Tony Curtis
Acting
🎂 1925-06-03
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.
Cast credits(205)
Self
1962
Self
2007
Self
1997
Tony Curtis
2000
Self
1948
Self
1981
Self - Mystery Guest
1950
Self - Guest
1968
Self
1952
Self
1950
Self
1948
1993
Self
1987
Self - Recipient
1956
Self - Guest
1956
Self
1998
Roth
1978
Danny Wilde
1971
Stony Curtis (voice)
1960
Self
1953
Morris
2003
Self (archive footage)
2019
Self - Guest
2006
1969
Self
1987
1977
Himself
2007
1988
Self
1956
Self (archive footage)
2013
Self
1973
Self
1977
Self
1995
Self
1974
Self
1984
Self
1968
Antoninus
1960
Self
2003
Peter DiCaprio
1996
Joe (Josephine)
1959
Mario Galindo
1953
David
1953
Donald Baumgart (voice) (uncredited)
1968
Self
1971
Giacomo Casanova / Giacomino
1977
Charlie
1951
Fernand Morcerf Mondego
1975
Eric
1958
The Great Leslie
1965
John 'Joker' Jackson
1958
Doan
1950
Bob Weston
1964
Sidney Falco
1957
Self
1987
Martin N. Fenn
1980
Myles Falworth
1954
Lieutenant Nicholas Holden
1959
Self
1988
Actor Portraying Maurice or Philippe (uncredited)
1964
McCoy
1975
Andrei Bulba
1962
Albert DeSalvo
1968
Tino Orsini
1956
Harry Houdini
1953
Julna
1951
Self
1996
Self (archive footage)
2014
Tony Curtis
1960
Gigolo (uncredited)
1949
Carl Fisher
1993
Rodriguez
1976
Cpl. Jackson "Jake" Leibowitz
1963
Tony Curtis (Ringside Fan)
1999
Adam Dyer
1970
Tom Ferris
1966
Carlo Cofield
1967
Organ Grinder
1963
Harry Erskine
1978
Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. / Martin Donner / Dr. Gilbert / Ben. W. Stone / Dr. Joseph Mornay / Robert Boyd Hammnd
1960
Alexei Karansky
1978
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2014
Captain Jones
1950
Paul Callan
1952
Blackie
1980
Charles Cartwright
1986
The Senator
1985
David Wilson
1960
Joe Martini
1957
Johnny Steele
1994
King Fendel
1998
Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask
1955
Marvin Lazar
1978
Mr. Julian
1966
Danny Wilde
1974
Archimedes Porter
1989
Bernard Lawrence
1965
Brent Coulter (as Anthony Cutis)
1950
Ira Hamilton Hayes
1961
Self (archive footage)
2022
Shannon Gambroni
1970
Burke
1954
Bellboy (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Chester Schofield
1969
1985
Self (archive footage)
2024
Caporal Britt Harris
1958
Pete Hammond Jr.
1960
Alexander Yardley
1992
Nick Johnson
1966
Tony Curtis
1997
Jerry Florea
1955
Parsifal Katzanella-Boden
1984
Kit Dalton
1950
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Eddie Quaid / Packy Glennon
1955
Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter
1975
Ben Matthews
1956
Dr. Clavius
1983
Self
1995
Steve McCluskey
1962
Joey DeLeon
1982
Self
1954
Mr. Cornfield
1988
Dominic
1995
Eric (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010
Self
1986
Hector
1986
Danny Wilde
1976
Joey Hyatt (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Lucky Bergstrom
1994
Cpl. Paul Hodges
1958
Dave Shaw (voice) (uncredited)
1950
Danny Wilde
1974
Harry Houdini (archive footage) (uncredited)
1982
Chester Masterson
1981
Joe Maxwell
1954
J.P. Shelldrake
1990
Alvah Morrell
1952
Self
1994
Aziru / Dr. Mohassid
1993
1949
Wald
1997
Guerrando da Montone
1967
George Wellington Tracy
1964
Mr. B
1989
Charles Foster
1986
Self
2001
Randy Brent
1978
Pepe
1950
Stephen Moore
1992
Nightclub Patron
1952
Self
2009
Self
2004
David O. Selznick
1980
Self
1955
Self
2003
Mitch (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Eddie Darrow
1953
Johnny Dark
1954
Joey Jordan
1973
Self
2012
Self
1960
WIlly La Rouge
1989
Self
2001
Cory
1957
Ernie Stoddard
1983
Kashma Baba
1952
Sam Giancana
1986
Lenny Star Springer
1998
1951
Nick Bonelli
1953
Self
2006
Danny Wilde
1973
Self (archive footage)
2006
Max Schloss
1990
Self
1979
Self
2010
Danny Wilde
1975
Col. Iago
1982
Copella
1991
1987
Terry Williams
1964
Flanagan
1981
Robert Talbot
1980
Frank Renzetti
1979
Narrator (voice) / Self
1991
Host
2002
Self
2010
Self (uncredited)
1971
1952
Self
2006
Baffo
1951
Self
1953
Mr. Schwartz
2008
Bernard (voice)
1998
Danny Wilde
1977
Danny Wilde
1980
1952
Danny Wilde/Aunt Sophie Schwartz
1979
Self
2011
Self
2010
Tony
1956
Self
2001
Jack Steele
1997
1954