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 Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz, the eldest of three children of Helen (Klein) and Emanuel Schwartz, Jewish immigrants from Hungary. Curtis himself admits that while he had almost no formal education, he was a student of the "school of hard knocks" and learned from a young age that the only person who ever had his back was himself, so he learned how to take care of both himself and younger brother, Julius. Curtis grew up in poverty, as his father, Emanuel, who worked as a tailor, had the sole responsibility of providing for his entire family on his meager income. This led to constant bickering between Curtis's parents over money, and Curtis began to go to movies as a way of briefly escaping the constant worries of poverty and other family problems. The financial strain of raising two children on a meager income became so tough that in 1935, Curtis's parents decided that their children would have a better life under the care of the state and briefly had Tony and his brother admitted to an orphanage. During this lonely time, the only companion Curtis had was his brother, Julius, and the two became inseparable as they struggled to get used to this new way of life. Weeks later, Curtis's parents came back to reclaim custody of Tony and his brother, but by then Curtis had learned one of life's toughest lessons: the only person you can count on is yourself.In 1938, shortly before Tony's Bar Mitzvah, tragedy struck when Tony lost the person most important to him when his brother, Julius, was hit by a truck and killed. After that tragedy, Curtis's parents became convinced that a formal education was the best way Tony could avoid the same never-knowing-where-your-next-meal-is-coming-from life that they had known. However, Tony rejected this because he felt that learning about literary classics and algebra wasn't going to advance him in life as much as some real hands-on life experience would. He was to find that real-life experience a few years later, when he enlisted in the navy in 1942. Tony spent over two years getting that life experience doing everything from working as a crewman on a submarine tender, the USS Proteus (AS-19), to honing his future craft as an actor performing as a sailor in a stage play at the Navy Signalman School in Illinois.In 1945, Curtis was honorably discharged from the navy, and when he realized that the GI Bill would allow him to go to acting school without paying for it, he now saw that his lifelong pipe dream of being an actor might actually be achievable. Curtis auditioned for the New York Dramatic Workshop, and after being accepted on the strength of his audition piece (a scene from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in pantomime), Curtis enrolled in early 1947. He then began to pay his dues by appearing in a slew of stage productions, including "Twelfth Night" and "Golden Boy". He then connected with a small theatrical agent named Joyce Selznick, who was the niece of film producer David O. Selznick. After seeing his potential, Selznick arranged an interview for Curtis to see David O. Selznick at Universal Studios, where Curtis was offered a seven-year contract. After changing his name to what he saw as an elegant, mysterious moniker--"Tony Curtis" (named after the novel Anthony Adverse (1936) by Hervey Allen and a cousin of his named Janush Kertiz)--Curtis began making a name for himself by appearing in small, offbeat roles in small-budget productions. His first notable performance was a two-minute role in Criss Cross (1949), with Burt Lancaster, in which he makes Lancaster jealous by dancing with Yvonne De Carlo. This offbeat role resulted in Curtis's being typecast as a heavy for the next few years, such as playing a gang member in City Across the River (1949).Curtis continued to build up a show reel by accepting any paying job, acting in a number of bit-part roles for the next few years. It wasn't until late 1949 that he finally got the chance to demonstrate his acting flair, when he was cast in an important role in an action western, Sierra (1950). On the strength of his performance in that movie, Curtis was finally cast in a big-budget movie, Winchester '73 (1950). While he appears in that movie only very briefly, it was a chance for him to act alongside a Hollywood legend, James Stewart.As his career developed, Curtis wanted to act in movies that had social relevance, ones that would challenge audiences, so he began to appear in such movies as Spartacus (1960) and The Defiant Ones (1958). He was advised against appearing as the subordinate sidekick in Spartacus (1960), playing second fiddle to the equally famous Kirk Douglas. However, Curtis saw no problem with this because the two had recently acted together in dual leading roles in The Vikings (1958).
