this is his bio


Date of Birth
3 June 1925, The Bronx, New York, USA

Date of Death
29 September 2010, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (Cardiac arrest)

Birth Name
Bernard Schwartz

Nickname
Boinie

Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Born as Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx, he took the stage name of Tony Curis when he started his career at the movies in 1949 coming from the theater, using at first James Curtis and later Anthony Curtis as names. He always tried to work in various genres in order to avoid being typecast. In the genre of comedy one has to mention Goodbye Charlie (1964) and at the adventures The Vikings (1958). He is also able to play more complex and psychological roles as he showed in The Boston Strangler (1968). Curtis also produced some movies and appeared, after 1973, several times in different TV productions. His estranged daughter Jamie Lee Curtis with his first wife Janet Leigh has successfully followed her parents into the movie business.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Volker Boehm

Mini Biography

What makes a Tony Curtis performance so compelling is you never know what to expect. Tony Curtis has always been an actor who has refused to play it safe, and has devoted his working life to performing in a vast array of characters, as Curtis has alternatively played the handsome leading man, the sidekick, the comic relief, the villain and a host of other roles that demonstrate how versatile he is. Yet what stands out about all his performances in the inner vulnerability and humility he finds in his unsympathetic characters and the never-say-die attitude of the heroes he plays. However, his unique ability to tap into what makes his characters tick comes as no surprise, seeing as how Curtis' own life was also one of triumph over adversity and fighting the odds.

Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz on the 3rd of June, 1925, the eldest of three children to immigrant parents, Emanuel and Helen Schwartz. Curtis himself admits that while he had almost no formal education, he was a student of the "school of hard knocks", and learned from a young age that the only person who ever had his back was himself, so he learned how to take care of both himself and younger brother Julius. Curtis grew up in poverty, as his father Emanuel, who worked as a tailor, had the sole responsibility of providing for his entire family on his meager income. This led to constant bickering between Curtis' parents over money, and Curtis began to go to movies as a way of briefly escaping the constant worries of poverty and other family problems.

The financial strain of raising two children on a meager income became so tough that in 1935 Curtis' parents decided that their children would have a better life under the care of the state, and briefly had Tony and his brother admitted to an orphanage. During this lonely time the only companion Curtis had was his brother Julius, and the two became inseparable as they struggled to get used to this new way of life. Weeks later Curtis' parents came back to reclaim custody of Tony and his brother , but by then Curtis had learned one of life's toughest lessons: the only person you can count on is yourself.

In 1938, shortly before Tony had his bar mitzvahs, tragedy struck when Tony lost the person most important to him, when his brother Julius was killed after being hit by a truck. After this tragedy, Curtis' parents became convinced that a formal education was the best way that Tony could avoid the same "never knowing where your next meal is coming from" life that they had. However, Tony rejected this as he felt that learning about literary classics and algebra wasn't going to advance him in life as much as some real hands-on life experience would.

Tony was to find this real-life experience a few years later when he enlisted in the Marines in 1942. Tony spent the next three years getting the life experience he desired, as he did everything from working as a crewman on a submarine to honing his future craft as an actor by performing as a sailor in a stage play at the Navy Signalman School in Illinois.

In 1945, Curtis was honorably discharged from the navy and when he realized that the GI Bill would allow him to go to acting school without paying for it, Tony now saw that his lifelong pipe-dream of being an actor might actually be achievable. Tony auditioned for the New York Dramtic Workshop, and after being accepted on the strength of his audition piece (A scene from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in pantomime) Tony enrolled in early 1947. Tony then began to pay his dues by appearing in a slew on stage productions, including "Twelfth Night" and "Golden Boy". Tony then saw a small theatrical agent named 'Joyce Selznick', who was the niece of film producer David O. Selznick. After seeing his potential, Sleznick arranged an interview for Tony to see David O. Selznick at Universal Studios, where Tony was offered a seven- year contract. After changing his name to what he saw as an elegant, mysterious moniker "Tony Curtis" (named after the novel Anthony Adverse (1936) by Hervey Allen and a cousin of Tony's named Janush Kertiz), Tony began making a name for himself by appearing in small, offbeat roles in small-budget productions. Tony's first notable performance was a two minute role in Criss Cross (1949), with Burt Lancaster, in which he makes Lancaster jealous by dancing with Yvonne De Carlo. This off-beat role resulted in Curtis being typecast as heavies for the next few years, such as playing a gang-member in City Across the River (1949).

