ReelRifter
Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis

Acting

Born June 3, 1925 — Died September 29, 2010 Bronx, New York, USA

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.

TV Shows(46)

Movies(169)

From Roger Moore with Love

From Roger Moore with Love

Self (archive footage)

2024

Pictures of Ghosts

Pictures of Ghosts

Self (archive footage)

2023

Rat Pack

Rat Pack

Self (archive footage)

2022

Morceaux de Cannes

Morceaux de Cannes

2021

Amicalement vôtre : Hollywood au service de sa Majesté

Amicalement vôtre : Hollywood au service de sa Majesté

Danny Wilde

2017

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

Self - Actor (archive footage)

2014

Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies

Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies

2012

Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

Self (archive footage)

2012

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

Self

2012

Marilyn at the Movies

Marilyn at the Movies

Self (archive footage)

2011

That's Insignificance

That's Insignificance

Self

2011

Tony Curtis erzählt...

Tony Curtis erzählt...

Self

2010

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

Eric (archive footage) (uncredited)

2010

Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

Self

2010

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel

Self

2009

Hollywood sul Tevere

Hollywood sul Tevere

2009

David & Fatima

David & Fatima

Mr. Schwartz

2008

The Jill & Tony Curtis Story

The Jill & Tony Curtis Story

2008

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'

Self

2006

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'

Self

2006

Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten

Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten

Self (archive footage)

2006

Hollywood Legenden

Hollywood Legenden

Self

2004

Hugh Hefner: American Playboy

Hugh Hefner: American Playboy

Self

2003

Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration

Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration

2003

Reflections of Evil

Reflections of Evil

Host

2002

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

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

Self

2001

Rescued from the Closet

Rescued from the Closet

Self

2001

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'

Self

2001

Play It to the Bone

Play It to the Bone

Tony Curtis (Ringside Fan)

1999

Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever

Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever

Bernard (voice)

1998

Louis & Frank

Louis & Frank

Lenny Star Springer

1998

Stargames

Stargames

King Fendel

1998

Elvis Meets Nixon

Elvis Meets Nixon

Tony Curtis

1997

The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man

The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man

Jack Steele

1997

Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball

Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball

Wald

1997

The Celluloid Closet

The Celluloid Closet

Self

1996

Roger Moore: A Matter of Class

Roger Moore: A Matter of Class

Self

1995

The Immortals

The Immortals

Dominic

1995

Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

Johnny Steele

1994

Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit

Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit

Lucky Bergstrom

1994

A Century of Cinema

A Century of Cinema

Self

1994

Naked in New York

Naked in New York

Carl Fisher

1993

The Mummy Lives

The Mummy Lives

Aziru / Dr. Mohassid

1993

Christmas in Connecticut

Christmas in Connecticut

Alexander Yardley

1992

Center of the Web

Center of the Web

Stephen Moore

1992

Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time

Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time

Self

1992

Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box

Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box

Narrator (voice) / Self

1991

Prime Target

Prime Target

Copella

1991

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Max Schloss

1990

Lobster Man from Mars

Lobster Man from Mars

J.P. Shelldrake

1990

Walter and Carlo in America

Walter and Carlo in America

WIlly La Rouge

1989

Midnight

Midnight

Mr. B

1989

Tarzan in Manhattan

Tarzan in Manhattan

Archimedes Porter

1989

The Passenger – Welcome to Germany

The Passenger – Welcome to Germany

Mr. Cornfield

1988

Sparky's Magic Piano

Sparky's Magic Piano

1987

Murder in Three Acts

Murder in Three Acts

Charles Cartwright

1986

Banter

Banter

Charles Foster

1986

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal

Self

1986

Club Life

Club Life

Hector

1986

Mafia Princess

Mafia Princess

Sam Giancana

1986

Insignificance

Insignificance

The Senator

1985

Half Nelson

Half Nelson

1985

Where Is Parsifal?

Where Is Parsifal?

Parsifal Katzanella-Boden

1984

BrainWaves

BrainWaves

Dr. Clavius

1983

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1983

Balboa

Balboa

Ernie Stoddard

1983

Black Commando

Black Commando

Col. Iago

1982

Portrait of a Showgirl

Portrait of a Showgirl

Joey DeLeon

1982

Magic with the Stars

Magic with the Stars

Harry Houdini (archive footage) (uncredited)

1982

The Million Dollar Face

The Million Dollar Face

Chester Masterson

1981

Inmates: A Love Story

Inmates: A Love Story

Flanagan

1981

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

Robert Talbot

1980

The Scarlett O'Hara War

The Scarlett O'Hara War

David O. Selznick

1980

Little Miss Marker

Little Miss Marker

Blackie

1980

The Mirror Crack'd

The Mirror Crack'd

Martin N. Fenn

1980

The Masqueraders

The Masqueraders

Danny Wilde

1980

Title Shot

Title Shot

Frank Renzetti

1979

Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration

Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration

Self

1979

Death Becomes Me

Death Becomes Me

Danny Wilde (archive footage)

1979

The Users

The Users

Randy Brent

1978

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

Marvin Lazar

1978

The Manitou

The Manitou

Harry Erskine

1978

Sextette

Sextette

Alexei Karansky

1978

The Last Appointment!

The Last Appointment!

Danny Wilde

1977

Casanova & Co.

Casanova & Co.

Giacomo Casanova / Giacomino

1977

The Last Tycoon

The Last Tycoon

Rodriguez

1976

The Switch

The Switch

Danny Wilde

1976

The Count of Monte-Cristo

The Count of Monte-Cristo

Fernand Morcerf Mondego

1975

Lepke

Lepke

Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter

1975

Sporting Chance

Sporting Chance

Danny Wilde (archive footage)

1975

London Conspiracy

London Conspiracy

Danny Wilde (archive footage)

1974

Mission: Monte Carlo

Mission: Monte Carlo

Danny Wilde (archive footage)

1974

The Third Girl from the Left

The Third Girl from the Left

Joey Jordan

1973

The Persuaders!

