Tony Curtis
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Tony Curtis
2000
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Series
What's My Line?
Self
1950
The Johannes B. Kerner Show
Self
1998
Series
Sacrée soirée
Self
1987
Series
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Series
The Flintstones
Stony Curtis (voice)
1960
Series
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Dr. Mamba
1993
Series
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Series
Bambi
Self
1948
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Recipient
1956
Series
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest
1956
Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
Vega$
Roth
1978
Series
Vega$
Roth (uncredited)
1978
Series
Hope & Faith
Morris
2003
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self
1968
Series
People's Choice Awards
Self
1975
Film
Sex and the Single Girl
Bob Weston
1964
Series
The Persuaders!
Danny Wilde
1971
Series
This Is Your Life
Self
1952
Series
The UnXplained
Self (archive footage)
2019
Series
Startime
The Juggler
1959
Series
Suddenly Susan
Peter DiCaprio
1996
Film
Spartacus
Antoninus
1960
Film
Rosemary's Baby
Donald Baumgart (voice) (uncredited)
1968
Film
Some Like It Hot
Joe (Josephine)
1959
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
Series
Bracken's World
1969
Series
The Late Late Show
Self
1962
Series
Roseanne
1988
Please Turn the Page
Self
1977
Series
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self
1973
Series
Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage)
2013
Series
Matin Bonheur
Self
1987
The Rosemary Clooney Show
Self
1956
Series
This Morning
Self
1988
Series
The Dame Edna Experience
Self
1987
Film
The Great Race
The Great Leslie
1965
Film
The Vikings
Eric
1958
Series
The Mrs Merton Show
Self
1995
Film
Paris When It Sizzles
Actor Portraying Maurice or Philippe (uncredited)
1964
Film
Play It to the Bone
Tony Curtis (Ringside Fan)
1999
Series
The Hollywood Greats
Self (archive footage)
1977
Film
Sweet Smell of Success
Sidney Falco
1957
Series
Un film et son époque
Self
2003
Film
The Count of Monte-Cristo
Fernand Morcerf Mondego
1975
Series
Shrink Rap
Self
2007
Series
General Electric Theater
Mario Galindo
1953
Series
General Electric Theater
David
1953
Film
The Defiant Ones
John 'Joker' Jackson
1958
Film
The Mirror Crack'd
Martin N. Fenn
1980
Film
The Prince Who Was a Thief
Julna
1951
Film
The Last Tycoon
Rodriguez
1976
Film
The Boston Strangler
Albert DeSalvo
1968
Film
Operation Petticoat
Lieutenant Nicholas Holden
1959
Film
Captain Newman, M.D.
Cpl. Jackson "Jake" Leibowitz
1963
Film
On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...
Guerrando da Montone
1967
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Charlie
1951
Film
The Perfect Furlough
Paul Hodges
1958
Film
Boeing, Boeing
Bernard Lawrence
1965
Film
Criss Cross
Gigolo (uncredited)
1949
Film
Taras Bulba
Andrei Bulba
1962
Film
Winchester '73
Doan
1950
Film
You Can't Win 'Em All
Adam Dyer
1970
Film
Murder in Three Acts
Charles Cartwright
1986
Film
The Manitou
Harry Erskine
1978
Film
The Black Shield of Falworth
Myles Falworth
1954
Film
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
Son of Ali Baba
Kashma Baba
1952
Film
Don't Make Waves
Carlo Cofield
1967
Film
Monte Carlo or Bust!
Chester Schofield
1969
Film
Houdini
Harry Houdini
1953
Film
40 Pounds of Trouble
Steve McCluskey
1962
Film
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2014
Film
Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball
Wald
1997
Film
Who Was That Lady?
David Wilson
1960
Film
The List of Adrian Messenger
Organ Grinder
1963
Film
From Roger Moore with Love
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
Tom Ferris
1966
Film
The Celluloid Closet
Self
1996
Film
Naked in New York
Carl Fisher
1993
Film
Francis
Captain Jones
1950
Film
Little Miss Marker
Blackie
1980
Film
Trapeze
Tino Orsini
1956
Film
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive footage)
2017
McCoy
McCoy
1975
Film
The Purple Mask
Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask
1955
Film
Goodbye Charlie
George Wellington Tracy
1964
Film
The Rawhide Years
Ben Matthews
1956
Film
The Lady Gambles
Bellboy (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Film
The Rat Race
Pete Hammond Jr.
1960
Film
The Midnight Story
Joe Martini
1957
Film
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Eric (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010
Film
Kings Go Forth
Caporal Britt Harris
1958
Film
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
Marvin Lazar
1978
Film
The Immortals
Dominic
1995
Film
The Great Impostor
Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. / Martin Donner / Dr. Gilbert / Ben. W. Stone / Dr. Joseph Mornay / Robert Boyd Hammnd
1960
Film
Magic with the Stars
Harry Houdini (archive footage) (uncredited)
1982
Film
Six Bridges to Cross
Jerry Florea
1955
Film
Insignificance
The Senator
1985
Film
I Was a Shoplifter
Pepe
1950
Film
Center of the Web
Stephen Moore
1992
Series
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
Tony Curtis
2022
Film
Chamber of Horrors
Mr. Julian (uncredited)
1966
Film
Arrivederci, Baby!
Nick Johnson
1966
Film
Tarzan in Manhattan
Archimedes Porter
1989
Film
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Film
Mister Cory
Cory
1957
Film
Lepke
Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter
1975
Film
Casanova & Co.
