdini was his breakout role. The studio then cast him in low budget adventure films like The Black Shield of Falworth whcih again featured Janet Leigh. In the Trapeze he had a more dramatic role and he worked well with Burt Lancaster. He had a reputation for his looks, but this also showed his acting ability as well. He worked again with Burt Lancaster in The Sweet Smell Of Success as a newspaper man from the underbelly of the press. This is arguably one of his best films as an actor and whilst getting crtical aclaim it was not a box office success. The Vikings was produced by a compant set up by Curtis and Kirk Douglas. It is a 1950's bloackbuster that features the stars rather than historical accuracy, but was enteratining. In 1958 he starred with Sidney Poitier in the controversial film The Defiant One and a role for which he got his only Oscar nomination. Operation Petticoat was a light wartime comedy in which he player opposite Cary Grant. Tony Curtis was very good in light comedy and this was shown in the classic Some Like It Hot, which is one of the greatest comedies made. Whilst there were all sorts of problems making the film what they produced was very good. AFter this he appeared in the very different film Spartacus. His popularity declined in the 1960's though he did appeared in several comedies during this time. His last major dramatic role was in The Boston Strangler in 1968.

Films

Christmas In Conneticut (1992)
Mirror Crack'd (1980)
Monte Carlo Or Bust (1969)
The Boston Strangler (1968)
The Great Race (1965)
Taras Bulba (1962)
Spartacus (1960)
The Rat Race (1960)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Operation Petticoat (1959)
The Defiant One (1958)
The Vikings (1958)
The Sweet Smell Of Success (1957)
Trapeze (1956)
The Black Shield of Falworth (1954)
Houdini (1953)
The Prince Who Was A Thief (1951)

Oscars

Nomination - Best Actor - The Defiant Ones (1958)
Tony CurtisTony Curtis