Tony Curtis Biography and Works.

Born in Bernard Schwart, Tony Curtis (June 3, 1925-September 29, 2010) was an American film actor, whose career spanned six decades. He had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and the early 1960s.

He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama. Curtis made numerous television appearances in his later years. His early film roles were partly the result of his good looks. By the later half of the 1950s, he had a notable and strong screen presence. He proved himself to be a ‘fine dramatic actor’, having acted in numerous dramatic and comedy roles.

In the beginning, he acted in a string of ‘mediocre’ films, including swashbucklers, light comedies, sports films, and a musical. However, after this, he starred in Houdini in 1953 with his wife, Janet Leigh.

Critic David Thomson notes it to be ‘his first clear success’. His acting progressed immensely after that.

He won his first serious recognition as a skilled dramatic actor in Sweet Smell of Success in 1957. In 1958, he was nominated for an Oscar for the Best Actor in another drama, The Defiant Ones.

Curtis then gave a performance, what many believe was his best acting, in the comedy film, Some Like It Hot in 1959. It was voted the funniest film in history from a survey done by the American Film Institute.

TRIVIA

Curtis was the father of actresses, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis by his first wife, actress Janet Leigh.