Tony Curtis

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TonyC Last Updated: 8/22/25
Real Name: Bernard Herschel Schwartz
Born: June 3, 1925
Died: September 29, 2010 (aged 85)
Height: 5' 7"

Grade: B
Actor/Movie Star: 20%-80%
Prime Years: 1956-60
Most Famous Film: Some Like It Hot (1959)
Most Infamous Film: The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978)
Masterpiece: Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Outstanding: The Defiant Ones (1958) and Some Like It Hot (1959)
Honorable: Criss Cross (1949), Beachhead (1954), Trapeze (1956), Kings Go Forth (1958), Spartacus (1960), and Murder in Three Acts (1986)

Opinion: Tony Curtis was very handsome in his heyday. He would've made in the top five any year during the 50's when it came to best-looking actors. Beachhead is a prime example of what I mean. But more importantly, he could act, showing lots and lots of potential in Sweet Smell of Success, The Defiant Ones, and Some Like It Hot. Unfortunately, his career nosedived after 1960, and he was no longer the same yet still worked for decades in small roles. When I watched The Oscar, it felt like the story of Tony Curtis' rise and fall in Hollywood. He later admitted losing his agent, Lew Wasserman, to become the head honcho of Universal was the main reason why.

Confirmed: Born in East Harlem, New York, to Hungarian Jews who came to the United States in 1921. Went by "Bernie" and spoke only Hungarian while he was little, hence the thick accent. Finally learned English in elementary school. His father was a tailor, his mother was a housewife, and they always fought. Was beat by mother as a result; years later, she was officially diagnosed as schizophrenic. Suffered through the Great Depression, and his parents lost everything, causing him to be placed in an orphanage for a bit while. Was constantly called names because of his Jewish heritage. Fell into depression after his younger brother, 9 years old at the time, died in 1938 after being hit by a truck. Many years later, had a new brother who turned out to be schizophrenic and was therefore institutionalized.

Liked to draw, went to the movies a lot, and wasn't much of a student in school. Started working when he was 12 by doing odd jobs like shining shoes, delivering newspapers, and trading in clothes from his father's work. Decided to be an actor in high school but joined the Navy at age 16 after WWII broke out. Served for three years, mostly in Navy schools (only because he was underage and couldn't be sent to the front line) and on a submarine tender, and witnessed the surrender of Japan in person on September 2, 1945. Afterwards, took advantage of the G.I. Bill to attend the Dramatic Workshop of the New School of Social Research and was classmates with Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur, and Harry Belafonte. Had done theater work around the country.

At age 22, was cast in a lead role for a play called Golden Boy for off-Broadway which led to being called by Hollywood, via Joyce Selznick (contrary to what you've read, she's not related to David O. Selznick, and Tony Curtis had confirmed this), after only a couple of performances in a single weekend. Became a contract player for Universal-International in 1948. Changed his name to Anthony Curtis a year later. The first name was taken from a book (the only one he ever read hitherto) entitled Anthony Adverse and the last from a common Hungarian name: Kertész. A female fan recognized him on a street in New York City and yelled, "Tony of the movies!" Thus, became Tony Curtis from now on.

Had the first role of his career in a Burt Lancaster picture called Criss Cross which shot him to stardom despite dancing with Yvonne De Carlo for mere two minutes. At the same time, became more famous for his hair that caused Elvis Presley to copy the look; most men at the time were wearing a crew cut. Got shot in the belly during a prank gone wrong by Audie Murphy with a cap gun.

Met Janet Leigh for the first time in 1950 at a party hosted by RKO and had to deal with Howard Hughes because of his strong interest in her. Had a first starring role in a commercially successful movie called The Prince Who Was a Thief along with Piper Laurie whom he didn't like despite working together in several films. Thereafter, was pressured by Universal to marry her and would be paid for it but declined to do so.

Instead, married Janet Leigh the following year. Their first movie out of five was Houdini. Didn't have a romantic marriage which was rather business-like, and she was a perfectionist which got on his nerves constantly. She wanted to turn him into a debonair and urbane man with refined manners and didn't like his New York accent and all that. Hence, he cheated on her regularly.

Trained a lot in acrobatics to prepare for Trapeze which ironically made him a gay icon. At the same time, it was the biggest hit of Tony Curtis' career, causing his profile to raise considerably to the point of becoming an A-list actor. And that led to the greatest performance of his career in Sweet Smell of Success with Burt Lancaster again, yet the film got a lot of hate from the press and failed at the box office.

Was Oscar-nominated for The Defiant Ones for the first and only time in his career. For the film that never played in the South and wasn't a box-office hit overall, had the first approval of who his co-star would be and selected Sidney Poitier after learning that Harry Belafonte wasn't on the list of potential candidates. Because of Beachhead's profitability, was given a major part in Some Like It Hot. Felt disappointed he wasn't Oscar-nominated for his performance.

Idolized Cary Grant and was heavily influenced by Destination Tokyo to enter the submarine division while he was in the Navy. Would ironically appear opposite him in Operation Petticoat which was an idea of his own when asked by Universal what he wanted to do next. Became infamous for the "oysters and snails" scene with Laurence Olivier in Spartacus which had been deleted for decades until restored in 1991.

Decided to end his marriage, which had been failing for years, to Janet Leigh just before the making of Taras Bulba due to her heavy drinking and alcohol-fueled rages. As a result, Janet Leigh filed for divorce and won full custody of their two daughters including future actress Jamie Lee Curtis. Tony Curtis thought this caused a permanent rift in his relationship with them, having rarely seen them afterwards. At the same time, his profile began to sink because Hollywood sided with Janet Leigh over Tony Curtis. Because of the constant payments for alimony and child support, worked in whatever movies that came his way.

Got addicted to cocaine which began during the filming of Lepke. Checked into a rehab clinic during the mid 80's for drug abuse and alcoholism and had kicked both successfully. Once told Michael Caine to give up smoking (Tony Curtis had done the same thing, too) for good at a party, and he took it seriously, crediting him for saving his life. Ditto for Roger Moore. Was part of the Rat Pack as an honorary member and shared lifelong friendships with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Sammy Davis, Jr., on his way to do dubbing work in one of Tony Curtis' film Six Bridges to Cross, crashed his car and lost his eye.

Was never a believer in the Method acting technique and called it bullshit. Because of his work on Houdini, performed magic tricks regularly until the end of his life. Liked to play the flute. Could be brutally honest about anyone or anything and didn't give a shit. Had been very sensitive about his Jewish background and New York accent [for example: "Yondah lies the castle of my faddah."].

Was never gay despite doing Some Like It Hot and had a lifelong sex addiction to women. Hated to fly. Remained fluent in Hungarian all his life. Had a lifelong Hollywood philosophy: "Make as many movies as you can. If a movie's a hit, great, If it isn't, so what? You get paid either way, and, more important, you never know whether a movie will be good or bad until after you've made it."

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