Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
09-30-10 | 05:02 AM
#1
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DVD Talk Limited Edition
Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
Tony Curtis dead at 85
Oscar-nominated actor Tony Curtis has died at age 85, Entertainment Tonight reported Thursday.
Entertainment Tonight said a representative for the actor's daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, confirmed the death but did not provide further details.
Curtis appeared in Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon, and received an Oscar nomination in 1959 for "The Defiant Ones," in which he starred with Sidney Poitier.
Born Bernard Schwartz in New York City on June 3, 1925, Curtis grew up in the city's Bronx section.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and upon his release he returned to New York City to attend acting classes. A contract with Universal Pictures took him to Hollywood, where he made his debut in 1948's "Criss Cross."
The actor appeared in more than 140 major motion pictures, appears on the cover of The Beatles's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club" album and voiced the character "Stony Curtis" on the cartoon "The Flintstones."
Curtis married five times and has six children. His daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, is from first marriage to actress Janet Leigh.
Curtis is survived by his wife, Jill VandenBerg, and his five children.
Entertainment Tonight said a representative for the actor's daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, confirmed the death but did not provide further details.
Curtis appeared in Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon, and received an Oscar nomination in 1959 for "The Defiant Ones," in which he starred with Sidney Poitier.
Born Bernard Schwartz in New York City on June 3, 1925, Curtis grew up in the city's Bronx section.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and upon his release he returned to New York City to attend acting classes. A contract with Universal Pictures took him to Hollywood, where he made his debut in 1948's "Criss Cross."
The actor appeared in more than 140 major motion pictures, appears on the cover of The Beatles's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club" album and voiced the character "Stony Curtis" on the cartoon "The Flintstones."
Curtis married five times and has six children. His daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, is from first marriage to actress Janet Leigh.
Curtis is survived by his wife, Jill VandenBerg, and his five children.
Last edited by Fist of Doom; 09-30-10 at 05:15 AM.
09-30-10 | 05:50 AM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
i'm sure he fucked enough hot women in his lifetime that he died a happy man. i hope i make it to 85.
thanks for SOME LIKE IT HOT, THE MANITOU and Jamie Lee
09-30-10 | 08:50 AM
#7
Moderator
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
Underrated actor throughout his career. My favorite performance of his will always be in Some Like it Hot (a role that really showed off his range).
09-30-10 | 09:48 AM
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From: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's)
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
He should've won an Oscar for The Defiant Ones but since he and costar Sidney Poitier were both nominated, it split the vote.
09-30-10 | 09:51 AM
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09-30-10 | 10:12 AM
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
I was never a fan of his acting style, but he appeared in some great films over his career. He was perfectly cast in Sweet Smell of Success, which for my money is his best performance.
09-30-10 | 10:16 AM
#15
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
If I had to choose one Tony Curtis film to recommend to others out of all of his career, I'd pick THE VIKINGS (1958). I was hoping they'd get the three stars of that (Kirk Douglas, Curtis and Ernest Borgnine) to do a commentary track for the 50th anniversary two years ago. But, no. Curtis is amazingly intense in the film and has a great battle with Kirk on top of a castle tower late in the film (shot on location!). His partner in the film is a black character named Sandpiper (played by Trinidadian actor Edric Connor), who introduces the compass to the Vikings.
The obits will all talk about SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and SOME LIKE IT HOT, worthy films, of course, and two of the highlights of his career. But I would hope people check out some of his lesser known films. Blake Edwards' THE PERFECT FURLOUGH, with Tony, his then-wife Janet Leigh, and Linda Cristal, is a hilarious service comedy and Tony is just great in it. It remains my favorite Blake Edwards film. Then there's HOUDINI, also with Leigh, WHO WAS THAT LADY? with Dean Martin and Leigh, SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL, with Natalie Wood, Lauren Bacall and Henry Fonda, and BOEING, BOEING with Jerry Lewis (based on a play that was revived on Broadway a couple of years ago). Not to mention his early swordfighting movies, THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH, THE PRINCE WHO WAS A THIEF and SON OF ALI BABA.
What a great run he had.
The obits will all talk about SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and SOME LIKE IT HOT, worthy films, of course, and two of the highlights of his career. But I would hope people check out some of his lesser known films. Blake Edwards' THE PERFECT FURLOUGH, with Tony, his then-wife Janet Leigh, and Linda Cristal, is a hilarious service comedy and Tony is just great in it. It remains my favorite Blake Edwards film. Then there's HOUDINI, also with Leigh, WHO WAS THAT LADY? with Dean Martin and Leigh, SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL, with Natalie Wood, Lauren Bacall and Henry Fonda, and BOEING, BOEING with Jerry Lewis (based on a play that was revived on Broadway a couple of years ago). Not to mention his early swordfighting movies, THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH, THE PRINCE WHO WAS A THIEF and SON OF ALI BABA.
What a great run he had.
09-30-10 | 11:39 AM
#19
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
RIP. Another icon from the last generation of Hollywood's "Golden Age" gone.
09-30-10 | 12:24 PM
#20
Senior Member
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
Damn. I always held out hope that some hot-shot young director would give him one last great role to go out on. I get the impression that he wasn't taken seriously by most critics, but he did manage to make a lot of movies I enjoyed in my youth, and can still enjoy today, thanks to DVD.
RIP, Mr. Curtis.
RIP, Mr. Curtis.
09-30-10 | 12:51 PM
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From: Southern Maryland
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
Always liked him in Some Like It Hot but I think he did a great job in Houdini and one you don't hear about much that I really enjoyed was Goodbye Charlie.
09-30-10 | 12:56 PM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
R.I.P. Stoney
09-30-10 | 01:00 PM
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
The Vikings and Trapeze were the movies he reminded me of. I must have seen trapeze about 20 times in 1 week when it was on Million Dollar Movie on tv.
RIP
RIP
09-30-10 | 03:08 PM
#24
Re: Tony Curtis Has Passed Away
Goodbye Charlie is one of those lost gems of the 60s. Remember seeing this at the drive-in when I was a little kid.
