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Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis

Actor · 1925 – 2010 · Bronx, New York, USA

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.

Movies24

  • Movie8.1

    Some Like It Hot

    1959 · 4K votes

  • Movie7.8

    Rosemary's Baby

    1968 · 4.5K votes

  • Movie7.5

    Spartacus

    1960 · 2.5K votes

  • Movie6.5

    Sex and the Single Girl

    1964 · 84 votes

  • Movie7.0

    The Vikings

    1958 · 385 votes

  • Movie6.8

    The Count of Monte-Cristo

    1975 · 199 votes

  • Movie7.1

    The Great Race

    1965 · 390 votes

  • Movie7.1

    The Defiant Ones

    1958 · 335 votes

  • Movie6.1

    The Mirror Crack'd

    1980 · 263 votes

  • Movie7.6

    Sweet Smell of Success

    1957 · 605 votes

  • Movie6.7

    Captain Newman, M.D.

    1963 · 35 votes

  • Movie7.2

    Operation Petticoat

    1959 · 429 votes

  • Movie6.3

    The Last Tycoon

    1976 · 169 votes

  • Movie7.1

    Criss Cross

    1949 · 188 votes

  • Movie5.5

    Play It to the Bone

    1999 · 178 votes

  • Movie5.8

    You Can't Win 'Em All

    1970 · 43 votes

  • Movie6.4

    Who Was That Lady?

    1960 · 31 votes

  • Movie5.6

    Son of Ali Baba

    1952 · 15 votes

  • Movie6.2
  • Movie6.0

    Murder in Three Acts

    1986 · 79 votes

  • Movie6.7
  • Movie6.3

    Paris When It Sizzles

    1964 · 201 votes

  • Movie5.9

    Monte Carlo or Bust!

    1969 · 63 votes

  • Movie7.3

    Winchester '73

    1950 · 419 votes

Series23

  • TV7.5
  • TV4.3

    The View

    1997 · 113 votes

  • TV7.6
  • TV7.0

    What's My Line?

    1950 · 29 votes

  • TV7.2

    The Graham Norton Show

    2007 · 290 votes

  • TV5.7

    Sacrée soirée

    1987 · 5 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Dick Cavett Show

    1968 · 22 votes

  • TV7.5

    Die Johannes B. Kerner Show

    The Johannes B. Kerner Show

    1998 · 4 votes

  • TV7.4

    The Flintstones

    1960 · 1K votes

  • TV6.9
  • TV5.6

    Wetten, dass..?

    1981 · 24 votes

  • TV7.0

    The Oscars

    1953 · 84 votes

  • TV7.0

    Dinah!

    1974 · 4 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Ed Sullivan Show

    1948 · 23 votes

  • TV6.2

    The Steve Allen Show

    1956 · 6 votes

  • TV6.9

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

    1950 · 13 votes

  • TV5.7

    Goldene Kamera

    1984 · 3 votes

  • TV5.4

    Hope & Faith

    2003 · 39 votes

  • TV6.8
  • TV6.9

    Vega$

    1978 · 25 votes

  • TV9.2

    People's Choice Awards

    1975 · 6 votes

  • TV7.7

    The Persuaders!

    1971 · 135 votes

  • TV6.5

    This Is Your Life

    1952 · 13 votes