Bio:
Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz, the eldest of three children of Helen (Klein) and Emanuel Schwartz, Jewish immigrants from Hungary. Curtis himself admits that while he had almost no formal education, he was a student of the "school of hard knocks" and learned from a young age that the only person who ever had his back was himself, so he learned how to take care of both himself and younger brother, Julius. Curtis grew up in poverty, as his father, Emanuel, who worked as a tailor, had the sole responsibility of providing for his entire family on his meager income. This led to constant bickering between Curtis's parents over money, and Curtis began to go to movies as a way of briefly escaping the constant worries of poverty and other family problems. The financial strain of raising two children on a meager income became so tough that in 1935, Curtis's parents decided that their children would have a better life under the care of the state and briefly had Tony and his brother admitted to an orphanage. During this lonely time, the only companion Curtis had was his brother, Julius, and the two became inseparable as they struggled to get used to this new way of life. Weeks later, Curtis's parents came back to reclaim custody of Tony and his brother, but by then Curtis had learned one of life's toughest lessons: the only person you can count on is yourself.In 1938, shortly before Tony's Bar Mitzvah, tragedy struck when Tony lost the person most important to him when his brother, Julius, was hit by a truck and killed. After that tragedy, Curtis's parents became convinced that a formal education was the best way Tony could avoid the same never-knowing-where-your-next-meal-is-coming-from life that they had known. However, Tony rejected this because he felt that learning about literary classics and algebra wasn't going to advance him in life as much as some real hands-on life experience would. He was to find that real-life experience a few years later, when he enlisted in the navy in 1942. Tony spent over two years getting that life experience doing everything from working as a crewman on a submarine tender, the USS Proteus (AS-19), to honing his future craft as an actor performing as a sailor in a stage play at the Navy Signalman School in Illinois.In 1945, Curtis was honorably discharged from the navy, and when he realized that the GI Bill would allow him to go to acting school without paying for it, he now saw that his lifelong pipe dream of being an actor might actually be achievable. Curtis auditioned for the New York Dramatic Workshop, and after being accepted on the strength of his audition piece (a scene from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in pantomime), Curtis enrolled in early 1947. He then began to pay his dues by appearing in a slew of stage productions, including "Twelfth Night" and "Golden Boy". He then connected with a small theatrical agent named Joyce Selznick, who was the niece of film producer David O. Selznick. After seeing his potential, Selznick arranged an interview for Curtis to see David O. Selznick at Universal Studios, where Curtis was offered a seven-year contract. After changing his name to what he saw as an elegant, mysterious moniker--"Tony Curtis" (named after the novel Anthony Adverse (1936) by Hervey Allen and a cousin of his named Janush Kertiz)--Curtis began making a name for himself by appearing in small, offbeat roles in small-budget productions. His first notable performance was a two-minute role in Criss Cross (1949), with Burt Lancaster, in which he makes Lancaster jealous by dancing with Yvonne De Carlo. This offbeat role resulted in Curtis's being typecast as a heavy for the next few years, such as playing a gang member in City Across the River (1949).Curtis continued to build up a show reel by accepting any paying job, acting in a number of bit-part roles for the next few years. It wasn't until late 1949 that he finally got the chance to demonstrate his acting flair, when he was cast in an important role in an action western, Sierra (1950). On the strength of his performance in that movie, Curtis was finally cast in a big-budget movie, Winchester '73 (1950). While he appears in that movie only very briefly, it was a chance for him to act alongside a Hollywood legend, James Stewart.As his career developed, Curtis wanted to act in movies that had social relevance, ones that would challenge audiences, so he began to appear in such movies as Spartacus (1960) and The Defiant Ones (1958). He was advised against appearing as the subordinate sidekick in Spartacus (1960), playing second fiddle to the equally famous Kirk Douglas. However, Curtis saw no problem with this because the two had recently acted together in dual leading roles in The Vikings (1958).
