Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis

Acting
Born 1925-06-03 - Died 2010-09-29Bronx, New York, USA

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.

Movies (175)

Sex and the Single Girl
6.6

Sex and the Single Girl

1964Movie6.6
Rosemary's Baby
7.8

Rosemary's Baby

1968Movie7.8
Some Like It Hot
8.1

Some Like It Hot

1959Movie8.1
Spartacus
7.5

Spartacus

1960Movie7.5
Winchester '73
7.3

Winchester '73

1950Movie7.3
Sextette
4.0

Sextette

1978Movie4.0
The Scarlett O'Hara War
6.2

The Scarlett O'Hara War

1980Movie6.2
Little Miss Marker
6.6

Little Miss Marker

1980Movie6.6
The Great Race
7.1

The Great Race

1965Movie7.1
The Vikings
7.0

The Vikings

1958Movie7.0
The Lady Gambles
6.1

The Lady Gambles

1949Movie6.1
A Century of Cinema
8.3

A Century of Cinema

1994Movie8.3
The Count of Monte-Cristo
6.9

The Count of Monte-Cristo

1975Movie6.9
The Defiant Ones
7.1

The Defiant Ones

1958Movie7.1
The Black Shield of Falworth
6.2

The Black Shield of Falworth

1954Movie6.2
The Mirror Crack'd
6.1

The Mirror Crack'd

1980Movie6.1
Captain Newman, M.D.
6.7

Captain Newman, M.D.

1963Movie6.7
Play It to the Bone
5.5

Play It to the Bone

1999Movie5.5
The Last Tycoon
6.3

The Last Tycoon

1976Movie6.3
Sweet Smell of Success
7.6

Sweet Smell of Success

1957Movie7.6
Son of Ali Baba
5.6

Son of Ali Baba

1952Movie5.6
Paris When It Sizzles
6.3

Paris When It Sizzles

1964Movie6.3
The Boston Strangler
6.6

The Boston Strangler

1968Movie6.6
The Rat Race
6.8

The Rat Race

1960Movie6.8
Francis
5.8

Francis

1950Movie5.8
Houdini
6.6

Houdini

1953Movie6.6
Trapeze
6.3

Trapeze

1956Movie6.3
The Manitou
5.4

The Manitou

1978Movie5.4
Boeing, Boeing
6.4

Boeing, Boeing

1965Movie6.4
Morceaux de Cannes
2.0

Morceaux de Cannes

2021Movie2.0
Taras Bulba
6.3

Taras Bulba

1962Movie6.3
Operation Petticoat
7.2

Operation Petticoat

1959Movie7.2
You Can't Win 'Em All
5.8

You Can't Win 'Em All

1970Movie5.8
The Fabulous Allan Carr
5.0

The Fabulous Allan Carr

2017Movie5.0
The Prince Who Was a Thief
5.7

The Prince Who Was a Thief

1951Movie5.7
Woman in Hiding
6.3

Woman in Hiding

1950Movie6.3
The List of Adrian Messenger
6.7

The List of Adrian Messenger

1963Movie6.7
Prime Target
5.1

Prime Target

1991Movie5.1
Criss Cross
7.1

Criss Cross

1949Movie7.1
Naked in New York
4.8

Naked in New York

1993Movie4.8
Insignificance
6.4

Insignificance

1985Movie6.4
BrainWaves
4.3

BrainWaves

1983Movie4.3
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
7.0

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983Movie7.0
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
7.3

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal

1986Movie7.3
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
7.7

Roger Moore: A Matter of Class

1995Movie7.7
The Perfect Furlough
6.7

The Perfect Furlough

1958Movie6.7
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
4.8

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

1978Movie4.8
Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten
6.0

Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten

2006Movie6.0
The Celluloid Closet
7.2

The Celluloid Closet

1996Movie7.2
Mission: Monte Carlo
5.9

Mission: Monte Carlo

1974Movie5.9
Murder in Three Acts
6.0

Murder in Three Acts

1986Movie6.0
Mister Cory
6.0

Mister Cory

1957Movie6.0
On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...
4.6

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

1967Movie4.6
How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
8.0

How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border

1949Movie8.0
Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom
7.1

Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom

2022Movie7.1
The Masqueraders

The Masqueraders

1980Movie
Hollywood Legenden
4.5

Hollywood Legenden

2004Movie4.5
The Legend of Marilyn Monroe
6.7

The Legend of Marilyn Monroe

1966Movie6.7
Rat Pack
9.0

Rat Pack

2022Movie9.0
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
5.8

Not With My Wife, You Don't!

1966Movie5.8
Monte Carlo or Bust!
5.9

Monte Carlo or Bust!

1969Movie5.9
The Rawhide Years
5.6

The Rawhide Years

1956Movie5.6
From Roger Moore with Love
8.0

From Roger Moore with Love

2024Movie8.0
Rescued from the Closet
6.5

Rescued from the Closet

2001Movie6.5
The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'
7.0

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006Movie7.0
London Conspiracy
8.5

London Conspiracy

1974Movie8.5
The Great Impostor
6.9

The Great Impostor

1960Movie6.9
Kansas Raiders
6.0

Kansas Raiders

1950Movie6.0
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
7.4

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

2012Movie7.4
Kings Go Forth
6.1

Kings Go Forth

1958Movie6.1
The Million Dollar Face
8.0

The Million Dollar Face

1981Movie8.0
Casanova & Co.
3.9

Casanova & Co.

