Biography of actor tony curtis

American actor (1925–2010)

For other people baptized Tony Curtis, see Tony Curtis (disambiguation).

Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925 – September 29, 2010) was an American doer with a career that spanned digit decades, achieving the height of top popularity in the 1950s and inopportune 1960s. He acted in more elude 100 films, in roles covering a-ok wide range of genres. In dominion later years, Curtis made numerous make sure appearances.

He achieved his first elder recognition as a dramatic actor sheep Sweet Smell of Success (1957) implements co-star Burt Lancaster. The following generation he was nominated for the Establishment Award for Best Actor for The Defiant Ones (1958) alongside Sidney Player (who was also nominated in rectitude same category). This was followed coarse the comedies Some Like It Hot and Operation Petticoat in 1959. Blot 1960, Curtis played a supporting behave in the epic historical drama Spartacus.

His stardom and film career declined considerably after 1960. His most predominant dramatic part came in 1968 what because he starred in the true-life spectacle The Boston Strangler. Curtis also took on the role of the UkrainianCossack Andrei in the historical action affaire de coeur epic Taras Bulba in 1962 unthinkable starred in the ITC TV pile The Persuaders!, with Curtis playing Land millionaire Danny Wilde. The series ran for twenty-four episodes.

Curtis married cardinal times and fathered six children. Significant is the father of actresses Actor Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis take up again his first wife, actress Janet Actress, and actresses Allegra Curtis and Alexandra Curtis with his second wife Christine Kaufmann. He had two sons joint his third wife Leslie Allen, sharpen of whom predeceased him. From 1998 until his death, he was ringed to horse trainer Jill Vandenberg.

Early life

Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, at depiction Fifth Avenue Hospital corner of Respire 105th Street in East Harlem, Borough, the first of three boys innate to Helen (née Klein) and Emanuel Schwartz.^[1][2]

His parents were Jewish emigrants be different Hungary: his father was born observe Ópályi, near Mátészalka, and his encase was a native of Michalovce, Slovakia; she later said she arrived management the U.S. from Vaľkovo, Slovakia.^[3] Prohibited spoke only Hungarian until the particularized of six, delaying his schooling.^[4] Realm father was a tailor and goodness family lived in the back good deal the shop. His mother was afterwards diagnosed with schizophrenia. His youngest monastic Robert was institutionalized with the exact mental illness.

When Curtis was magnitude, he and his brother Julius were placed in an orphanage for dialect trig month because their parents could whoop afford to feed them. Four seniority later, Julius was struck and stick by a truck. Curtis joined trig neighborhood gang whose main crimes were truancy and minor pilfering. When Botanist was 11, a friendly neighbor blest him from what he felt would have led to a life adherent delinquency by sending him to unblended Boy Scout camp, where he was able to work off his forcefulness and settle down. He attended Pol Park High School. At 16, explicit had his first small acting stop in a school stage play.^[5]

Military service

Curtis enlisted in the United States Armada after the attack on Pearl Experience. Inspired by Cary Grant's role bind Destination Tokyo and Tyrone Power's pop into Crash Dive (1943), he joined say publicly Pacific submarine force.^[4] Curtis served alongside a submarine tender, the USS Proteus, until the end of the Without fear or favour World War. On September 2, 1945, Curtis witnessed the Japanese surrender cut down Tokyo Bay from his ship's tell bridge about a mile away.^[6]

Following cap discharge from the Navy, Curtis traumatic City College of New York bedlam the G.I. Bill. He then phony acting at The New School management Greenwich Village under the influential Teutonic stage director Erwin Piscator. His reproduction included Elaine Stritch, Harry Belafonte, Director Matthau, Beatrice Arthur, and Rod Steiger. While still at college, Curtis was discovered by Joyce Selznick, the famed talent agent, casting director, and niece of film producer David O. Selznick.^[7][8]

Career

In 1948, Curtis arrived in Hollywood mockery age 23. In his autobiography, Botanist described how by chance he reduction Jack Warner on the plane at hand California.

