Acting
Tony Curtis
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.
Filmography
100 Years of the Idiot: A Jerry Lewis Centenary
Film · 2026
From Roger Moore with Love
Film · 2024
Pictures of Ghosts
Film · 2023
Rat Pack
Film · 2022
Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom
Film · 2022
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
Series · 2022
Morceaux de Cannes
Film · 2021
The UnXplained
Series · 2019
Amicalement vôtre : Hollywood au service de sa Majesté
Film · 2017
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Film · 2017
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Film · 2014
Talking Pictures
Series · 2013
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Film · 2012
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
Film · 2012
Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies
Film · 2012
That's Insignificance
Film · 2011
Marilyn at the Movies
Film · 2011
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
Film · 2010
Tony Curtis erzählt...
Film · 2010
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Film · 2010
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel
Film · 2009
Hollywood sul Tevere
Film · 2009
David & Fatima
Film · 2008
The Jill & Tony Curtis Story
Film · 2008
The Graham Norton Show
Series · 2007
Shrink Rap
Series · 2007
Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten
Film · 2006
The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'
Film · 2006
The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'
Film · 2006
Hollywood Legenden
Film · 2004
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy
Film · 2003
Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Film · 2003
Hope & Faith
Series · 2003
Un film et son époque
Series · 2003
Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'
Film · 2001
Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot
Film · 2001
Rescued from the Closet
Film · 2001
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Series · 2000
Play It to the Bone
Film · 1999
Stargames
Film · 1998
Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever
Film · 1998
Louis & Frank
Film · 1998
The Johannes B. Kerner Show
Series · 1998
Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball
Film · 1997
The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man
Film · 1997
Elvis Meets Nixon
Film · 1997
The View
Series · 1997
The Celluloid Closet
Film · 1996
Suddenly Susan
Series · 1996
The Immortals
Film · 1995
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Film · 1995
The Mrs Merton Show
Series · 1995
A Century of Cinema
Film · 1994
Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor
Film · 1994
Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit
Film · 1994
The Mummy Lives
Film · 1993
Naked in New York
Film · 1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Series · 1993
Center of the Web
Film · 1992
Christmas in Connecticut
Film · 1992
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
Film · 1992
Hollywood Babylon II
Film · 1992
Prime Target
Film · 1991
Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box
Film · 1991
Lobster Man from Mars
Film · 1990
Thanksgiving Day
Film · 1990
Midnight
Film · 1989
Tarzan in Manhattan
Film · 1989
Walter and Carlo in America
Film · 1989
The Passenger – Welcome to Germany
Film · 1988
This Morning
Series · 1988
Roseanne
Series · 1988
Sparky's Magic Piano
Film · 1987
The Dame Edna Experience
Series · 1987
Matin Bonheur
Series · 1987
Sacrée soirée
Series · 1987
Murder in Three Acts
Film · 1986
Club Life
Film · 1986
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
Film · 1986
Mafia Princess
Film · 1986
Banter
Film · 1986
Insignificance
Film · 1985
Half Nelson
Film · 1985
Where Is Parsifal?
Film · 1984
Goldene Kamera
Series · 1984
BrainWaves
Film · 1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Film · 1983
Balboa
Film · 1983
Magic with the Stars
Film · 1982
Portrait of a Showgirl
Film · 1982
Black Commando
Film · 1982
The Million Dollar Face
Film · 1981
Inmates: A Love Story
Film · 1981
Wetten, dass..?
Series · 1981
The Mirror Crack'd
Film · 1980
Little Miss Marker
Film · 1980
The Masqueraders
Film · 1980
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
Film · 1980
The Scarlett O'Hara War
Film · 1980
Death Becomes Me
Film · 1979
Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration
Film · 1979
Title Shot
Film · 1979
The Manitou
Film · 1978
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
Film · 1978
Sextette
Film · 1978
The Users
Film · 1978
Vega$
Series · 1978
Vega$
Series · 1978
Casanova & Co.
Film · 1977
The Last Appointment!