1977Movie3.9
Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration

Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration

2003Movie
The Switch

The Switch

1976Movie
Meet Danny Wilson
4.4

Meet Danny Wilson

1952Movie4.4
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
6.6

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

2010Movie6.6
The Immortals
5.6

The Immortals

1995Movie5.6
Chamber of Horrors
5.6

Chamber of Horrors

1966Movie5.6
The Outsider
6.5

The Outsider

1961Movie6.5
100 Years of the Idiot: A Jerry Lewis Centenary

100 Years of the Idiot: A Jerry Lewis Centenary

2026Movie
Club Life
4.2

Club Life

1986Movie4.2
40 Pounds of Trouble
5.5

40 Pounds of Trouble

1962Movie5.5
Goodbye Charlie
5.8

Goodbye Charlie

1964Movie5.8
Don't Make Waves
5.2

Don't Make Waves

1967Movie5.2
David & Fatima
5.0

David & Fatima

2008Movie5.0
Pictures of Ghosts
8.0

Pictures of Ghosts

2023Movie8.0
Who Was That Lady?
6.4

Who Was That Lady?

1960Movie6.4
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
7.2

Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

2012Movie7.2
Forbidden
6.3

Forbidden

1953Movie6.3
Hollywood sul Tevere

Hollywood sul Tevere

2009Movie
The Midnight Story
6.1

The Midnight Story

1957Movie6.1
Walter and Carlo in America
6.0

Walter and Carlo in America

1989Movie6.0
Christmas in Connecticut
4.7

Christmas in Connecticut

1992Movie4.7
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
7.2

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

2014Movie7.2
Banter
5.8

Banter

1986Movie5.8
Beachhead
5.7

Beachhead

1954Movie5.7
A Star Is Born World Premiere
8.0

A Star Is Born World Premiere

1954Movie8.0
Portrait of a Showgirl
8.7

Portrait of a Showgirl

1982Movie8.7
Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball
4.2

Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball

1997Movie4.2
The Mummy Lives
4.2

The Mummy Lives

1993Movie4.2
City Across the River
6.0

City Across the River

1949Movie6.0
Sparky's Magic Piano
5.8

Sparky's Magic Piano

1987Movie5.8
The Purple Mask
5.8

The Purple Mask

1955Movie5.8
Half Nelson

Half Nelson

1985Movie
Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot
7.0

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

2001Movie7.0
Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies
7.0

Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies

2012Movie7.0
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
5.5

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

1970Movie5.5
Pepe
6.4

Pepe

1960Movie6.4
Nightmare

Nightmare

1956Movie
Johnny Stool Pigeon
6.3

Johnny Stool Pigeon

1949Movie6.3
No Room for the Groom
5.8

No Room for the Groom

1952Movie5.8
Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration
1.0

Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration

1979Movie1.0
Arrivederci, Baby!
5.9

Arrivederci, Baby!

1966Movie5.9
I Was a Shoplifter
5.8

I Was a Shoplifter

1950Movie5.8
Flesh and Fury
6.6

Flesh and Fury

1952Movie6.6
Elvis Meets Nixon
7.0

Elvis Meets Nixon

1997Movie7.0
So This Is Paris
9.0

So This Is Paris

1954Movie9.0
Sierra
5.4

Sierra

1950Movie5.4
The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man
10.0

The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man

1997Movie10.0
Six Bridges to Cross
6.3

Six Bridges to Cross

1955Movie6.3
Midnight
4.7

Midnight

1989Movie4.7
Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

1954Movie
The All American
6.0

The All American

1953Movie6.0
Lepke
4.9

Lepke

1975Movie4.9
Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor
6.4

Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

1994Movie6.4
People, Hopes, Medals
4.6

People, Hopes, Medals

1960Movie4.6
Johnny Dark
5.8

Johnny Dark

1954Movie5.8
The Persuaders!
8.2

The Persuaders!

1973Movie8.2
Wild and Wonderful
7.0

Wild and Wonderful

1964Movie7.0
Tarzan in Manhattan
4.0

Tarzan in Manhattan

1989Movie4.0
Where Is Parsifal?
3.9

Where Is Parsifal?

1984Movie3.9
The Passenger – Welcome to Germany
6.2

The Passenger – Welcome to Germany

1988Movie6.2
Mafia Princess
10.0

Mafia Princess

1986Movie10.0
Magic with the Stars
9.0

Magic with the Stars

1982Movie9.0
Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever
6.0

Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever

1998Movie6.0
Fairfax Avenue

Fairfax Avenue

1951Movie
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy
9.3

Hugh Hefner: American Playboy

2003Movie9.3
Reflections of Evil
6.5

Reflections of Evil

2002Movie6.5
The Last Appointment!
10.0

The Last Appointment!

