Tony Curtis

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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.

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Movie		Character	Year
	The Lady Gambles	Bellboy (as Anthony Curtis)	1949
	Houdini	Harry Houdini	1953
	Forbidden	Eddie Darrow	1953
	Beachhead	Burke	1954
	The Black Shield Of Falworth	Myles Falworth	1954
	Trapeze	Tino Orsini	1956
	Sweet Smell of Success	Sidney Falco	1957
	Some Like It Hot	Joe (Josephine)	1959
	Operation Petticoat	Lt. (j.g.) Nicholas Holden	1959
	Who Was That Lady?	David Wilson	1960
	The Rat Race	Pete Hammond Jr.	1960
	Spartacus	Antoninus	1960
	Taras Bulba	Andrei Bulba	1962
	Captain Newman, M.D.	Cpl. Jackson 'Jake' Leibowitz	1963
	Goodbye Charlie	George Wellington Tracy	1964
	The Boston Strangler	Albert DeSalvo	1968
	Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies	Chester Schofield	1969
	You Can't Win 'Em All	Adam Dyer	1970
	The Count of Monte-Cristo	Fernand Morcerf Mondego	1975