Curtis continued to build up a show-reel by accepting any paying job, as he acted in a number of bit-part roles for the next few years. It wasn't until late 1949 that Tony finally got the chance to demonstrate his acting flair, as he was cast in an important role in an action-western, Sierra (1950). On the strength of his performance in this, Tony was finally cast in a big-budget movie, Winchester '73 (1950). While Tony only appears in this movie very briefly, it was a chance to for him to act alongside a Hollywood legend, James Stewart.

As his career developed, Curtis wanted to act in movies that had some kind of social relevance, movies that would challenge audiences, so he began to appear in movies such as Spartacus (1960) and The Defiant Ones (1958). Tony was advised against appearing as the subordinate sidekick in Spartacus (1960), playing second fiddle to the equally as famous Kirk Douglas. However, Curtis saw no problem with this as the had recently acted together in dual leading roles in The Vikings (1958). Off-screen, Curtis became equally famous for his romantic escapades, as he had relationships with a number of famous actresses, including Natalie Wood, Marilyn Monroe and, of course, Janet Leigh.

Despite having worked in movies for sixty years, Curtis' performances continue to resonate with the same spark they had when he was just starting out. It's been said that the closet thing America has to royalty are genuine movie stars, and Curtis is a prime example of one. Despite having an extremely tough childhood full of tragedy, much like many of the characters he has portrayed, Curtis refused to do what was expected of him and follow his father's footsteps, and all of his experiences, whether it be the death of his brother or living in an orphanage, contributed to Curtis' driving ambition that would not sway.
IMDb Mini Biography By: James Briggs.

Spouse
Jill Vandenberg Curtis (6 November 1998 - present)
Lisa Deutsch (28 February 1993 - 1994) (divorced)
Andrea Savio (1984 - 1992) (divorced)
Leslie Curtis (20 April 1968 - 1982) (divorced) 2 children
Christine Kaufmann (8 February 1963 - 1967) (divorced) 2 children
Janet Leigh (4 June 1951 - June 1962) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark

Distinctive Bronx accent

Pretty-boy looks

Thick, black hair, with curly forelock

Trivia

Father of Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis (with Janet Leigh).

Father of Allegra Curtis (with Christine Kaufmann).

His son, Nicholas Curtis, died of seizures due to an overdose of heroin (2 July 1994).

Born to Emanuel Schwartz, a Hungarian tailor who emigrated to the United States, and his wife Helen, he grew up with two brothers, Julius and Robert.

Enjoys painting and creating shadow boxes. In late 2005, the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY) acquired one of his canvasses for its permanent collection.

Lives in Henderson, Nevada.

Appears on sleeve of The Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

Suffers from fear of flying.

He made a literary cameo in Matt Whyman's debut romantic comedy novel, 'Man or Mouse', in which the main character, Ren, e-mails Curtis with his love-life problems, and finally meets him briefly.

He has two adopted sons.

Was the inspiration for and voiced the character Stoney Curtis on an episode of "The Flintstones" (1960), along with Ann-Margret as Ann Marg-rock.

Since re-dubbing the bath scene in Spartacus (1960) in which he starred with Laurence Olivier, Curtis has said that whenever he encounters Anthony Hopkins (who did the voiceover for Olivier in the re-dubbed version following Olivier's death), he hollers "Oh Tony... it's Antoninus".

Appeared in Sugar, a stage musical based on Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959) . He appeared as millionaire Osgood Fielding III, the character played by Joe E. Brown in the film.

He is a militant anti-smoker. Both Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore have credited Curtis with helping them quit smoking cigarettes in the early 1970s, though not cigars.

Serving with "F Troop" (1965) actor Larry Storch in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 aboard a submarine tender, he witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from a vantage point 300 yards away. He and Storch have had a lifelong friendship. They appeared together in The Great Race (1965).

Along with Ernest Borgnine, Curtis refused to watch, and publicly condemned, Brokeback Mountain (2005).

Nearly died in hospital from pneumonia at Christmas 2006.

Was originally considered for one of the leading roles of Lady L (1965).

Has appeared in tourism advertisements for his ancestral homeland Hungary.

His favorite movie star was Cary Grant.

Elvis Presley copied his duck-tail hairstyle after seeing it on screen.

His brother Julius died after being hit by a truck (1938).

He enjoys playing the flute for pleasure and relaxation. He is a very accomplished player.

Now in his 80s, he spends most of his time painting. Some of his works are a part of a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Claims that his mother was physically abusive and that his father was impassive.

Recovered from a cocaine addiction in the 1980s.

His sixth wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis (since 1998), who is more than 40 years younger than he, runs a wild-horse refuge.

