Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

217

Gender

Male

Birthday

1925-06-03

Day of Death

2010-09-29 (85 years old)

Place of Birth

Bronx, New York, USA

Also Known As

Bernard Herschel Schwartz

Anthony Curtis

Тони Кертис

تونی کورتیس

Tony Curtis

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.

Known For

Acting

Some Like It Hot

1959

Some Like It Hot

as

Joe (Josephine)

Spartacus

1960

Spartacus

as

Antoninus

Sweet Smell of Success

1957

Sweet Smell of Success

as

Sidney Falco

Don't Make Waves

1967

Don't Make Waves

as

Carlo Cofield

The Count of Monte-Cristo

1975

The Count of Monte-Cristo

as

Fernand Morcerf Mondego

Casanova & Co.

1977

Casanova & Co.

as

Giacomo Casanova / Giacomino

Play It to the Bone

1999

Play It to the Bone

as

Tony Curtis (Ringside Fan)

Paris When It Sizzles

1964

Paris When It Sizzles

as

Maurice / Philippe (uncredited)

Criss Cross

1949

Criss Cross

as

Gigolo (uncredited)

Center of the Web

1992

Center of the Web

as

Stephen Moore

Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball

1997

Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball

as

Wald

The Mummy Lives

1993

The Mummy Lives

as

Aziru / Dr. Mohassid

The Mirror Crack'd

1980

The Mirror Crack'd

as

Martin N. Fenn

The Defiant Ones

1958

The Defiant Ones

as

John 'Joker' Jackson

The Great Race

1965

The Great Race

as

The Great Leslie

Murder in Three Acts

1986

Murder in Three Acts

as

Charles Cartwright

The List of Adrian Messenger

1963

The List of Adrian Messenger

as

Organ Grinder

Naked in New York

1993

Naked in New York

as

Carl Fisher

The Black Shield of Falworth

1954

The Black Shield of Falworth

as

Myles Falworth

Allen in Movieland

1955

Allen in Movieland

as

Self

Captain Newman, M.D.

1963

Captain Newman, M.D.

as

Cpl. Jackson "Jake" Leibowitz

The Boston Strangler

1968

The Boston Strangler

as

Albert DeSalvo

Operation Petticoat

1959

Operation Petticoat

as

Lieutenant Nicholas Holden

Sex and the Single Girl

1964

Sex and the Single Girl

as

Bob Weston

Forbidden

1953

Forbidden

as

Eddie Darrow

Hollywood Legenden

2004

Hollywood Legenden

as

Self

The Manitou

1978

The Manitou

as

Harry Erskine

Trapeze

1956

Trapeze

as

Tino Orsini

The Immortals

1995

The Immortals

as

Dominic

Six Bridges to Cross

1955

Six Bridges to Cross

as

Jerry Florea

Lepke

1975

Lepke

as

Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter

Winchester '73

1950

Winchester '73

as

Doan

The Lady Gambles

1949

The Lady Gambles

as

Bellboy (as Anthony Curtis)

Insignificance

1985

Insignificance

as

The Senator

The Vikings

1958

The Vikings

as

Eric

Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

2010

Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

as

Self

Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon

2010

Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon

as

Self

Tony Curtis erzählt...

2010

Tony Curtis erzählt...

as

Self

People, Hopes, Medals

1960

People, Hopes, Medals

as

Self

Taras Bulba

1962

Taras Bulba

as

Andrei Bulba

Houdini

1953

Houdini

as

Harry Houdini

Reflections of Evil

2002

Reflections of Evil

as

Host

Beachhead

1954

Beachhead

as

Burke

The Last Tycoon

1976

The Last Tycoon

as

Rodriguez

City Across the River

1949

City Across the River

as

Mitch (as Anthony Curtis)

Mission: Monte Carlo

1974

Mission: Monte Carlo

as

Danny Wilde

The Great Impostor

1960

The Great Impostor

as

Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. / Martin Donner / Dr. Gilbert / Ben. W. Stone / Dr. Joseph Mornay / Robert Boyd Hammnd

Lobster Man from Mars

1990

Lobster Man from Mars

as

J.P. Shelldrake

Boeing, Boeing

1965

Boeing, Boeing

as

Bernard Lawrence

Monte Carlo or Bust!