Film · 1977
The Hollywood Greats
Series · 1977
Please Turn the Page
Series · 1977
The Last Tycoon
Film · 1976
The Switch
Film · 1976
The Count of Monte-Cristo
Film · 1975
Lepke
Film · 1975
Sporting Chance
Film · 1975
McCoy
Series · 1975
People's Choice Awards
Series · 1975
Mission: Monte Carlo
Film · 1974
London Conspiracy
Film · 1974
Dinah!
Series · 1974
The Persuaders!
Film · 1973
The Third Girl from the Left
Film · 1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Series · 1973
Norman Jewison, Film Maker
Film · 1971
The Persuaders!
Series · 1971
V.I.P. Schaukel
Series · 1971
You Can't Win 'Em All
Film · 1970
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
Film · 1970
Monte Carlo or Bust!
Film · 1969
Bracken's World
Series · 1969
The Boston Strangler
Film · 1968
Rosemary's Baby
Film · 1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Series · 1968
The Dick Cavett Show
Series · 1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Series · 1968
Don't Make Waves
Film · 1967
On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...
Film · 1967
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
Film · 1966
Arrivederci, Baby!
Film · 1966
Chamber of Horrors
Film · 1966
The Legend of Marilyn Monroe
Film · 1966
The Great Race
Film · 1965
Boeing, Boeing
Film · 1965
Paris When It Sizzles
Film · 1964
Sex and the Single Girl
Film · 1964
Goodbye Charlie
Film · 1964
Wild and Wonderful
Film · 1964
The List of Adrian Messenger
Film · 1963
Captain Newman, M.D.
Film · 1963
Taras Bulba
Film · 1962
40 Pounds of Trouble
Film · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
The Late Late Show
Series · 1962
The Outsider
Film · 1961
Spartacus
Film · 1960
People, Hopes, Medals
Film · 1960
The Great Impostor
Film · 1960
Pepe
Film · 1960
The Rat Race
Film · 1960
Who Was That Lady?
Film · 1960
The Flintstones
Series · 1960
Some Like It Hot
Film · 1959
Operation Petticoat
Film · 1959
Startime
Series · 1959
The Defiant Ones
Film · 1958
The Vikings
Film · 1958
Kings Go Forth
Film · 1958
The Perfect Furlough
Film · 1958
Sweet Smell of Success
Film · 1957
The Midnight Story
Film · 1957
Mister Cory
Film · 1957
Trapeze
Film · 1956
The Rawhide Years
Film · 1956
Nightmare
Film · 1956
The Steve Allen Show
Series · 1956
The Rosemary Clooney Show
Series · 1956
The Steve Allen Show
Series · 1956
Allen in Movieland
Film · 1955
Six Bridges to Cross
Film · 1955
The Purple Mask
Film · 1955
The Square Jungle
Film · 1955
The Black Shield of Falworth
Film · 1954
Beachhead
Film · 1954
Johnny Dark
Film · 1954
So This Is Paris
Film · 1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Film · 1954
Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood
Film · 1954
Forbidden
Film · 1953
Houdini
Film · 1953
The All American
Film · 1953
The World's Most Beautiful Girls
Film · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
The Oscars
Series · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
Son of Ali Baba
Film · 1952
Flesh and Fury
Film · 1952
No Room for the Groom
Film · 1952
Meet Danny Wilson
Film · 1952
Come Back Little Shiksa
Film · 1952
An Eye for an Eye
Film · 1952
This Is Your Life
Series · 1952
The Prince Who Was a Thief
Film · 1951
The Re-Inforcer
Film · 1951
Fairfax Avenue
Film · 1951
A Spot In The Shade
Film · 1951
Nightmare
Film · 1951
Watch On The Lime
Film · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
Winchester '73
Film · 1950
I Was a Shoplifter
Film · 1950
Kansas Raiders
Film · 1950
Sierra
Film · 1950
Francis
Film · 1950
Woman in Hiding
Film · 1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Series · 1950
What's My Line?
Series · 1950
Criss Cross
Film · 1949
The Lady Gambles
Film · 1949
City Across the River
Film · 1949
Johnny Stool Pigeon
Film · 1949
How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
Film · 1949
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
Bambi
Series · 1948