Tivia:
He was a militant anti-smoker, having been a heavy smoker himself for about 30 years. Both Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore credited Curtis with helping them quit smoking cigarettes in the early 1970s, though not cigars.Broke a Hollywood taboo in the 1950s by insisting that an African-American actor, Sidney Poitier, have co-starring billing next to him in the movie The Defiant Ones (1958).From the top of his submarine in Tokyo Bay, using a pair of binoculars, he was able to witness the Japanese surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri, about a mile away. He considered this experience to be one of the highlights of his life.He was buried with some of his favorite possessions--a Stetson hat, an Armani scarf, driving gloves, an iPhone and a copy of his favorite novel, "Anthony Adverse," a book that inspired his celebrity name.Claimed he probably had a sexual addiction. Among his female conquests boasted of in his 2008 memoir was a pre-star Marilyn Monroe who was a very young, pony-tailed redhead during their teenage affair.Father of Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis (with Janet Leigh).In his 80s he spent most of his time painting. Some of his works are a part of a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.Elvis Presley copied his duck-tail hairstyle after seeing it on screen.His favorite movie star was Cary Grant.Recovered from cocaine addiction in the 1980s.Although his effort might have been lost on audiences that could not tell his native Bronx accent from a Boston accent, when he played the title role in The Boston Strangler (1968), he labored to achieve an authentic local accent.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 Antoninus".Serving with F Troop (1965)'s Larry Storch in the U.S. Navy from 1942-45 aboard a submarine tender, he witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from a vantage point 300 yards away. He and Storch have had a lifelong friendship. They appeared together in The Great Race (1965). Storch also co-starred as his roommate/assistant in 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962).In his 2008 autobiography "American Prince: A Memoir" he accused many people he worked with of holding anti-Semitic views.His sixth wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis (since 1998), who was 46 years younger than him, runs a wild-horse refuge.Admitted that he was largely estranged from all six of his children, including Jamie Lee Curtis, one of his children by first wife Janet Leigh.Enjoyed playing the flute for pleasure and relaxation. He was a very accomplished player.He disinherited all of his children from his will and left the bulk of his estate to his wife Jill Vandenberg Curtis.Like many before and after, he changed his name--from Bernard Schwartz--partly in response to the anti-Semitism that was prevalent in the country and in Hollywood when he was first starting out.Appeared in five films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Winchester '73 (1950), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959), Spartacus (1960) and Rosemary's Baby (1968).According to his autobiography, he really desired the lead male role of Paul Varjack in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Director Blake Edwards considered the idea, but the role eventually went to George Peppard.Was the inspiration for and voiced the character Stoney Curtis on an episode of The Flintstones (1960), along with Ann-Margret as Ann Marg-rock.Claimed that his schizophrenic mother was physically abusive and that his father was impassive.Nearly died in hospital from pneumonia at Christmas 2006.Suffered from a fear of flying.Joined the Pacific Submarine Force during World War II after watching his favorite film star, Cary Grant, in Destination Tokyo (1943). Curtis would later team up with Grant to play naval officers serving together on a WW2 submarine in Operation Petticoat (1959).Enjoyed painting and creating shadow boxes. In late 2005 New York City's Museum of Modern Art acquired one of his canvasses for its permanent collection.Lived out his life in Henderson, NV, where he owned a sprawling home perched along Revere Golf Course with a view of the Las Vegas skyline.His brother Julius died after being hit by a truck (1938).Appeared in tourism advertisements for his ancestral homeland Hungary.Father of Nicholas Curtis and Benjamin Curtis (with Leslie Curtis). Nicholas died of seizures on July 2, 1994, due to an overdose of heroin.Suffered from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in his last years.Was a liberal Democrat and attended several of the Democratic National Conventions until his death. He was even a frequent White House guest during the Lyndon B. Johnson and John F. Kennedy Administrations.Appeared in "Sugar", a stage musical based on Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959) . He appeared as millionaire Osgood Fielding III, the character played by Joe E. Brown in the film.He had heart bypass surgery in April 1994.Father of two sons, with Leslie Curtis: Nicholas Curtis (deceased) and Benjamin Curtis.Had 3 years of treatment at the Betty Ford clinic for drink and drugs.