Giacomo Casanova / Giacomino
1977
Film
Rescued from the Closet
Self
2001
Film
Inmates: A Love Story
Flanagan
1981
Film
Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor
Johnny Steele
1994
Film
Kansas Raiders
Kit Dalton
1950
Film
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
Self
1986
Film
Woman in Hiding
Dave Shaw (voice) (uncredited)
1950
Film
So This Is Paris
Joe Maxwell
1954
Film
Beachhead
Burke
1954
Film
Club Life
Hector
1986
Film
Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever
Bernard (voice)
1998
Film
The Mummy Lives
Aziru / Dr. Mohassid
1993
Film
A Century of Cinema
Self
1994
Film
Lobster Man from Mars
J.P. Shelldrake
1990
Film
The Legend of Marilyn Monroe
1966
Film
Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
Midnight
Mr. B
1989
Film
Wild and Wonderful
Terry Williams
1964
Film
Pictures of Ghosts
Self (archive footage)
2023
Film
No Room for the Groom
Alvah Morrell
1952
Film
Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration
2003
Film
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
Shannon Gambroni
1970
Film
Morceaux de Cannes
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
Sparky's Magic Piano
1987
Film
Sextette
Alexei Karansky
1978
Film
The Outsider
Ira Hamilton Hayes
1961
Film
Louis & Frank
Lenny Star Springer
1998
Film
The Last Appointment!
Danny Wilde
1977
Film
Christmas in Connecticut
Alexander Yardley
1992
Film
The Scarlett O'Hara War
David O. Selznick
1980
Film
The Persuaders!
Danny Wilde
1973
Film
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
1954
Film
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Self
1995
Film
Walter and Carlo in America
WIlly La Rouge
1989
Film
Mission: Monte Carlo
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
1974
Film
City Across the River
Mitch (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Film
Half Nelson
1985
Film
Flesh and Fury
Paul Callan
1952
Film
Forbidden
Eddie Darrow
1953
Film
Johnny Dark
Johnny Dark
1954
Film
Hugh Hefner: American Playboy
Self
2003
Film
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Self
2012
Film
Pepe
Tony Curtis
1960
Film
Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration
Self
1979
Film
Meet Danny Wilson
Nightclub Patron
1952
Film
Elvis Meets Nixon
Tony Curtis
1997
Film
Sierra
Brent Coulter
1950
Film
Title Shot
Frank Renzetti
1979
Film
Portrait of a Showgirl
Joey DeLeon
1982
Film
Allen in Movieland
Self
1955
Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies
2012
Film
The Users
Randy Brent
1978
Film
Where Is Parsifal?
Parsifal Katzanella-Boden
1984
Film
The Square Jungle
Eddie Quaid / Packy Glennon
1955
Film
Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit
Lucky Bergstrom
1994
Film
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel
Self
2009
Film
David & Fatima
Mr. Schwartz
2008
Film
Marilyn at the Movies
Self (archive footage)
2011
Film
The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'
Self
2006
Film
Mafia Princess
Sam Giancana
1986
Film
Thanksgiving Day
Max Schloss
1990
Film
Black Commando
Col. Iago
1982
Film
London Conspiracy
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
1974
Film
Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood
1954
Film
Johnny Stool Pigeon
Joey Hyatt
1949
Film
BrainWaves
Dr. Clavius
1983
Film
Norman Jewison, Film Maker
Self (uncredited)
1971
Film
The Passenger – Welcome to Germany
Mr. Cornfield
1988
Film
The Masqueraders
Danny Wilde
1980
Film
The Third Girl from the Left
Joey Jordan
1973
Film
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
Self
2010
Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten
Self (archive footage)
2006
Film
The All American
Nick Bonelli
1953
Film
The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'
Self
2006
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
Self
1992
Film
Come Back Little Shiksa
1952
Film
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
Robert Talbot
1980
Film
The Continued Adventures of Reptile Man
Jack Steele
1997
Film
Amicalement vôtre : Hollywood au service de sa Majesté
Danny Wilde
2017
Film
The Million Dollar Face
Chester Masterson
1981
Film
Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot
Self
2001
Film
How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
1949
Film
Prime Target
Copella
1991
Hollywood Legenden
Self
2004
Film
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
Self (archive footage)
2012
Film
Tony Curtis on 'Some Like It Hot'
Self
2001
100 Years of the Idiot: A Jerry Lewis Centenary
2026
Film
The Switch
Danny Wilde
1976
A Spot In The Shade
1951
Watch On The Lime
1951
An Eye for an Eye
1952
Film
The World's Most Beautiful Girls
Self
1953
Nightmare
1951
Film
Sporting Chance
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
1975
Film
Banter
Charles Foster
1986
Film
The Re-Inforcer
Tony Boffo
1951
Film
Hollywood sul Tevere
2009
Film
Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box
Narrator (voice) / Self
1991
Film
That's Insignificance
Self
2011
Film
People, Hopes, Medals
Self
1960
Death Becomes Me
Danny Wilde (archive footage)
1979
Fairfax Avenue
1951
Film
Balboa
Ernie Stoddard
1983
Film
The Jill & Tony Curtis Story
2008
Film
Stargames
King Fendel
1998
Nightmare
Tony
1956
Tony Curtis erzählt...
Self
2010
Film
Hollywood Babylon II
Narrator
1992