Tony Curtis.

Bernard Schwartz

Tony Curtis — Actor

Born 3 Jun 1925 Manhattan, United States

Died 29 Sep 2010 Henderson, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 101 yr If Living

18 min read

Reading time

3,466

Words

Feb 23, 2026

Published

201

Film credits

4

Books

11

Awards

TL;DR

Tony Curtis witnessed the Japanese surrender from Tokyo Bay in 1945 while serving in the Navy, an experience he called a highlight of his life. He went from poverty in Manhattan to Hollywood stardom, starring in Some Like It Hot 1959 and Spartacus 1960. Curtis broke racial taboos by insisting Sidney Poitier receive equal billing in The Defiant Ones 1958. He was married six times and fathered six children, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

Identity & family.

KIN · 11

Names, aliases, and relatives of Tony Curtis — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Bernard Schwartz

Nicknames Boinie

Aliases Anthony Curtis, James Curtis

PARENTS: Helen Klein Emanuel Schwartz
SPOUSES: Jill Vandenberg Curtis Lisa Deutsch Andria Savio Leslie Curtis Christine Kaufmann Janet Leigh
CHILDREN: Kelly Curtis Jamie Lee Curtis Allegra Curtis

At a glance.

STATS

Tony Curtis by the numbers — life, work, and family.

85 Years lived

201 Film credits

4 Books

11 Awards

6 Marriages

3 Children

Who was Tony Curtis?

BIOGRAPHY

Tony Curtis — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, in Manhattan’s Lower East Side to Helen Klein and Emanuel Schwartz, Jewish immigrants from Hungary. The family lived in poverty; his father worked as a tailor. In 1935, financial strain forced his parents to temporarily place Curtis and his younger brother Julius in an orphanage. Weeks later they were reclaimed, but the experience taught Curtis self-reliance. Tragedy struck in 1938 when Julius was killed by a truck. Curtis enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving on the submarine tender USS Proteus. He witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from the deck of his ship in 1945, a moment he later called a highlight of his life. After discharge, the GI Bill enabled him to study acting at the Dramatic Workshop in New York.

Career

Curtis’s first notable film role was a two-minute part in Criss Cross 1949, dancing with Yvonne De Carlo, which led to typecasting as a heavy. He gained attention in Winchester ’73 1950 alongside James Stewart. Curtis sought socially relevant roles, starring in The Defiant Ones 1958 with Sidney Poitier, for which he insisted Poitier receive equal billing. He played a slave in Spartacus 1960 opposite Kirk Douglas, despite advice against the subordinate role. He starred in the comedy Some Like It Hot 1959. He also appeared in Sweet Smell of Success 1957 and The Great Race 1965.

Personal life

Curtis married six times. His first marriage to Janet Leigh on June 4, 1951, produced daughters Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis; they divorced in 1962. He wed Christine Kaufmann in 1963, with whom he had Allegra and Alexandra; they divorced in 1968. Subsequent marriages to Leslie Curtis 1968–1982, Andria Savio 1984–1992, Lisa Deutsch 1993–1994, and Jill Vandenberg 1998–2010 followed. He struggled with cocaine addiction in the 1980s and underwent treatment at the Betty Ford Center. Curtis was an accomplished painter; his works are held by the Museum of Modern Art. He was a militant anti-smoker and helped Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore quit cigarettes.

Legacy

Five of Curtis’s films are in the National Film Registry: Winchester ’73 1950, Sweet Smell of Success 1957, Some Like It Hot 1959, Spartacus 1960, and Rosemary’s Baby 1968. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the David di Donatello Award for Lifetime Achievement. Elvis Presley copied Curtis’s duck-tail hairstyle. Curtis broke racial barriers by demanding joint billing for Sidney Poitier in The Defiant Ones. His career spanned genres and left a mark on classic cinema.

Filmography.

FILMS · 201

Browse the complete filmography of Tony Curtis — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

2000
TV

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962
TV

The Graham Norton Show

2007
TV

Curb Your Enthusiasm

2000
TV

The Flintstones

1960
TV

Lois & Clark: the New Adventures of Superman

1993
TV

People's Choice Awards

1975
TV

The Dick Cavett Show

1968
TV

Vega$

1978
TV

Bambi

1948
TV

Dinah!