1969

Monte Carlo or Bust!

as

Chester Schofield

I Was a Shoplifter

1950

I Was a Shoplifter

as

Pepe

Little Miss Marker

1980

Little Miss Marker

as

Blackie

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

1978

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

as

Marvin Lazar

Club Life

1986

Club Life

as

Hector

Walter and Carlo in America

1989

Walter and Carlo in America

as

WIlly La Rouge

Johnny Stool Pigeon

1949

Johnny Stool Pigeon

as

Joey Hyatt (as Anthony Curtis)

Goodbye Charlie

1964

Goodbye Charlie

as

George Wellington Tracy

Pepe

1960

Pepe

as

Tony Curtis

Son of Ali Baba

1952

Son of Ali Baba

as

Kashma Baba

The Prince Who Was a Thief

1951

The Prince Who Was a Thief

as

Julna

The Midnight Story

1957

The Midnight Story

as

Joe Martini

Not With My Wife, You Don't

1966

Not With My Wife, You Don't

as

Tom Ferris

Christmas in Connecticut

1992

Christmas in Connecticut

as

Alexander Yardley

BrainWaves

1983

BrainWaves

as

Dr. Clavius

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel

2009

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel

as

Self

Kings Go Forth

1958

Kings Go Forth

as

Caporal Britt Harris

Flesh and Fury

1952

Flesh and Fury

as

Paul Callan

Kansas Raiders

1950

Kansas Raiders

as

Kit Dalton

The Rat Race

1960

The Rat Race

as

Pete Hammond Jr.

The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man

1997

The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man

as

Jack Steele

Who Was That Lady?

1960

Who Was That Lady?

as

David Wilson

The Rawhide Years

1956

The Rawhide Years

as

Ben Matthews

The Purple Mask

1955

The Purple Mask

as

Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask

Johnny Dark

1954

Johnny Dark

as

Johnny Dark

Sierra

1950

Sierra

as

Brent Coulter (as Anthony Cutis)

Death Becomes Me

1979

Death Becomes Me

as

Danny Wilde/Aunt Sophie Schwartz

The Masqueraders

1980

The Masqueraders

as

Danny Wilde

The Persuaders!

1973

The Persuaders!

as

Danny Wilde

The Last Appointment!

1977

The Last Appointment!

as

Danny Wilde

Sextette

1978

Sextette

as

Alexei Karansky

You Can't Win 'Em All

1970

You Can't Win 'Em All

as

Adam Dyer

No Room for the Groom

1952

No Room for the Groom

as

Alvah Morrell

Midnight

1989

Midnight

as

Mr. B

Mister Cory

1957

Mister Cory

as

Cory

Where Is Parsifal?

1984

Where Is Parsifal?

as

Parsifal Katzanella-Boden

The Million Dollar Face

1981

The Million Dollar Face

as

Chester Masterson

The Outsider

1961

The Outsider

as

Ira Hamilton Hayes

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Passenger – Welcome to Germany

1988

The Passenger – Welcome to Germany

as

Mr. Cornfield

The Users

1978

The Users

as

Randy Brent

Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration

1979

Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration

as

Self

Magic with the Stars

1982

Magic with the Stars

as

Harry Houdini (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Third Girl from the Left

1973

The Third Girl from the Left

as

Joey Jordan

Balboa

1983

Balboa

as

Ernie Stoddard

Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten

2006

Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten

as

Self (archive footage)

The Perfect Furlough

1958

The Perfect Furlough

as

Cpl. Paul Hodges

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

2001

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

as

Self

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

as

Self

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

as

Self

Prime Target

1991

Prime Target

as

Copella

The All American

1953

The All American

as

Nick Bonelli

40 Pounds of Trouble

1962

40 Pounds of Trouble

as

Steve McCluskey

How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border

1949

How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border

as

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

1970

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

as

Shannon Gambroni

Portrait of a Showgirl

1982

Portrait of a Showgirl

as

Joey DeLeon

Arrivederci, Baby!

1966

Arrivederci, Baby!

as

Nick Johnson

Stargames

1998

Stargames

as

King Fendel

Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever

1998

Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever

as

Bernard (voice)

Meet Danny Wilson

1952

Meet Danny Wilson

as

Nightclub Patron

Louis & Frank

1998

Louis & Frank

as

Lenny Star Springer

The Square Jungle

1955

The Square Jungle

as

Eddie Quaid / Packy Glennon

Tarzan in Manhattan

1989

Tarzan in Manhattan

as

Archimedes Porter

Rat Pack

2022

Rat Pack

as

Self (archive footage)

Black Commando

1982

Black Commando

as

Col. Iago

Thanksgiving Day

1990

Thanksgiving Day

as

Max Schloss

On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...

1967

On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...

as

Guerrando da Montone

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

as

Robert Talbot

The Celluloid Closet

1996

The Celluloid Closet

as

Self

The Scarlett O'Hara War

1980

The Scarlett O'Hara War

as

David O. Selznick

David & Fatima

2008

David & Fatima

as

Mr. Schwartz

Roger Moore: A Matter of Class

1995

Roger Moore: A Matter of Class

as

Self

Francis

1950

Francis

as

Captain Jones

So This Is Paris

1954

So This Is Paris

as

Joe Maxwell

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal

1986

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal

as

Self

Half Nelson

1985

Half Nelson

as

Sparky's Magic Piano

1987

Sparky's Magic Piano

as

Woman in Hiding

1950

Woman in Hiding

as

Dave Shaw (voice) (uncredited)