Claims he probably had a sexual addiction. Among his female conquests boasted of in his 2008 memoir are Yvonne De Carlo, Natalie Wood and a pre-star Marilyn Monroe who was a very young, pony-tailed redhead during their teenage affair.

Broke a Hollywood taboo in the 1950s by insisting that an African-American actor, Sidney Poitier, have co-starring billing next to him in the movie The Defiant Ones (1958).

Like many before and after, he changed his name from Bernard Schwartz to Tony Curtis, partly in response to Hollywood anti-Semitism.

Admits that he is largely estranged from all six of his children, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, one of his children by first wife Janet Leigh.

According to his autobiography, he really desired the lead male role of Paul Varjack in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Director Blake Edwards considered the idea, but the role eventually went to George Peppard.

Suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Personal Quotes

They gave me away as a prize once - a Win Tony Curtis For A Weekend competition. The woman who won was disappointed. She'd hoped for second prize - a new stove.

I ran around with a lump in my pants, chased all the girls. This is what I reflected on the screen. There wasn't anything deeper or less deep than that.

What's the secret to a long and happy life? Young women's saliva!

[asked who the most attractive person he ever worked with was] I am.

I wouldn't be seen dead with a woman old enough to be my wife.

I had to be careful where I went because I was a Jew, because I was young and because I was handsome. It made me wiry and erratic and paranoid, which is what I still am. Always on guard.

Hollywood... the most sensational merry-go-around ever built.

Comedy is the most honest way for an actor to earn his living. People would rather laugh than cry. The quickest way to change drama into comedy is simply to speed up the film.

Fame is another profession. I feel that I have two professions, I have the profession of being an actor and I have the profession of being famous.

I was 22 when I arrived in Hollywood in 1948. I had more action than Mount Vesuvius - men, women, animals! I loved it too. I participated where I wanted to and didn't where I didn't. I've always been open about it.

My father was a tailor. I used to deliver for him. I'd have to hold the clothes up high to keep them from dragging on the ground.

[on Marilyn Monroe] I'm in love with her now. I've loved her all these years.

[on Marilyn Monroe on the set of Some Like It Hot (1959)] I knew there was something disturbing her. For some inexplicable reason, she was going down the wrong path and no one knew it.

[about Spartacus (1960)] Kirk Douglas is tough, but Stanley Kubrick was tougher!

Well, on the one hand you could say I was tremendously blessed, on the other I was definitely cursed.

Look. I'm so privileged to be alive in this studio that happens to be mine. I'm 83 years old and I'm still a factor in this world, I still contribute wherever I go. It's astounding. I could have been a politician or a brain surgeon. But I didn't have an education, so there wasn't anything I could do but get into the movies. And, boy, did I ever. To burst into the movies like I did. Isn't that neat?

Early on, I decided I didn't want to be known as a mere actor. I wanted to feel like a star. I wanted to get my footprints in Hollywood on the sidewalk, which I got. I wanted to be on the cover of all the magazines and go to parties in a limousine with a beautiful girl. I did all of that - and more. And I appreciate it. Every day I'm reminded of who I am. People stop me in the street all the time. Women love to see me - and I love to see them. I have an affinity for women, you know.

[about his many sexual dalliances] It was love. I was falling in love every day. I am completely in love with women. Every woman. I loved their company and there was always a chance you could kiss them. I found kissing a very appealing experience. I was just always hoping for that conquest, hoping for that physical affection . . . that ejaculation.

[about his schizophrenic mother's influence on his childhood] Yes, yes, that had a lot to do with it. I got nothing from her. I got slapped around is what I got. But I liked to be with women. I never did it with dogs or elephants or men. Only with women.

[about the starlet system of 1950s Hollywood] These girls of 18 or 20 were fodder. All the guys at the studios, including myself, would feast on them, taking their sweetness. There were a lot of them. I don't remember their names. Then they would go home and get married. Poor darlings. They came and went.

[about first meeting Marilyn Monroe] She was 19 and didn't look anything like what she became. She had reddish-brown hair and her figure was not distinguished yet. Her bosoms weren't what they were later and her legs were a little scrawny, but she was putting it all together. Don't you see? Once she accepted she was a woman, then, look out, world. There was no guy that was safe. If she liked you, there was no man who could resist.

[on his ambitions] I even married Janet Leigh for my career. I could see the two of us could get more attention together. We had the paparazzi wherever we went, we were on the cover of all the movie magazines. It wasn't enough for a man to be cute, he had to be connected to the right woman.