1977Movie10.0
Sporting Chance
6.5

Sporting Chance

1975Movie6.5
Marilyn at the Movies

Marilyn at the Movies

2011Movie
Louis & Frank
4.5

Louis & Frank

1998Movie4.5
Center of the Web
4.0

Center of the Web

1992Movie4.0
The Users
4.0

The Users

1978Movie4.0
A Spot In The Shade

A Spot In The Shade

1951Movie
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
5.2

Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time

1992Movie5.2
Allen in Movieland
4.5

Allen in Movieland

1955Movie4.5
Inmates: A Love Story
8.0

Inmates: A Love Story

1981Movie8.0
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

2010Movie
The Square Jungle
6.1

The Square Jungle

1955Movie6.1
Thanksgiving Day
7.5

Thanksgiving Day

1990Movie7.5
The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'
8.5

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

2006Movie8.5
Come Back Little Shiksa

Come Back Little Shiksa

1952Movie
Death Becomes Me

Death Becomes Me

1979Movie
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel
6.0

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel

2009Movie6.0
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
5.2

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980Movie5.2
Stargames
2.5

Stargames

1998Movie2.5
The Re-Inforcer
5.5

The Re-Inforcer

1951Movie5.5
Title Shot
8.0

Title Shot

1979Movie8.0
Nightmare

Nightmare

1951Movie
Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit
4.7

Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit

1994Movie4.7
Lobster Man from Mars
5.2

Lobster Man from Mars

1990Movie5.2
The Third Girl from the Left
9.5

The Third Girl from the Left

1973Movie9.5
Balboa
4.7

Balboa

1983Movie4.7
Amicalement vôtre : Hollywood au service de sa Majesté
7.0

Amicalement vôtre : Hollywood au service de sa Majesté

2017Movie7.0
Norman Jewison, Film Maker
7.0

Norman Jewison, Film Maker

1971Movie7.0
The World's Most Beautiful Girls

The World's Most Beautiful Girls

1953Movie
Black Commando
3.2

Black Commando

1982Movie3.2
The Jill & Tony Curtis Story
1.0

The Jill & Tony Curtis Story

2008Movie1.0
An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

1952Movie
Watch On The Lime

Watch On The Lime

1951Movie
That's Insignificance

That's Insignificance

2011Movie
Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'
8.0

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

2001Movie8.0
Tony Curtis erzählt...

Tony Curtis erzählt...

2010Movie
Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box

Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box

1991Movie

TV Shows (46)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
7.6

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

2000Series7.6
The Graham Norton Show
7.2

The Graham Norton Show

2007Series7.2
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
Sacrée soirée
5.7

Sacrée soirée

1987Series5.7
The Flintstones
7.4

The Flintstones

1960Series7.4
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
6.9

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

1993Series6.9
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
The Johannes B. Kerner Show
7.5

The Johannes B. Kerner Show

1998Series7.5
The Dick Cavett Show
6.8

The Dick Cavett Show

1968Series6.8
The UnXplained
6.6

The UnXplained

2019Series6.6
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
Wetten, dass..?
5.6

Wetten, dass..?

1981Series5.6
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
The Colgate Comedy Hour
6.9

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950Series6.9
The Persuaders!
7.7

The Persuaders!

1971Series7.7
People's Choice Awards
9.2

People's Choice Awards

1975Series9.2
Hope & Faith
5.4

Hope & Faith

2003Series5.4
Bambi
9.0

Bambi

1948Series9.0
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
6.8

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1968Series6.8
The Steve Allen Show
6.2

The Steve Allen Show

1956Series6.2
This Is Your Life
6.5

This Is Your Life

1952Series6.5
Vega$
6.9

Vega$

1978Series6.9
Goldene Kamera
5.7

Goldene Kamera

1984Series5.7
Suddenly Susan
6.0

Suddenly Susan

1996Series6.0
Startime
6.8

Startime

1959Series6.8
V.I.P. Schaukel
8.0

V.I.P. Schaukel

1971Series8.0
Roseanne
6.8

Roseanne

1988Series6.8
Talking Pictures
6.2

Talking Pictures

2013Series6.2
The Late Late Show
5.6

The Late Late Show

1962Series5.6
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.3

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series6.3
Bracken's World
7.5

Bracken's World

1969Series7.5
The Hollywood Greats
4.7

The Hollywood Greats

1977Series4.7
Matin Bonheur

Matin Bonheur

1987Series
Please Turn the Page
6.0

Please Turn the Page

1977Series6.0
Shrink Rap
7.0

Shrink Rap

2007Series7.0
The Mrs Merton Show
6.8

The Mrs Merton Show

1995Series6.8
The Rosemary Clooney Show
8.0

The Rosemary Clooney Show

1956Series8.0
The Dame Edna Experience
5.5

The Dame Edna Experience

1987Series5.5
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
This Morning
5.2

This Morning

1988Series5.2
Un film et son époque
10.0

Un film et son époque

2003Series10.0
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
7.5

Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe

2022Series7.5
McCoy
6.0

McCoy

1975Series6.0