Wild and Wonderful

1964

Wild and Wonderful

as

Terry Williams

Mafia Princess

1986

Mafia Princess

as

Sam Giancana

Banter

1986

Banter

as

Charles Foster

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

2012

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

as

Self

Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box

1991

Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box

as

Narrator (voice) / Self

Rosemary's Baby

1968

Rosemary's Baby

as

Donald Baumgart (voice) (uncredited)

Title Shot

1979

Title Shot

as

Frank Renzetti

1954

A Star Is Born World Premiere

as

Self

Come Back Little Shiksa

1952

Come Back Little Shiksa

as

The Re-Inforcer

1951

The Re-Inforcer

as

Baffo

Chamber of Horrors

1966

Chamber of Horrors

as

Mr. Julian

Fairfax Avenue

1951

Fairfax Avenue

as

An Eye for an Eye

1952

An Eye for an Eye

as

Nightmare

1956

Nightmare

as

Tony

Hugh Hefner: American Playboy

2003

Hugh Hefner: American Playboy

as

Self

And the Oscar Goes To...

2014

And the Oscar Goes To...

as

Self (archive footage)

A Century of Cinema

1994

A Century of Cinema

as

Self

London Conspiracy

1974

London Conspiracy

as

Danny Wilde

That's Insignificance

2011

That's Insignificance

as

Self

Norman Jewison, Film Maker

1971

Norman Jewison, Film Maker

as

Self (uncredited)

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

2014

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

as

Self - Actor (archive footage)

Nobody's Perfect - The Making of Some Like It Hot

2001

Nobody's Perfect - The Making of Some Like It Hot

as

Self

Sporting Chance

1975

Sporting Chance

as

Danny Wilde

The Switch

1976

The Switch

as

Danny Wilde

Inmates: A Love Story

1981

Inmates: A Love Story

as

Flanagan

Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

1994

Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

as

Johnny Steele

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

2010

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

as

Eric (archive footage) (uncredited)

Rescued from the Closet

2001

Rescued from the Closet

as

Self

The World's Most Beautiful Girls

1953

The World's Most Beautiful Girls

as

Self

Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit

1994

Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit

as

Lucky Bergstrom

Elvis Meets Nixon

1997

Elvis Meets Nixon

as

Tony Curtis

From Roger Moore with Love

2024

From Roger Moore with Love

as

Self (archive footage)

Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

1954

Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

as

This Morning

This Morning

as

Self

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

as

Tony Curtis

The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour

as

Self

The One Show

The One Show

as

Self - Guest

Hope & Faith

Hope & Faith

as

Morris

The View

The View

as

Self

Roseanne

Roseanne

as

Un film et son époque

Un film et son époque

as

Self

The Persuaders!

The Persuaders!

as

Danny Wilde

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

as

Self

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

as

Mario Galindo

McCoy

McCoy

as

McCoy

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

as

Self

This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life

as

Self

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as

Charlie

Bracken's World

Bracken's World

as

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

as

Self

The Steve Allen Show

The Steve Allen Show

as

Self - Recipient

The Hollywood Greats

The Hollywood Greats

as

The Oscars

The Oscars

as

Self

Talking Pictures

Talking Pictures

as

Self (archive footage)

Wetten, dass..?

Wetten, dass..?

as

Self

The Dame Edna Experience

The Dame Edna Experience

as

Self

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

as

Self

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

as

David

The Mrs Merton Show

The Mrs Merton Show

as

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self

The Rosemary Clooney Show

The Rosemary Clooney Show

as

Self

V.I.P. Schaukel

V.I.P. Schaukel

as

Self

Vega$

Vega$

as

Roth

Shrink Rap

Shrink Rap

as

Himself

Goldene Kamera Verleihung

Goldene Kamera Verleihung

as

Self

BAMBI Awards

BAMBI Awards

as

Self

The Steve Allen Show

The Steve Allen Show

as

Self - Guest

The Johannes B. Kerner Show

The Johannes B. Kerner Show

as

Self

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

as

The UnXplained

The UnXplained

as

Self (archive footage)

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

as

Self - Guest

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

as

Self - Mystery Guest

Please Turn the Page

Please Turn the Page

as

Self

Suddenly Susan

Suddenly Susan

as

Peter DiCaprio

The Rat Pack

The Rat Pack

as

Self

Matin Bonheur

Matin Bonheur

as

Self

The Flintstones

The Flintstones

as

Stony Curtis (voice)

Parkinson

Parkinson

as

Self (archive footage)

Dinah!

Dinah!

as

Self

Sacrée soirée

Sacrée soirée

as

Self

Production

Sweet Smell of Success

1957

Sweet Smell of Success

as

Sex and the Single Girl

1964

Sex and the Single Girl

as

Captain Newman, M.D.

1963

Captain Newman, M.D.

as

Don't Make Waves

1967

Don't Make Waves

as

Not With My Wife, You Don't

1966

Not With My Wife, You Don't

as

The Vikings

1958

The Vikings

as

Crew

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

2001

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

as

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

as

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

as

Norman Jewison, Film Maker

1971

Norman Jewison, Film Maker

as

Directing