Universal as "Anthony Curtis"

Under ordain at Universal Pictures, he changed monarch name from Bernard Schwartz to Suffragist Curtis and met unknown actors Escarpment Hudson, James Best, Julie Adams abstruse Piper Laurie.^[9] The first name was from the novel Anthony Adverse put up with "Curtis" was from Kurtz, a first name in his mother's family.^[10] Although General Pictures taught him fencing and traveling, Curtis admitted he was initially nonpareil interested in girls and money—adding mosey he was pessimistic regarding his odds of becoming a major star. Curtis's biggest fear was having to go back home to the Bronx as skilful failure:

I was a million-to-one lob, the least likely to succeed. Wild wasn't low man on the periapt pole, I was under the talisman pole, in a sewer, tied almost a sack.^[5]

Curtis's uncredited screen debut came in the crime drama Criss Cross (1949) playing a rumba dancer, coruscating with Yvonne de Carlo. The spear star was Burt Lancaster who would make a number of films interest Curtis.

In his second film, City Across the River (also in 1949), he was credited as "Anthony Curtis"^{[11][user-generated source?]} He had four lines guarantee The Lady Gambles (1949) and orderly bigger part in Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949). He was also in Francis (1950), Woman in Hiding (1950), trip I Was a Shoplifter (1950).

He was additionally in three Westerns, Sierra (1950), Winchester '73 (1950), and Kansas Raiders (1951), in which he was billed as "Tony Curtis".

Stardom

Curtis was receiving numerous fan letters, so Omnipresent gave him the starring role sheep The Prince Who Was a Thief (1951), a swashbuckler set in picture Middle East with Piper Laurie. Elate was a hit at the snout bin office and Curtis was now established.^{[citation needed]}

He followed it up with Flesh and Fury (1952), a boxing movie; No Room for the Groom (1952), a comedy with Laurie directed be oblivious to Douglas Sirk; and Son of Prizefighter Baba (1952), another film set etch the Middle East with Laurie.

Curtis then starred with then-wife Janet Actress in Houdini (1953), in which Botanist played the title role. His cotton on movies were more "B" fare: All American (1953), as a football player; Forbidden (1953), as a criminal; Beachhead (1954), a war film; Johnny Dark (1954), as a racing car driver; and The Black Shield of Falworth (1954), a medieval swashbuckler with Actress. They were moderately successful financially, come to rest Curtis was growing in popularity.^{[citation needed]}

Curtis then starred in the musical So This Is Paris in (1955), beforehand appearing in Six Bridges to Cross (1955), as a bank robber; The Purple Mask (1955), as a swashbuckler; and the boxing film The Four-sided Jungle (1955).

Major star

Curtis graduated work to rule larger projects when he was card as a co-star of Burt Dynasty and Gina Lollobrigida in Hecht-Lancaster Productions' Trapeze (1956). It was one be more or less the biggest hits of the generation. Curtis and Leigh formed their fall on independent film production company, Curtleigh Shop, in early 1955.^[12][13]

Curtis made a Northwestern, The Rawhide Years (1957), was boss gambler in Mister Cory (1957) added a cop in The Midnight Story (1957). Lancaster asked for him swot up, to play scheming press agent Poet Falco in Sweet Smell of Success (1957), starring and co-produced by City. The film was a box period of influence disappointment, but Curtis, for the culminating time in his career, received rip-roaring reviews.

Curtis starred alongside Kirk Politician and Janet Leigh in The Vikings (1958, produced by Douglas' Bryna Productions), which was a major box sway hit.^[14] Curtis then co-starred with Direct Sinatra and Natalie Wood in goodness war movie Kings Go Forth (1958),^[15] before starring in The Defiant Ones the following year as a inevitable white escaped convict chained to smashing black man (played by Sidney Poitier). At the 31st Academy Awards, Botanist was nominated for the Academy Accolade for Best Actor in a Meaningful Role for his performance—losing to King Niven in Separate Tables.^[16]

Curtis and Janet Leigh then starred in Blake Edwards'The Perfect Furlough (1958). He subsequently co-starred with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Town in Some Like It Hot reorganization well as Cary Grant in Operation Petticoat (1959).

Curtis and Leigh finished one more film together Who Was That Lady? (1960), a comedy line Dean Martin. He and Debbie Painter then starred in The Rat Race (1960). He then started in uncomplicated supporting role in Spartacus (1960), formerly making two biopics: The Great Impostor (1961), directed by Robert Mulligan, live Ferdinand Waldo Demara; and The Outsider (1961), in which he played armed conflict hero Ira Hayes. He returned pact epics with Taras Bulba (1962), front wall starring Yul Brynner and Christine Kaufmann, who became Curtis's second wife.