The Persuaders!

Danny Wilde

1973

Norman Jewison, Film Maker

Norman Jewison, Film Maker

Self (uncredited)

1971

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

Shannon Gambroni

1970

You Can't Win 'Em All

You Can't Win 'Em All

Adam Dyer

1970

Monte Carlo or Bust!

Monte Carlo or Bust!

Chester Schofield

1969

The Boston Strangler

The Boston Strangler

Albert DeSalvo

1968

Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby

Donald Baumgart (voice) (uncredited)

1968

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

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

Guerrando da Montone

1967

Don't Make Waves

Don't Make Waves

Carlo Cofield

1967

Arrivederci, Baby!

Arrivederci, Baby!

Nick Johnson

1966

The Legend of Marilyn Monroe

The Legend of Marilyn Monroe

1966

Not With My Wife, You Don't!

Not With My Wife, You Don't!

Tom Ferris

1966

Chamber of Horrors

Chamber of Horrors

Mr. Julian (uncredited)

1966

Boeing, Boeing

Boeing, Boeing

Bernard Lawrence

1965

The Great Race

The Great Race

The Great Leslie

1965

Sex and the Single Girl

Sex and the Single Girl

Bob Weston

1964

Goodbye Charlie

Goodbye Charlie

George Wellington Tracy

1964

Wild and Wonderful

Wild and Wonderful

Terry Williams

1964

Paris When It Sizzles

Paris When It Sizzles

Actor Portraying Maurice or Philippe (uncredited)

1964

Captain Newman, M.D.

Captain Newman, M.D.

Cpl. Jackson "Jake" Leibowitz

1963

The List of Adrian Messenger

The List of Adrian Messenger

Organ Grinder

1963

40 Pounds of Trouble

40 Pounds of Trouble

Steve McCluskey

1962

Taras Bulba

Taras Bulba

Andrei Bulba

1962

The Outsider

The Outsider

Ira Hamilton Hayes

1961

The Great Impostor

The Great Impostor

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

1960

Pepe

Pepe

Tony Curtis

1960

Spartacus

Spartacus

Antoninus

1960

The Rat Race

The Rat Race

Pete Hammond Jr.

1960

Who Was That Lady?

Who Was That Lady?

David Wilson

1960

People, Hopes, Medals

People, Hopes, Medals

Self

1960

Operation Petticoat

Operation Petticoat

Lieutenant Nicholas Holden

1959

Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot

Joe (Josephine)

1959

The Perfect Furlough

The Perfect Furlough

Cpl. Paul Hodges

1958

The Defiant Ones

The Defiant Ones

John 'Joker' Jackson

1958

Kings Go Forth

Kings Go Forth

Caporal Britt Harris

1958

The Vikings

The Vikings

Eric

1958

Sweet Smell of Success

Sweet Smell of Success

Sidney Falco

1957

The Midnight Story

The Midnight Story

Joe Martini

1957

Mister Cory

Mister Cory

Cory

1957

The Rawhide Years

The Rawhide Years

Ben Matthews

1956

Trapeze

Trapeze

Tino Orsini

1956

Nightmare

Nightmare

Tony

1956

The Square Jungle

The Square Jungle

Eddie Quaid / Packy Glennon

1955

Allen in Movieland

Allen in Movieland

Self

1955

The Purple Mask

The Purple Mask

Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask

1955

Six Bridges to Cross

Six Bridges to Cross

Jerry Florea

1955

So This Is Paris

So This Is Paris

Joe Maxwell

1954

A Star Is Born World Premiere

A Star Is Born World Premiere

Self

1954

The Black Shield of Falworth

The Black Shield of Falworth

Myles Falworth

1954

Johnny Dark

Johnny Dark

Johnny Dark

1954

Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

1954

Beachhead

Beachhead

Burke

1954

Forbidden

Forbidden

Eddie Darrow

1953

The All American

The All American

Nick Bonelli

1953

Houdini

Houdini

Harry Houdini

1953

The World's Most Beautiful Girls

The World's Most Beautiful Girls

Self

1953

Son of Ali Baba

Son of Ali Baba

Kashma Baba

1952

Flesh and Fury

Flesh and Fury

Paul Callan

1952

No Room for the Groom

No Room for the Groom

Alvah Morrell

1952

Meet Danny Wilson

Meet Danny Wilson

Nightclub Patron

1952

An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

1952

Come Back Little Shiksa

Come Back Little Shiksa

1952

The Re-Inforcer

The Re-Inforcer

Tony Boffo

1951

The Prince Who Was a Thief

The Prince Who Was a Thief

Julna

1951

Fairfax Avenue

Fairfax Avenue

1951

Kansas Raiders

Kansas Raiders

Kit Dalton

1950

Winchester '73

Winchester '73

Doan

1950

Sierra

Sierra

Brent Coulter

1950

I Was a Shoplifter

I Was a Shoplifter

Pepe

1950

Francis

Francis

Captain Jones

1950

Woman in Hiding

Woman in Hiding

Dave Shaw (voice) (uncredited)

1950

The Lady Gambles

The Lady Gambles

Bellboy (as Anthony Curtis)

1949

Johnny Stool Pigeon

Johnny Stool Pigeon

Joey Hyatt

1949

City Across the River

City Across the River

Mitch (as Anthony Curtis)

1949

Criss Cross

Criss Cross

Gigolo (uncredited)

1949

How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border

How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border

1949