Tony Curtis
Acting
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
Acting216
movieFrom Roger Moore with Love
2024
Self (archive footage)
moviePictures of Ghosts
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieRat Pack
2022
Self (archive footage)
tvThe UnXplained
2019
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Fabulous Allan Carr
2017
Self (archive)
movieMarlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
2014
Self - Actor (archive footage)
tvTalking Pictures
2013
Self (archive footage)
movieFascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
2012
Self (archive footage)
movieMarilyn at the Movies
2011
Self (archive footage)
movieCameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
2010
Eric (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieDavid & Fatima
2008
Mr. Schwartz
tvShrink Rap
2007
Self
Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten
2006
Self (archive footage)
tvHope & Faith
2003
Morris
tvCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Tony Curtis
moviePlay It to the Bone
1999
Tony Curtis (Ringside Fan)
movieRoxanne's Best Christmas Ever
1998
Bernard (voice)
movieLouis & Frank
1998
Lenny Star Springer
movieStargames
1998
King Fendel
movieElvis Meets Nixon
1997
Tony Curtis
tvThe View
1997
Self
tvSuddenly Susan
1996
Peter DiCaprio
movieThe Immortals
1995
Dominic
movieBandit: Beauty and the Bandit
1994
Lucky Bergstrom
movieNaked in New York
1993
Carl Fisher
movieThe Mummy Lives
1993
Aziru / Dr. Mohassid
movieChristmas in Connecticut
1992
Alexander Yardley
movieCenter of the Web
1992
Stephen Moore
movieJoseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box
1991
Narrator (voice) / Self
moviePrime Target
1991
Copella
movieThanksgiving Day
1990
Max Schloss
movieLobster Man from Mars
1990
J.P. Shelldrake
movieWalter and Carlo in America
1989
WIlly La Rouge
movieMidnight
1989
Mr. B
movieTarzan in Manhattan
1989
Archimedes Porter
movieThe Passenger – Welcome to Germany
1988
Mr. Cornfield
movieMurder in Three Acts
1986
Charles Cartwright
movieBanter
1986
Charles Foster
movieClub Life
1986
Hector
movieMafia Princess
1986
Sam Giancana
movieInsignificance
1985
The Senator
movieWhere Is Parsifal?
1984
Parsifal Katzanella-Boden
movieBrainWaves
1983
Dr. Clavius
movieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieBalboa
1983
Ernie Stoddard
movieBlack Commando
1982
Col. Iago
moviePortrait of a Showgirl
1982
Joey DeLeon
movieMagic with the Stars
1982
Harry Houdini (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Million Dollar Face
1981
Chester Masterson
movieInmates: A Love Story
1981
Flanagan
movieIt Rained All Night the Day I Left
1980
Robert Talbot
movieThe Scarlett O'Hara War
1980
David O. Selznick
movieLittle Miss Marker
1980
Blackie
movieThe Mirror Crack'd
1980
Martin N. Fenn
movieThe Masqueraders
1980
Danny Wilde
movieTitle Shot
1979
Frank Renzetti
Death Becomes Me
1979
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
movieThe Users
1978
Randy Brent
tvVega$
1978
Roth / Roth (uncredited)
movieThe Bad News Bears Go to Japan
1978
Marvin Lazar
movieThe Manitou
1978
Harry Erskine
movieSextette
1978
Alexei Karansky
tvThe Hollywood Greats
1977
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Last Appointment!
1977
Danny Wilde
movieCasanova & Co.
1977
Giacomo Casanova / Giacomino
movieThe Last Tycoon
1976
Rodriguez
movieThe Switch
1976
Danny Wilde
movieThe Count of Monte-Cristo
1975
Fernand Morcerf Mondego
movieLepke
1975
Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter
McCoy
1975
McCoy
movieSporting Chance
1975
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
tvDinah!
1974
Self
movieLondon Conspiracy
1974
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
movieMission: Monte Carlo
1974
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
movieThe Third Girl from the Left
1973
Joey Jordan
movieThe Persuaders!
1973
Danny Wilde
tvThe Persuaders!
1971
Danny Wilde
movieNorman Jewison, Film Maker
1971
Self (uncredited)
movieSuppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
1970
Shannon Gambroni
movieYou Can't Win 'Em All
1970
Adam Dyer
movieMonte Carlo or Bust!
