Biography for
Tony Curtis (I) More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

3 June 1925, The Bronx, New York, USA

Birth Name

Bernard Schwartz

Nickname

Boinie

Height

5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Bernard Schwartz, better known as Tony Curtis, was born in the Bronx and started his career at the movies in 1949 coming from the theatre 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 e.g. Goodbye Charlie (1964) and at the adventures e.g. The Vikings (1958). That he is also able to play more complex and psychological roles he showed in The Boston Strangler (1968). Curtis also produced some movies and appeared after 1973 several times in different TV productions. His daughter Jamie Lee Curtis with his first wife Janet Leigh has followed her father successfully into the movie business.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Volker Boehm

Spouse

Jill Vandenberg Curtis	(6 November 1998 - present)
Lisa Deutsch	(28 February 1993 - 1994) (divorced)
Andrea Savio	(1984 - 1992) (divorced)
Leslie Allen	(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

Trivia

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

Father of Allegra Curtis (with Christine Kaufmann).

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

His wife Jill Vandenberg Curtis is 42 years his junior.

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" of art objects. 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 voice of, the character "Stoney Curtis" in "The Flintstones" (1960).

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 Antininus".

Has appeared in a musical based on Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959) in which he appears as millionaire Osgood Fielding III, 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" actor Larry Storch in the US Navy from 1942 to 1945 aboard a submarine tender, he witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from a vantage point 300 yards away. Thus, he and Storch have had a life long friendship.

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.

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!

When asked who the most attractive person he worked with was, he replied calmly, "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.

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

Salary

The Boston Strangler (1968)	$30,000/week
Operation Petticoat (1959)	$700,000
The Vikings (1958)	$25,000/week
Trapeze (1956)	$150,000
Forbidden (1953)	$1,500/week
The All American (1953)	$1,500/week
Houdini (1953)	$1,500/week
Flesh and Fury (1952)	$700/week
Kansas Raiders (1950)	$225/week
Criss Cross (1949)	$75/week

Where Are They Now

(June 2002) Co-starring as Osgood Fielding III in musical stage version of "Some Like It Hot"

(1993) Release of his book, "Tony Curtis: The Autobiography" by Tony and Barry Paris.

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