I was the best-looking kid in town. It's not what you have but what you do with it that counts.

I became great friends with all my co-stars. With Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Jack Lemmon and Cary Grant . . . Cary Grant . . . Cary Grant. He could have picked anyone, but he allowed me the privilege to be in the movie with him. Jesus. To be in a movie with Cary Grant. Meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me. He was the reason why I wanted to get into the movies - and that is all I ever wanted.

A lot of things that would have meant a lot to me were denied me by Hollywood. I didn't speak properly. I spoke with a thick New York accent. Everyone knew my name was Schwartz - and Jews were not welcome. [I suffered resentment from the Hollywood establishment for marrying a "shiksa goddess" in Janet Leigh.] "Debbie Reynolds was the centre of gravity for a glitzy Caucasian crowd, and I could tell they didn't appreciate me. They didn't pick on you, they just ignored you. I couldn't understand it.

[about Some Like It Hot (1959)] It was perfect. Great dialogue. Crisp acting. Billy Wilder was brilliant, and Jack Lemmon and I always had a great time together; even though we were from different backgrounds - he was Harvard-educated, very intelligent and urbane. We balanced each other out.

It's rather nice not to be waiting for a script to come through the door, and even if it did, I would turn it down.

[about his sixth wife Jillie] She's the only one who didn't want me to change after I married her.

[on finally forgiving his mother long after she died] We could have all turned out like her. She cleaned houses in Hungary from when she was six or seven. She had no opportunities.

[on what he misses] I miss a pale-green Buick convertible with Dynaflow drive. I miss a little beach house in Malibu with the waves lapping on the beach. [This was during his first months in Hollywood, when he would bring then-unknown Marilyn Monroe back to his beach house]

On living in the present: So far so good, and I'm ready for more. My art will give me more. There'll be more shows, and this book will open things up for me again. There's still so much to discover. So I have to take good care of myself so you don't find me in the gutter.

I realized if I could [have sex with] a girl . . . a woman has accepted me. The main force in me was to be accepted by others. Not education, not money in my pocket, nothing except to be accepted by a girl.

[in 2008] I'm just wondering how many more years I have. I don't have 20. I don't have 15. How many years do I have? I don't know, but I plan to reinvent myself as an 84-year-old, as an 85-year-old man who can do anything and everything.

[on Brokeback Mountain (2005)] This picture is not as important as we make it. It's nothing unique. The only thing unique about it is they put it on the screen. And they make 'em gay cowboys. 'Howard Hughes (I)' and John Wayne wouldn't like it.

[on his troubled relationship with daughter Jamie Lee Curtis] I have a feeling she wanted to teach me a lesson for abandoning her mother and her. But I couldn't be with Janet Leigh anymore. She was disappearing into her own madnesses.

[on dying] I may have them take my ashes and spread them all over Las Vegas!

[on his relationship with his mother] I got nothing from her. I got slapped around is what I got.

[on his 1951 marriage to first wife Janet Leigh] I even married Janet for my career. I could see the two of us could get more attention together. We had the paparazzi wherever we went, we were on the cover of all the movie magazines. It wasn't enough for a man to be cute, he had to be connected to the right woman...What better way to get famous?

[on the long-running feud with daughter Jamie Lee Curtis] What am I going to do? God bless her, I wish her the best. If she can't forgive me, then get another father.

I just wanted to be treated like anybody else. There was a lot of opposition to me during the early years of movies. It had an effect on me. I don't feel like I got the movies I should've gotten. I felt I deserved more than that the industry had given me. I felt I should have been considered more, with a little more respect from the Screen Actors Guild and the Academy. I don't feel like I contributed what I wanted to contribute in the movies.

[on Marilyn Monroe] You could tell she'd already been battered by life, and I found that she'd been in an orphanage, as I had, and that her mother was also schizophrenic. I loved her. And she loved me, but we both wanted to be in the movies, and that meant everything.

[on Cary Grant] The greatest movie actor of all time.

[on today's actors, starting with Brad Pitt] That Pitt fellow - what's his name? He hasn't got it. Now, Robert Downey Jr. - I think he might have something.

One of the big reasons I started using cocaine was that I was told it was great for sex. It didn't make me superhuman in the longevity department, but it certainly did make my sexual experiences more intense.

Another great actor gone...seems all we are left with these days is mediocrity...the bar sure has lowered in Hollywood...

Ohh..I didn't read the news about this.

I have met Jamie Lee Curtis once in a restaurant where I worked back in the 90s. She was with his father..who spoke fluent Hungarian.