1969
Chester Schofield
movieThe Boston Strangler
1968
Albert DeSalvo
movieRosemary's Baby
1968
Donald Baumgart (voice) (uncredited)
tvThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
Self - Guest
tvRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
Self (uncredited) / Self
movieOn My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...
1967
Guerrando da Montone
movieDon't Make Waves
1967
Carlo Cofield
movieArrivederci, Baby!
1966
Nick Johnson
movieNot With My Wife, You Don't!
1966
Tom Ferris
movieChamber of Horrors
1966
Mr. Julian (uncredited)
movieBoeing, Boeing
1965
Bernard Lawrence
movieThe Great Race
1965
The Great Leslie
movieSex and the Single Girl
1964
Bob Weston
movieGoodbye Charlie
1964
George Wellington Tracy
movieWild and Wonderful
1964
Terry Williams
movieParis When It Sizzles
1964
Actor Portraying Maurice or Philippe (uncredited)
movieCaptain Newman, M.D.
1963
Cpl. Jackson "Jake" Leibowitz
movieThe List of Adrian Messenger
1963
Organ Grinder
movie40 Pounds of Trouble
1962
Steve McCluskey
movieTaras Bulba
1962
Andrei Bulba
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
Self / Self (archive footage)
movieThe Outsider
1961
Ira Hamilton Hayes
movieThe Great Impostor
1960
Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. / Martin Donner / Dr. Gilbert / Ben. W. Stone / Dr. Joseph Mornay / Robert Boyd Hammnd
moviePepe
1960
Tony Curtis
movieSpartacus
1960
Antoninus
tvThe Flintstones
1960
Stony Curtis (voice)
movieThe Rat Race
1960
Pete Hammond Jr.
movieWho Was That Lady?
1960
David Wilson
movieOperation Petticoat
1959
Lieutenant Nicholas Holden
tvStartime
1959
The Juggler
movieSome Like It Hot
1959
Joe (Josephine)
movieThe Perfect Furlough
1958
Cpl. Paul Hodges
movieThe Defiant Ones
1958
John 'Joker' Jackson
movieKings Go Forth
1958
Caporal Britt Harris
movieSweet Smell of Success
1957
Sidney Falco
movieThe Midnight Story
1957
Joe Martini
movieThe Rawhide Years
1956
Ben Matthews
tvThe Steve Allen Show
1956
Self - Recipient / Self - Guest
movieTrapeze
1956
Tino Orsini
movieThe Square Jungle
1955
Eddie Quaid / Packy Glennon
movieThe Purple Mask
1955
Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask
movieSix Bridges to Cross
1955
Jerry Florea
movieSo This Is Paris
1954
Joe Maxwell
movieThe Black Shield of Falworth
1954
Myles Falworth
movieJohnny Dark
1954
Johnny Dark
movieBeachhead
1954
Burke
movieForbidden
1953
Eddie Darrow
movieThe All American
1953
Nick Bonelli
movieHoudini
1953
Harry Houdini
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Mario Galindo / David
movieSon of Ali Baba
1952
Kashma Baba
movieFlesh and Fury
1952
Paul Callan
movieNo Room for the Groom
1952
Alvah Morrell
movieMeet Danny Wilson
1952
Nightclub Patron
movieThe Re-Inforcer
1951
Tony Boffo
movieKansas Raiders
1950
Kit Dalton
movieSierra
1950
Brent Coulter
movieFrancis
1950
Captain Jones
movieWoman in Hiding
1950
Dave Shaw (voice) (uncredited)
movieThe Lady Gambles
1949
Bellboy (as Anthony Curtis)
movieJohnny Stool Pigeon
1949
Joey Hyatt
movieCity Across the River
1949
Mitch (as Anthony Curtis)
movieCriss Cross
1949
Gigolo (uncredited)
tvBambi
1948
Self
Production7
movieDon't Make Waves
1967
Executive Producer
movieNot With My Wife, You Don't!
1966
Executive Producer
movieSex and the Single Girl
1964
Executive Producer
movieCaptain Newman, M.D.
1963
Executive Producer
tvStartime
1959
Executive Producer
movieThe Vikings
1958
Executive Producer
movieSweet Smell of Success
1957
Executive Producer