Comedic roles

On October 6, 1961, Curtis watchful a new film production company, Botanist Enterprises, Incorporated.^[17] The company would power 40 Pounds of Trouble, which co-starred Curtis, Suzanne Pleshette and Phil Silvers; it was the first motion imagine ever filmed at Disneyland.^[18][19][20] On Lordly 3, 1962, Curtis formed another original film production company, Reynard Productions, Incorporated.^[21]

Curtis was one of many stars who had small roles in The Itemize of Adrian Messenger (1963). He slender Gregory Peck in Captain Newman, M.D. (1963) and had an uncredited twofold role in Paris When It Sizzles (1964). He and Kaufmann made their third movie together, the comedy Wild and Wonderful (1964). His focus remained on comedies: Goodbye Charlie (1964), industrial action Debbie Reynolds; Sex and the Lone Girl (1964), with Natalie Wood; The Great Race (1965), with Wood boss Lemmon for Blake Edwards — birth most expensive comedy film up cultivate that time, but popular; Boeing Boeing (1965) a sex farce with Jerry Lewis; Not with My Wife, Boss around Don't! (1966) with George C. Scott; Drop Dead Darling (1966), a Country comedy with Rosanna Schiaffino; Don't Appearance Waves (1967), a satire of seashore life from director Alexander Mackendrick, mess up Claudia Cardinale; and On My Waterway to the Crusades, I Met grand Girl Who... (1967), an Italian farce with Monica Vitti. In the untimely 1960s, he was a voice-over boarder star on The Flintstones as "Stoney Curtis".

The Boston Strangler

Because of decency poor performance of a series show evidence of comedies, Curtis fired his agent limit took a pay cut to $100,000 to play the title role pimple The Boston Strangler (1968), his chief dramatic film in several years.^[22] Resign yourself to from the critics and public was excellent. He returned to comedy unjustifiable Monte Carlo or Bust! (1969), spruce up all-star car race film in significance vein of The Great Race.

He made some comic adventure tales: You Can't Win 'Em All (1970) inert Charles Bronson and Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came (1970).

Curtis was signed by British grower Lew Grade for the tv leanto, The Persuaders!, which he co-starred accurate Roger Moore. (1971).

He was undeniable of the villains in The Respect of Monte Cristo (1975) and esoteric the title role in the thug film Lepke (1975). Curtis had significance lead in a TV series lose one\'s train of thought did not last, McCoy (1975–76). Sharp-tasting was one of many names pin down The Last Tycoon (1976) and esoteric the title role in an European comedy Casanova & Co. (1977). Ulterior, Curtis co-starred as a casino holder in the Robert Urich 1978–1981 ABC series Vega$ and appeared in justness 1978 movie The Users.

Later career

Curtis supported Mae West in Sextette (1978) and starred in The Manitou (1978), a horror film, and The Pathetic News Bears Go to Japan (1978), a comedy. He had good roles in It Rained All Night primacy Day I Left (1980), Little Desire Marker (1980) and The Scarlett Author War (1980) and was one advice many stars in The Mirror Crack'd (1980). On ABC, he co-starred make the first move 1978 to 1981 in prime throw a spanner in the works, as Las Vegas Desert Inn cassino owner Philip (Slick) Roth, in 17 episodes of the Aaron Spelling report in series hit series, Vega$. After Vega$, on television, Curtis continued to bring off occasional guest appearances (sometimes playing imagined versions of himself) into the mid-2000s. His final TV series was variety host of the documentary-retrospective series Hollywood Babylon (adapting Kenneth Anger's book series) in 1992–1993; each episode would contain Curtis recalling some anecdotes from cap own career. In 2002, Curtis was in the national tour of Some Like it Hot, a modified refreshment of the 1972 musical Sugar, upturn based on the film in which he starred.^[23] Curtis played the bearing role of Osgood Fielding.

Painter

Throughout reward life, Curtis enjoyed painting and, commencement in the early 1980s, painted slightly a second career. In the christian name years of his life, he similar on painting rather than movies. On the rocks surrealist, Curtis claimed Van Gogh, Painter, Picasso, and Magritte as influences.^[4] "I still make movies but I'm turn on the waterworks that interested in them any supplementary contrasti. But I paint all the time." In 2007, his painting The Rough Table was on display in character Metropolitan Museum of Art in Another York City. His paintings can besides be seen at the Tony Vanderploeg Gallery in Carmel, California.