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.Got the part in The Great Race (1965) when Charlton Heston had to turn it down due to production delays on The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965).Has stated that Gunga Din (1939) is his favorite film.Although he played Ernest Borgnine's son in The Vikings (1958), he was only eight years his junior in real life.Started a new career as an artist and had his first solo exhibition in Hawaii in mid 1987 earning him over a million dollars.At 14 he was a soprano in a choir.Father of Allegra Curtis and Alexandra Curtis (with Christine Kaufmann).Met Julie Adams and Piper Laurie, when the three were all under contract with Universal in 1949.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.In a 2020 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kim Novak claimed that she woke up without any clothes on after Curtis allegedly spiked her drink at a party.Got the part in The Great Race when Charlton Heston had to turn it down due to production delays on The Agony and the Ecstasy.Was originally considered for one of the leading roles of Lady L (1965).Died a week after Eddie Fisher. |
| Name: |
Tony Curtis |
Type: |
Actor,Producer,Soundtrack (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Actor,Producer,Soundtrack |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Producer,Soundtrack |
| Model rank: |
1141 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 03:04:25 |
| Height: |
5' 9' (1.75 m) |
| Biography: |
Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz, the eldest of three children of Helen (Klein) and Emanuel Schwartz, Jewish immigrants from Hungary. Curtis himself admits that while he had almost no formal education, he was a student of the \"school of hard kn |
| Trivia: |
He was a militant anti-smoker, having been a heavy smoker himself for about 30 years. Both Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore credited Curtis with helping them quit smoking cigarettes in the early 1970s, though not cigars.Broke a Hollywood taboo in the 1950s by insisting that an African-American actor, Sidney Poitier, have co-starring billing next to him in the movie The Defiant Ones (1958).From the top of his submarine in Tokyo Bay, using a pair of binoculars, he was able to witness the Japanese surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri, about a mile away. He considered this experience to be one of the highlights of his life.He was buried with some of his favorite possessions--a Stetson hat, an Armani scarf, driving gloves, an iPhone and a copy of his favorite novel, "Anthony Adverse," a book that inspired his celebrity name.Claimed he probably had a sexual addiction. Among his female conquests boasted of in his 2008 memoir was a pre-star Marilyn Monroe who was a very young, pony-tailed redhead during their teenage affair.Father of Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis (with Janet Leigh).In his 80s he spent most of his time painting. Some of his works are a part of a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.Elvis Presley copied his duck-tail hairstyle after seeing it on screen.His favorite movie star was Cary Grant.Recovered from cocaine addiction in the 1980s.Although his effort might have been lost on audiences that could not tell his native Bronx accent from a Boston accent, when he played the title role in The Boston Strangler (1968), he labored to achieve an authentic local accent.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 Antoninus".Serving with F Troop (1965)'s Larry Storch in the U.S. Navy from 1942-45 aboard a submarine tender, he witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from a vantage point 300 yards away. He and Storch have had a lifelong friendship. They appeared together in The Great Race (1965). Storch also co-starred as his roommate/assistant in 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962).In his 2008 autobiography "American Prince: A Memoir" he accused many people he worked with of holding anti-Semitic views.His sixth wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis (since 1998), who was 46 years younger than him, runs a wild-horse refuge.Admitted that he was largely estranged from all six of his children, including Jamie Lee Curtis, one of his children by first wife Janet Leigh.Enjoyed playing the flute for pleasure and relaxation. He was a very accomplished player.He disinherited all of his children from his will and left the bulk of his estate to his wife Jill Vandenberg Curtis.Like many before and after, he changed his name--from Bernard Schwartz--partly in response to the anti-Semitism that was prevalent in the country and in Hollywood when he was first starting out.Appeared in five films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Winchester '73 (1950), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959), Spartacus (1960) and Rosemary's Baby (1968).According to his autobiography, he really desired the lead male role of Paul Varjack in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Director Blake Edwards considered the idea, but the role eventually went to George Peppard.Was the inspiration for and voiced the character Stoney Curtis on an episode of The Flintstones (1960), along with Ann-Margret as Ann Marg-rock.Claimed that his schizophrenic mother was physically abusive and that his father was impassive.Nearly died in hospital from pneumonia at Christmas 2006.Suffered from a fear of flying.Joined the Pacific Submarine Force during World War II after watching his favorite film star, Cary Grant, in Destination Tokyo (1943). Curtis would later team up with Grant to play naval officers serving together on a WW2 submarine in Operation Petticoat (1959).Enjoyed painting and creating shadow boxes. In late 2005 New York City's Museum of Modern Art acquired one of his canvasses for its permanent collection.Lived out his life in Henderson, NV, where he owned a sprawling home perched along Revere Golf Course with a view of the Las Vegas skyline.His brother Julius died after being hit by a truck (1938).Appeared in tourism advertisements for his ancestral homeland Hungary.Father of Nicholas Curtis and Benjamin Curtis (with Leslie Curtis). Nicholas died of seizures on July 2, 1994, due to an overdose of heroin.Suffered from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in his last years.Was a liberal Democrat and attended several of the Democratic National Conventions until his death. He was even a frequent White House guest during the Lyndon B. Johnson and John F. Kennedy Administrations.Appeared in "Sugar", a stage musical based on Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959) . He appeared as millionaire Osgood Fielding III, the character played by Joe E. Brown in the film.He had heart bypass surgery in April 1994.Father of two sons, with Leslie Curtis: Nicholas Curtis (deceased) and Benjamin Curtis.Had 3 years of treatment at the Betty Ford clinic for drink and drugs.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.Got the part in The Great Race (1965) when Charlton Heston had to turn it down due to production delays on The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965).Has stated that Gunga Din (1939) is his favorite film.Although he played Ernest Borgnine's son in The Vikings (1958), he was only eight years his junior in real life.Started a new career as an artist and had his first solo exhibition in Hawaii in mid 1987 earning him over a million dollars.At 14 he was a soprano in a choir.Father of Allegra Curtis and Alexandra Curtis (with Christine Kaufmann).Met Julie Adams and Piper Laurie, when the three were all under contract with Universal in 1949.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.In a 2020 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kim Novak claimed that she woke up without any clothes on after Curtis allegedly spiked her drink at a party.Got the part in The Great Race when Charlton Heston had to turn it down due to production delays on The Agony and the Ecstasy.Was originally considered for one of the leading roles of Lady L (1965).Died a week after Eddie Fisher. |
| Trademarks: |
Distinctive Bronx accent
Pretty-boy looks
Thick, black hair, with curly forelock
Crooning voice. |
| 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.
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<hr>
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.
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<hr>
What's the secret to a long and happy life? Young women's saliva!
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<hr>
[asked who the most attractive person he ever worked with was] I am.
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<hr>
I wouldn't be seen dead with a woman old enough to be my wife. |
| Salaries: |
Lobster Man from Mars (1989) - $100,000
<br />
<hr>
Black Commando (1982) - $300,000
<br />
<hr>
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) - $150,000
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<hr>
Sextette (1978) - $150,000
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<hr>
Some Like |
| Job title: |
Actor,Producer,Soundtrack |
| Others works: |
(1977) Novel (w/Barry Paris): "Kid Andrew Cody and Julie Sparrow"
(6/02) Stage: Appeared (as "Osgood Fielding III") in "Some Like It Hot" musical by Peter Stone, Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, based on the screenplay by Billy W |
| Spouse: |
Jill Vandenberg Curtis (November 6, 1998 - September 29, 2010) (his death)Lisa Deutsch (February 28, 1993 - August 26, 1994) (divorced)Andria Savio (1984 - 1992) (divorced)Leslie Curtis (April 20, 1968 |
| Children: |
Kelly CurtisAllegra CurtisAlexandra CurtisNicholas CurtisBenjamin CurtisJamie Lee Curtis |
| Parents: |
Emanuel Schwartz
Helen Klein |
| Relatives: |
Raphael Curtis (Grandchild)
Annie Guest (Grandchild) |
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