1974
TV

Sacrée Soirée

1987
TV

What's My Line?

1950
TV

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948

Could not load more credits.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 9

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Tony Curtis — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Henrietta Award
Bambi Award
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Golden Globe Awards
Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Sitges Grand Honorary Award
David di Donatello Award for Lifetime Achievement

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 4

Tony Curtis's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

The Making of "Some Like It Hot"

by Tony Curtis et al.
Amazon

American Prince

by Tony Curtis
Amazon

Tony Curtis

by Tony Curtis
Amazon

Kid Andrew Cody & Julie Sparrow

by Tony Curtis

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 22

A wall of memorable lines from Tony Curtis — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

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.
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.
What’s the Secret to a Long and Happy Life? Young Women’s Saliva!
I Wouldn’t Be Seen Dead with a Woman Old Enough to Be My Wife.
I Had to Be Careful Where I Went Because I Was a Jew, Because I Was Young and Because I Was Handsome. It Made Me Wiry and Erratic and Paranoid, Which Is What I Still Am. Always on Guard.
Hollywood . . . the Most Sensational Merry Go Around Ever Built.
Comedy Is the Most Honest Way for an Actor to Earn His Living. People Would Rather Laugh Than Cry. the Quickest Way to Change Drama into Comedy Is Simply to Speed up the Film.
Fame Is Another Profession. I Feel That I Have Two Professions, I Have the Profession of Being an Actor and I Have the Profession of Being Famous.
I Was 22 When I Arrived in Hollywood in 1948. I Had More Action Than Mount Vesuvius Men, Women, Animals! I Loved It Too. I Participated Where I Wanted to and Didn’t Where I Didn’t. I’ve Always Been Open About It.
My Father Was a Tailor. I Used to Deliver for Him. I’d Have to Hold the Clothes up High to Keep Them from Dragging on the Ground.
Well, on the One Hand You Could Say I Was Tremendously Blessed, on the Other I Was Definitely Cursed.
Look. I’m so Privileged to Be Alive in This Studio That Happens to Be Mine. I’m 83 Years Old and I’m Still a Factor in This World, I Still Contribute Wherever I Go. It’s Astounding. I Could Have Been a Politician or a Brain Surgeon. but I Didn’t Have an Education, so There Wasn’t Anything I Could Do but Get into the Movies. And, Boy, Did I Ever. to Burst into the Movies Like I Did. Isn’t That Neat?
Early on I Decided I Didn’t Want to Be Known as a Mere Actor. I Wanted to Feel Like a Star. I Wanted to Get My Footprints in Hollywood on the Sidewalk, Which I Got. I Wanted to Be on the Cover of All the Magazines and Go to Parties in a Limousine with a Beautiful Girl. I Did All of That and More. and I Appreciate It. Every Day I’m Reminded of Who I Am. People Stop Me in the Street All the Time. Women Love to See Me and I Love to See Them. I Have an Affinity for Women, You Know.
I Was the Best Looking Kid in Town. It’s Not What You Have but What You Do with It That Counts.
I Became Great Friends with All My Co Stars. with Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Jack Lemmon and Cary Grant . . . Cary Grant . . . Cary Grant. He Could Have Picked Anyone, but He Allowed Me the Privilege to Be in the Movie with Him. Jesus. to Be in a Movie with Cary Grant. Meeting Him Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me. He Was the Reason Why I Wanted to Get into the Movies and That Is All I Ever Wanted.
It’s Rather Nice Not to Be Waiting for a Script to Come Through the Door, and Even If It Did, I Would Turn It Down.
I Just Wanted to Be Treated Like Anybody Else. There Was a Lot of Opposition to Me During the Early Years of Movies. It Had an Effect on Me. I Don’t Feel Like I Got the Movies I Should’ve Gotten. I Felt I Deserved More Than That the Industry Had Given Me. I Felt I Should Have Been Considered More, with a Little More Respect from the Screen Actors Guild and the Academy. I Don’t Feel Like I Contributed What I Wanted to Contribute in the Movies.
One of the Big Reasons I Started Using Cocaine Was That I Was Told It Was Great for Sex. It Didn’t Make Me Superhuman in the Longevity Department, but It Certainly Did Make My Sexual Experiences More Intense.
They Are All Dead Now; Cary Grant, Jack Lemmon, Frank Sinatra, All My Hollywood Friends. Sometimes I Feel so Lonely. Actors Today Achieve Nothing nor Do They Have Any Glamour. They Seem More Interested in Adopting Babies Than Films. All the Films Are Terrible, Too, Because the Scripts Are so Bad and There Are No Decent Filmmakers.
I Was Resented and Hated Because I Was so Good Looking and Jewish. It’s True. This Is Not Paranoia. I Think That Because of the Iraq War, Anti Semitism Is on the Increase Again.
Don’t Listen to Them When They Say Don’t Drink, or Drink Very Little, Don’t Smoke, Don’t Eat Too Much, Don’t Eat Badly, Don’t Get Fat, Don’t Get Ugly, and Pissed off That Life Is Passing You By. There’s No Such Animal, My Friend.
Here in America, You Have to Die Before They Say Something Nice About You.