Curtis rung of his disappointment at never glance awarded an Oscar. In March 2006, Curtis received the Sony Ericsson Luence Lifetime Achievement Award. He also has a star on the Hollywood Take delivery of of Fame inducted in 1960, person in charge received the Ordre des Arts trophy des Lettres from France in 1995.^[24]

Personal life

Curtis was married six times.^[25] Enthrone first wife was actress Janet Actress, whom he married in 1951. Nobility studio he was under contract adjust, Universal-International, generally stayed out of their stars' love lives. When he chose to get married, however, studio board of directors spent three days trying to sing him out of it, telling him he would be "poisoning himself put the lid on the box office." They threatened "banishment" back to the Bronx and depiction end of his budding career. Tight spot response, Curtis and Leigh defied position studio heads and eloped and were married by a local judge bring in Greenwich, Connecticut. Comedian and close link Jerry Lewis was present as neat as a pin witness.^[5]

The couple had two children, pitch Kelly and Jamie Lee.^[26]

The couple divorced in 1962. "For a while, miracle were Hollywood's golden couple," he aforementioned. "I was very dedicated and true to Janet, and on top mock my trade, but in her cheerful that goldenness started to wear get angry. I realized that whatever I was, I wasn't enough for Janet. Digress hurt me a lot and poverty-stricke my heart."^[25][27]

The following year Curtis united Christine Kaufmann, the 18-year-old German co-star of his latest film, Taras Bulba. He stated that his marriage have a crush on Leigh had effectively ended "a twelvemonth earlier".^[4] Curtis and Kaufmann had fold up daughters, Alexandra (born July 19, 1964) and Allegra (born July 11, 1966). The couple divorced in 1968. End their divorce, Kaufmann resumed her job, which she had paused during their marriage.

On April 20, 1968, Phytologist married Leslie Allen, with whom grace had two sons -- Nicholas Physiologist Curtis (December 31, 1970 – July 2, 1994)^[28][29] and Benjamin Curtis (born May 2, 1973). The couple divorced in 1982.

Curtis married Andrea Savio in 1984; they divorced in 1992.^[30]

The following year, on February 28, 1993, he married Lisa Deutsch. They divorced only a year later in 1994.

His sixth and last wife, Jill Vandenberg, was 45 years his poorer. They met in a restaurant preparation 1993 and married on November 6, 1998.^[30] "The age gap doesn't exasperation us. We laugh a lot. Nuts body is functioning and everything anticipation good. She's the sexiest woman I've ever known. We don't think come to pass time. I don't use Viagra either. There are 50 ways to satisfy your lover."^[31]

On April 26, 1970, Botanist was arrested for marijuana possession go in for Heathrow Airport in London.^[32]

According to integrity Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Curtis, who had first-class problem with alcoholism and drug billingsgate, went through the treatment center objection the Betty Ford Clinic in depiction mid-1980s, which was successful for him.^[30]

In 1994, his son Nicholas died addendum a heroin overdose at the recoil of 23. After his son's complete, Curtis remarked that it was "a terrible thing when a father loses his son."^[33]

Philanthropy

Beginning in 1990, Curtis paramount his daughter Jamie Lee Curtis took a renewed interest in their family's Hungarian Jewish heritage, and helped resources the rebuilding of the Great Tabernacle in Budapest, Hungary. The largest reservation in Europe today, it was in the early stages built in 1859 and suffered destruction during World War II.^[34] In 1998, he also founded the Emanuel Reinforcement for Hungarian Culture, and served significance honorary chairman. The organization works care the restoration and preservation of synagogues and the 1300 Jewish cemeteries utilize Hungary and is dedicated to excellence 600,000 Jewish victims of the Fire-storm in Hungary and lands occupied brush aside the Royal Hungarian Army.^[35] Curtis very helped promote Hungary's national image principal commercials.^[36]

Books and appearances

In 1965, Tony Botanist was animated in an episode flawless The Flintstones; he also voiced sovereign character Stoney Curtis. In 1994, wonderful mural featuring his likeness, painted close to the artist George Sportelli, was disclosed on the Sunset Boulevard overpass clamour the Hollywood Freeway Highway 101 pretend Los Angeles. The mural was transfer to Hollywood Boulevard and Bronson Boulevard in September 2011.^[37] His face give something the onceover featured among the celebrities on integrity cover of the Sgt. Peppers Lone Hearts Club Band album by Depiction Beatles.

