Tony Curtis
Country: United States
Gender: M
Birthday: 1925-06-03
Died: 2010-09-29
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.
Actor:
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1. Criss Cross (1949), film...Gigolo
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2. Gambling Lady (1949), film...Bellboy
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3. Druker Johnny (1949), film...Joey Hyatt
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4. Winchester '73 (1950), film...Doan
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5. Sierra (1950), film...Brent Coulter
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6. Kansas Raiders (1950), film...Kit Dalton
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7. The Prince Who Was a Thief (1951), film...Julna
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8. No Room for the Groom (1952), film...Alvah Morrell
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9. Son of Ali Baba (1952), film...Kashma Baba
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10. Houdini (1953), film...Harry Houdini
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11. The Black Shield of Falworth (1954), film...Myles
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12. Johnny Dark (1954), film...Johnny Dark
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13. So This Is Paris (1954), film...Joe Maxwell
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14. Beachhead (1954), film...Burke
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15. The Purple Mask (1955), film...Rene de Traviere aka The Purple Mask
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16. Trapeze (1956), film...Tino Orsini
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17. The Rawhide Years (1956), film...Ben Matthews
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18. Sweet Smell of Success (1957), film...Sidney Falco
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19. Ponoćna priča (1957), film...Joe Martini
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20. The Vikings (1958), film...Eric
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21. The Defiant Ones (1958), film...John 'Joker' Jackson
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22. Kings Go Forth (1958), film...Cpl. Britt Harris
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23. Some Like It Hot (1959), film...Joe / Josephine / Shell Oil Junior
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24. Operation Petticoat (1959), film...Lt. JG Nicholas Holden
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25. Spartacus (1960), film...Antoninus
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26. The Rat Race (1960), film...Pete Hammond Jr.
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27. Who Was That Lady? (1960), film...David Wilson
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28. Spartacus (1960), series...Antoninus
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29. Taras Bulba (1962), film...Andrei Bulba
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30. 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962), film...Steve McCluskey
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31. The List of Adrian Messenger (1963), film...Organ Grinder
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32. Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), film...Cpl. Jackson 'Jake' Leibowitz
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33. Paris - When It Sizzles (1964), film...Imagined Actor Portraying Maurice or Philippe
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34. Goodbye Charlie (1964), film...George Tracy
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35. Sex and the Single Girl (1964), film...Bob Weston
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36. Boeing, Boeing (1965), film...Bernard Lawrence
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37. The Great Race (1965), film...The Great Leslie
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38. Not With My Wife, You Don't! (1966), film...Tom Ferris
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...Guerrando da Montone
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40. Don't Make Waves (1967), film...Carlo Cofield
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41. The Boston Strangler (1968), film...Albert DeSalvo
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42. The Boston Strangler (1968), film...Albert DeSalvo
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...Chester Schofield
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44. You Can't Win 'Em All (1970), film...Adam Dyer
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45. The Persuaders! (1971), series...Danny Wilde
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46. London Conspiracy (1974), film...Danny Wilde
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47. The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975), film...Fernand Mondego
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48. The Last Tycoon (1976), film...Rodriguez
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49. Sextette (1977), film...Alexei Andrea Karansky
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50. Some Like It Cool (1977), film...Giacomo / Casanova
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51. Hollywood Greats (1977), series...Self (archive footage)
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...Self - Introduction
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53. The Manitou (1978), film...Harry Erskine
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54. The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978), film
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55. The Mirror Crack'd (1980), film...Martin N. Fenn
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56. Little Miss Marker (1980), film...Blackie
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57. Black Commando (1982), film...Col. Iago
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58. Balboa (1983), film...Ernie Stoddard
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59. Insignificance (1985), film...Senator
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...Self
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61. Murder in Three Acts (1986), film...Charles Cartwright
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62. Banter (1986), film...Charles Foster
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...Mr. Cornfield
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64. Christmas in Connecticut (1992), film...Alexander Yardley
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65. The Mummy Lives (1993), film...Aziru / Dr. Mohassid
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66. Naked in New York (1993), film...Carl Fisher
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...Johnny Steele
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68. The Immortals (1995), film...Dominic
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69. The Celluloid Closet (1995), film...Self
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70. The Sunday Show (1995), series...Self - Introduction
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71. Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball (1997), film...Wald
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72. Billy Wilder Speaks (2006), film...Self (archive footage)
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73. The Jill & Tony Curtis Story (2008), film...Self
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...Self
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75. Marilyn Monroe - Tod einer Ikone (2010), film...Self - Introduction
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76. Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom (2011), film...Himself
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77. Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom (2011), film...Self (archive footage)
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78. Marilyn Monroe: Fascination (2011), film...Self (archive footage)
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79. I Am Not Your Negro (2016), film...John 'Joker' Jackson (archive footage)
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80. Wolfgang (2021), film...Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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81. Morceaux de Cannes (2021), film...Self - Introduction
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...Self (archive footage)
Producer:
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1. Sweet Smell of Success (1957), film...executive producer (uncredited)
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2. The Vikings (1958), film...executive producer (uncredited)
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3. Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), film...executive producer (uncredited)
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4. The Great Race (1965), film...executive producer (uncredited)
Voice:
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1. Rosemary's Baby (1968), film...Donald Baumgart