Tony Curtis (born Bernard Alvin Schwartz; June 3, 1925 – September 29, 2010) was an American film and television actor who achieved stardom in the 1950s and 1960s and is noted for his versatility in a wide range of genres, including drama, comedy, musical, and westerns.
Early life and education
Born in the Bronx, New York City, to Jewish immigrants from Russia, Curtis was the youngest of three children. His father, Max Schwartz, worked as a garment factory manager, and his mother, Rebecca (née Pomerantz), was a housewife. After graduating from James Monroe High School in 1943, Curtis enlisted in the United States Navy during World II, serving as a cook on the USS St. Paul. He was discharged in 1946 and subsequently used the G.I. Bill to study acting at the Actors Studio in New York City.
Career
Film
Curtis made his screen debut in 1949 with a small role in Criss Cross. His breakthrough came with the lead role in Houdini (1953), for which he received a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. He cemented his star status with the 1955 musical comedy Trapeze and the 1957 western The Vikings. In 1959, Curtis won the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his performance in The Defiant Ones, a drama about two escaped prisoners, one black and one white, who must cooperate to survive.
In the early 1960s, he starred in a series of successful comedies, including Operation Petticoat (1959), Some Like It Hot (1959) alongside Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon, and The Great Race (1965). His later career included roles in The Boston Strangler (1968), Spartacus (1960, uncredited cameo), and a resurgence in the 1990s with supporting parts in The Rocketeer (1991) and Broadway Damage (1995).
Television
Curtis made numerous television appearances, ranging from guest spots on anthology series in the 1950s to starring in the sitcom The Tony Curtis Show (1970). He also appeared in TV movies such as The Murder of Mary Phagan (1988) and the miniseries The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1993).
Personal life
Curtis was married six times and had five children, including actresses Kelly Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis (by his third wife, actress Janet Leigh). His marriage to Leigh (1951–1962) produced a highly publicized partnership both on and off screen. Curtis was known for his interest in sports, particularly baseball, and was a longtime fan and occasional participant in celebrity baseball games.
Later years and death
After retiring from acting in the early 2000s, Curtis lived primarily in Beverly Hills, California. He died of cardiac arrest on September 29, 2010, at the age of 85. He was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
Legacy
Curtis is remembered as one of Hollywood’s classic leading men, noted for his charismatic screen presence, good looks, and ability to transition between dramatic and comedic roles. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 and was honored with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. His contributions to film have been cited by subsequent generations of actors and filmmakers.