Did you know?

FACTS · 48

Little-known facts about Tony Curtis — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

He broke a Hollywood taboo in the 1950s by insisting Sidney Poitier receive co-star billing in The Defiant Ones 1958.
A militant anti-smoker after quitting a 30-year habit, he helped Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore stop smoking cigarettes in the early 1970s, though cigars were unaffected.
He focused on painting in his 80s; some of his works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Witnessing the Japanese surrender from his submarine tender in Tokyo Bay in 1945, he called it a highlight of his life.
He recovered from cocaine addiction in the 1980s after treatment at the Betty Ford Center.
For his title role in The Boston Strangler 1968, he worked hard to perfect a Boston accent despite his Bronx roots.
Cary Grant was his favorite movie star.
Buried with him were a Stetson hat, an Armani scarf, driving gloves, an iPhone, and a copy of Anthony Adverse, the novel that inspired his stage name.
He was father to Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis with Janet Leigh.
In his 2008 memoir American Prince, he claimed a teenage affair with a pre-fame Marilyn Monroe and admitted to possible sexual addiction.
Since re-dubbing the bath scene in Spartacus 1960 with Laurence Olivier, he would holler Oh Tony … it’s Antoninus whenever he encountered Anthony Hopkins.
Serving with Larry Storch in the Navy from 1942-45, he witnessed the Japanese surrender from 300 yards away. They maintained a lifelong friendship and appeared together in The Great Race 1965.
Elvis Presley copied his duck-tail hairstyle after seeing it on screen.
Five of his films are part of the National Film Registry: Winchester ’73 1950, Sweet Smell of Success 1957, Some Like It Hot 1959, Spartacus 1960, and Rosemary’s Baby 1968.
He admitted being largely estranged from all six of his children, including Jamie Lee Curtis.
According to his autobiography, he desired the lead male role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s 1961, but it went to George Peppard.
He joined the Pacific Submarine Force after watching Cary Grant in Destination Tokyo 1943 and later teamed with Grant in Operation Petticoat 1959.
He nearly died from pneumonia in hospital at Christmas 2006.
In his 2008 autobiography American Prince, he accused many colleagues of holding anti-Semitic views.
He enjoyed playing the flute for pleasure and relaxation and was an accomplished player.
He changed his name from Bernard Schwartz partly due to anti-Semitism in Hollywood.
He inspired and voiced the character Stoney Curtis on an episode of The Flintstones 1960.
He had three years of treatment at the Betty Ford clinic for drink and drugs.
His brother Julius died after being hit by a truck in 1938.
He claimed his schizophrenic mother was physically abusive and his father was impassive.
He appeared in tourism advertisements for his ancestral homeland Hungary.
He lived out his life in Henderson, Nevada, owning a home overlooking Revere Golf Course with a view of the Las Vegas skyline.
He suffered from a fear of flying.
In a 2020 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kim Novak claimed he allegedly spiked her drink at a party, leading to her waking up without clothes.
His sixth wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis, whom he married in 1998, runs a wild-horse refuge.
He disinherited all of his children from his will and left the bulk of his estate to his wife Jill.
Enjoyed painting and creating shadow boxes; in late 2005, New York City’s Museum of Modern Art acquired one of his canvases for its permanent collection.
He was father to Nicholas and Benjamin Curtis with Leslie Curtis; Nicholas died of a heroin overdose in 1994.
At 14, he was a soprano in a choir.
He appeared in the stage musical Sugar, based on Some Like It Hot, playing Osgood Fielding III originally played by Joe E. Brown.
He got the part in The Great Race 1965 when Charlton Heston had to turn it down due to production delays.
He suffered from COPD in his last years.
He had heart bypass surgery in April 1994.
He and his wife Jill planned to move to Shiloh Horse Rescue sanctuary near Sandy Valley, but his health prevented it.
Although he played Ernest Borgnine’s son in The Vikings 1958, he was only eight years his junior.
He started wearing a toupee in his 40s and later a full wig; The Mirror Crack’d 1980 is one of the few later films where he doesn’t wear one.
He started a new career as an artist in 1987, earning over a million dollars from his first solo exhibition in Hawaii.
He stated that Gunga Din 1939 is his favorite film.
He was a liberal Democrat and attended several Democratic National Conventions; he was a frequent White House guest during the LBJ and JFK administrations.
He made a literary cameo in Matt Whyman’s novel Man or Mouse, in which the main character emails Curtis with love problems.
He was father to Allegra and Alexandra Curtis with Christine Kaufmann.
He met Julie Adams and Piper Laurie when all three were under contract with Universal in 1949.
He wrote a novel, Kid Andrew Cody and Julie Sparrow, published in 1978.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 44

