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Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis

Birthday: 1925-06-03 | Place of Birth: 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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2006
2006
2006
Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten

as    Self (archive footage)

2001
1998
Stargames

as    King Fendel

1997
1996
The Celluloid Closet

as    Self

1995
The Immortals

as    Dominic

1994
Naked in New York

as    Carl Fisher

1992
Christmas in Connecticut

as    Alexander Yardley

1992
Center of the Web

as    Stephen Moore

1991
Prime Target

as    Copella

1989
Tarzan in Manhattan

as    Archimedes Porter

1986
Murder in Three Acts

as    Charles Cartwright

1986
Club Life

as    Hector

1983
BrainWaves

as    Dr. Clavius

1980
Little Miss Marker

as    Blackie

1980
The Mirror Crack'd

as    Martin N. Fenn

1978
Sextette

as    Alexei Karansky

1978
The Manitou

as    Harry Erskine

1978
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

as    Marvin Lazar

1978
The Users

as    Randy Brent

1978
Vega$

as    Roth

1976
The Last Tycoon

as    Rodriguez

1975
The Count of Monte-Cristo

as    Fernand Morcerf Mondego

1974
Mission: Monte Carlo

as    Danny Wilde

1971
The Persuaders!

as    Danny Wilde

1970
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

as    Shannon Gambroni