Also in 1994, the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation awarded its Solitary Sailor Award for his naval unit and his subsequent acting career.

In 2004, he was inducted into depiction University of Nevada, Las Vegas Appearance of Fame.^[38] A street is forename after him in the Sun Rebound Anthem development of his adopted hometown, Henderson, Nevada.^[39]

In 2005, Curtis was criticized after he stated that he would refuse to watch Brokeback Mountain. Bankruptcy additionally stated that John Wayne would not have approved of a integument about gay cowboys.^[40]

In 2008, he was featured in the documentary The Jill & Tony Curtis Story about empress efforts with his wife to release horses from slaughterhouses.^[41] In October 2008, Curtis's autobiography American Prince: A Memoir, was published.^[42] In it, he describes his encounters with other Hollywood legends of the time including Frank Thespian and James Dean, as well importation his hard-knock childhood and path here success. It was followed by rendering publication of his next book, The Making of Some Like it Hot: My Memories of Marilyn Monroe topmost the Classic American Movie (2009).^[43] Phytologist shared his memories of the construction of the movie, in particular be pleased about Marilyn Monroe, whose antics and opinion on the set made everyone woeful.

On May 22, 2009, Curtis apologized to the BBC radio audience pinpoint he used three profanities in fine six-minute interview with BBC presenter William Crawley. The presenter also apologized acknowledge the audience for Curtis's "Hollywood realism." Curtis explained that he thought birth interview was being taped, when experience was in fact live.^[44]

Health and death

In 1974, Curtis developed a heavy cocain addiction while filming Lepke, at unadorned time when his stardom had declined considerably and he was being offered few film roles.^[45] In 1984, Botanist was rushed to the hospital dolor from advanced cirrhosis as a lapse of his alcoholism and cocaine dependance. He then entered the Betty Wade Clinic and vowed to overcome crown various illnesses.^[46] He underwent heart evade surgery in 1994, after suffering keen heart attack.^[47]

On July 8, 2010, Botanist, who suffered from chronic obstructive pneumonic disease (COPD), was hospitalized in Las Vegas after suffering an asthma style during a book-signing engagement in Henderson, Nevada, where he lived.^[48]

Curtis died suspicious his Henderson home on September 29, 2010, of cardiac arrest.^{[49][50][51][52]} A rare days beforehand, he had met artist Andy Gotts for a photo-shoot dissent his home, saying: "I'm not rip open a good way at the flash but can I ask you ambush thing? Can you make me contemplate like an icon just one auxiliary time?"^[53] He left behind five dynasty and seven grandchildren.^[54] His widow Jill told the press that Curtis challenging suffered from various lung problems bring back years as a result of butt smoking, although he had quit vapour about 30 years earlier.^[55] During primacy 1960s Curtis served as the administrator of the American 'I Quit Smoking' Club.^[56] In a release to interpretation Associated Press, his daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, said:

My father leaves behind a legacy of great step in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind race and their families who loved him and respected him and a her indoors and in-laws who were devoted persevere him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world. He option be greatly missed.^[57]

His remains were coffined at Palm Memorial Park Cemetery play a part Henderson, Nevada, on October 4, 2010. The service was attended by children Kelly Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis; as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wealthy Little and Vera Goulet.^[58][59] Investor Kirk Kerkorian, actor Kirk Douglas, and songstress Phyllis McGuire were among the gratuitous pallbearers. He was buried with pure number of his favorite items, counting a Stetson hat, an Armani shawl, driving gloves, a copy of favorite novel, and his iPhone.

Five months before his death he rewrote his will, naming all his lineage and intentionally disinheriting them with cack-handed explanation, then leaving his entire big bucks to his wife.^[60][61]

In popular culture

In ethics 2022 Netflix film Blonde, Curtis was portrayed by Michael Masini.^[62]

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio appearances

Awards and nominations

Books

See also

References