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Tony Curtis.

When was Tony Curtis born?

Tony Curtis was born on June 3, 1925. His birth name was Bernard Schwartz, and he was born in Manhattan, New York City.
Where was Tony Curtis born?

He was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. His family lived in the Lower East Side, and he grew up in poverty.
When did Tony Curtis die?

Tony Curtis died on September 29, 2010. He was 85 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Tony Curtis when he died?

He was 85 years old when he passed away. He was born in 1925 and died in 2010.
Where did Tony Curtis die?

He died in Henderson, Nevada, USA. He had lived there in a home overlooking Revere Golf Course.
How did Tony Curtis die?

The cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest. He died at his home in Henderson, Nevada.
What was Tony Curtis's real name?

His birth name was Bernard Schwartz. He changed it to Tony Curtis, inspired by the novel Anthony Adverse and a cousin named Janush Kertiz.
What did Tony Curtis do for a living?

He worked as an actor, producer, and soundtrack artist, with a film career from the 1940s to the 2000s.
What nationality was Tony Curtis?

He was an American citizen. He was born in the United States to Hungarian Jewish immigrant parents.
What language did Tony Curtis speak?

His native language was Hungarian. He learned English later, but Hungarian was spoken in his childhood home.
Who were Tony Curtis's parents?

His parents were Helen Klein and Emanuel Schwartz. Both were Jewish immigrants from Hungary.
Who was Tony Curtis married to?

He was married six times: to Janet Leigh, Christine Kaufmann, Leslie Curtis, Andria Savio, Lisa Deutsch, and Jill Vandenberg Curtis. His longest marriage was to Janet Leigh from 1951 to 1962.
Did Tony Curtis have children?

Yes, he had six children: Kelly Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alexandra Curtis, Allegra Curtis, Benjamin Curtis, and Nicholas Curtis. He was largely estranged from all of them.
Where did Tony Curtis go to school?

He attended Seward Park High School, City College of New York, and The New School. He also studied at the Dramatic Workshop after his Navy service.
What awards did Tony Curtis win?

He won two Henrietta Awards, two Bambi Awards, Golden Globe Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Sitges Grand Honorary Award, and the David di Donatello Award for Lifetime Achievement, among others.
How many awards did Tony Curtis win?

From the source record, he received at least 11 major awards, including multiple Henrietta and Bambi Awards. He also earned military medals for his WWII service.
What was Tony Curtis best known for?

His film roles include Some Like It Hot 1959, Spartacus 1960, The Defiant Ones 1958, and Sweet Smell of Success 1957. He also appeared on TV shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
How tall was Tony Curtis?

He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, which is 1.75 meters. His height was typical for leading men of his era.
What was Tony Curtis's nickname?

His nickname was Boinie. It was a childhood nickname.
What aliases did Tony Curtis use?

He used the aliases Anthony Curtis and James Curtis. These may have been stage names or pseudonyms for specific projects.
Did Tony Curtis serve in the military?

Yes, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He was on the submarine tender USS Proteus and witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
What was Tony Curtis's first notable film role?

His first notable role was a two-minute part in Criss Cross 1949, where he danced with Yvonne De Carlo. It led to typecasting as a heavy.
Did Tony Curtis break racial barriers?

Yes, in the 1950s he insisted that African-American actor Sidney Poitier receive co-star billing in The Defiant Ones 1958. This broke a Hollywood taboo.
Was Tony Curtis married to Janet Leigh?

Yes, he married Janet Leigh on June 4, 1951. They had two daughters, Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis, and divorced on September 14, 1962.
How many times was Tony Curtis married?

He was married six times. His wives were Janet Leigh, Christine Kaufmann, Leslie Curtis, Andria Savio, Lisa Deutsch, and Jill Vandenberg Curtis.
Did Tony Curtis have a cocaine addiction?

Yes, he recovered from cocaine addiction in the 1980s. He also underwent treatment at the Betty Ford Center for drink and drugs.
What did Tony Curtis think of Anthony Hopkins?

After Anthony Hopkins voiced Laurence Olivier’s re-dubbed lines in Spartacus, Curtis would holler ‘Oh Tony … it’s Antoninus’ whenever he encountered Hopkins, referencing their scene.
Did Tony Curtis influence Elvis Presley?

Yes, Elvis Presley copied his duck-tail hairstyle after seeing it on screen. This shows Curtis’s cultural impact beyond acting.
How many Tony Curtis films are in the National Film Registry?

Five of his films are in the National Film Registry: Winchester ’73, Sweet Smell of Success, Some Like It Hot, Spartacus, and Rosemary’s Baby.
What was Tony Curtis's relationship with his children?

He admitted being largely estranged from all six of his children, including Jamie Lee Curtis. He disinherited them from his will.
Did Tony Curtis ever write a novel?

Yes, he wrote a novel titled Kid Andrew Cody and Julie Sparrow, published in 1978. He also wrote memoirs.
Was Tony Curtis an artist?

Yes, he was an accomplished painter. His works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and his first solo exhibition in Hawaii earned over a million dollars.
What was Tony Curtis's favorite film?

He stated that his favorite film was Gunga Din 1939. He also admired Cary Grant as his favorite movie star.
Did Tony Curtis have a fear of flying?

Yes, he suffered from a fear of flying. This may have affected his travel for film productions.
What was Tony Curtis's political affiliation?

He was a liberal Democrat and attended several Democratic National Conventions. He was a frequent White House guest during the Johnson and Kennedy administrations.
How did Tony Curtis change his name?

He changed his name from Bernard Schwartz to Tony Curtis, partly due to anti-Semitism in Hollywood. The name was inspired by the novel Anthony Adverse and a cousin.
Did Tony Curtis appear in The Flintstones?

Yes, he voiced the character Stoney Curtis on an episode of The Flintstones in 1960. Ann-Margret also appeared as Ann Marg-rock.
What was Tony Curtis's role in The Boston Strangler?

He played the title role in The Boston Strangler 1968. He worked hard to perfect a Boston accent, though his Bronx roots may have been noticeable.
Did Tony Curtis witness the Japanese surrender?

Yes, from the deck of his submarine tender in Tokyo Bay, he saw the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri in 1945. He considered it a highlight of his life.
Was Tony Curtis an anti-smoker?

Yes, after smoking heavily for 30 years, he became a militant anti-smoker. He helped Sir Michael Caine and Sir Roger Moore quit cigarettes in the early 1970s.
What were Tony Curtis's final years like?

He lived in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife Jill. He suffered from COPD and had heart bypass surgery in 1994. He continued painting and died in 2010 at age 85.
How many Tony Curtis films are considered culturally significant?

Five of his films are preserved in the National Film Registry for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant: Winchester ’73, Sweet Smell of Success, Some Like It Hot, Spartacus, and Rosemary’s Baby.
Did Tony Curtis have any famous co-stars?

He acted alongside many legends, including Burt Lancaster, James Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Sidney Poitier, Marilyn Monroe, and Laurence Olivier.
What was Tony Curtis's memoir about?

His 2008 memoir American Prince detailed his life, including affairs, addictions, and accusations of anti-Semitism in Hollywood. He also claimed a teenage affair with Marilyn Monroe.

View all 44 questions View fewer questions

Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on February 23, 2026

Report an issue

If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.

Report an issue