ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board

Very sad news, R.I.P. Tony.
Tony Curtis Dead At 85 "Some Like it Hot" star and father of Jamie Lee Curtis suffered cardiac arrest. By Gil Kaufman * 27 * 4 * 2 * More » Text Size Decrease Increase From sword-and-sandal epics to the most famous drag show in movie history, Hollywood legend Tony Curtis did it all during his long career on the screen. The actor died on Wednesday in his Las Vegas of cardiac arrest at the age of 85. Though he earned an Oscar nomination for his role as a an escaped convict in 1958's "The Defiant Ones," Curtis is best remembered for his role alongside Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe in Billy Wilder's 1959 comedy classic "Some Like It Hot." A dashing ladies man with a reputation for a wandering eye, Curtis donned women's clothes in the movie to play a jazz musician on the run from the mob who, along with cohort Lemmon, makes the acquaintance of singer Sugar Kane (Monroe). Hilarity ensues. Through more than 140 movies Curtis was the 1950s equivalent of a modern metrosexual, known for his sculpted pompadour hair, dreamy blue eyes and dashing looks, which accompanied what the New York Times described in an obituary as a "dramatically potent combination of naked ambition and deep vulnerability, both likely products of his Dickensian childhood in the Bronx." Curtis, the son of Jewish immigrants from Hungary, was born Bernard Schwartz in Hell's Kitchen, New York, on June 3, 1925. Father Emanuel owned a tailor shop, behind which the family lived in cramped quarters. Mother Helen was a schizophrenic who often beat Curtis and his two brothers. When his parents couldn't provide for their children during the Great Depression, Curtis and one of his brothers were put in a state institution in 1933, and the actor often spoke of the rabid anti-Semitism he suffered when he returned to his old neighborhood. Younger brother Julius died at age 12 after being struck by a car. Following a stint in the Navy during World War II, Curtis began acting lessons in New York and quickly landed a contract with Universal Pictures in 1948, beginning a string of small movie roles that led up to 1952's "No Room for the Groom," in which he first showed off his ace comedic timing. Off screen, Curtis was legendary for his way with women, which resulted in six marriages and liaisons with such Hollywood icons as Monroe and Natalie Wood. His first marriage in 1951 was to actress Janet Leigh, his co-star in 1953's "Houdini," Curtis' first box office hit. Popular, but not taken seriously, Curtis finally gained notice for his acting chops in 1957's "Sweet Smell of Success," which he followed up with "The Defiant Ones," portraying a prisoner who escapes a Southern chain gang while shackled to fellow convict Sidney Poitier. As the civil rights movement was just gaining steam, the sight of the black and white actors chained together was a potent symbol for the nation's upcoming struggles and earned Curtis his only recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He went on to a string of successful starring roles in the late 1950s and 1960s, including "Operation Petticoat," "Spartacus," "The Outsider" and "The Great Race." His career was thrown off track in 1962 when he divorced Leigh — with whom he had daughter Jamie Lee Curtis — after an affair with a 17-year-old German actress named Christine Kaufmann, whom he married the next year. That marriage only lasted five years. Curtis gave it another shot shortly after divorcing Kaufmann in 1968 when he married 23-year-old model Leslie Allen. The 1970s found Curtis retreating to undistinguished roles in TV shows, such as "The Persuaders" and "Vegas," and a few B-movies. An admitted drinker and addict, Curtis went to rehab in 1982 following his divorce from Allen. He continued to pop up in small films and pursue his second love, painting. His final film appearance was in the 2008 indie "David & Fatima," in which he played a character named Mr. Schwartz. * 27 * 4 * 2 * More » | Comment On This Article
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649030/20100930/story.jhtml

Very sad news.To hear the BBC and Sky tell it you'd think that "Some Like it Hot" was the only film he ever made.
RIP

Billy wrote on Sep 30^th, 2010 at 8:32am:

Very sad news.To hear the BBC and Sky tell it you'd think that "Some Like it Hot" was the only film he ever made.
RIP

Yeah, well, it’s the Marilyn Monroe connection, isn’t it? I’m not going to pretend that I’m overly familiar with his film work, but yes, he was surely in many great films. ‘The Vikings’ was a good epic, as was ‘Spartacus’ of course.

Really sad. :( I consider him and others to be in the "second generation" of classic stars {well, maybe third if you want to start really early with Valentino and Jean Harlow, etc}...and they are all aging quickly. I just hate seeing all our iconic actors passing away like this. :(

Sioux wrote on Sep 30^th, 2010 at 8:57am:

There is currently no Golden Generation - that's the sad thing.

Operation Petticoat is a funny movie! I like his comedies best, although The Defiant Ones is great. RIP Tony.

His interviews were always a hoot.

My favourite one was the one he told where he was in a restaurant a few years back and had to go for a pee.

He was standing at the urinal in mid-flow, when the guy next to him looks around at him and says "Are you Tony Curtis?". Our hero responds in the affirmative and smiles politely.

The fan looks down at Tony's knob, looks back up at him and says "Tell me - was THAT really inside Marilyn Monroe?"

Even Tony is by now feeling a bit freaked out and he nervously laughs and says "yes - it was".

There's an embarrassing silence before the guy pipes up...

"Wow - incredible. Mind if I kiss it?"

RIP Tony.

RIP Tony Curtis.

I just bought a set of Marilyn Monroe Hi Ball glasses.

the bloke was a complete legend - very sad to hear of his passing.

'Some Like It Hot' is in my top 10 of all time.

Awesome in "Some like it hot"
Fab in "the great race"

One of my all time fave shows was "The Persuaders". Bloody great stuff!

But can some one tell me the rather trippy movie he was in circa 1967. I could be wrong, but maybe Sharon Tate was in it too. I've only seen it once, and that was many moons ago. But the climax was a house tumbling down a cliff in California. It was like Malibu or something. He was past it, but was clinging on, and i love 60's movies.

A shocker of a father & husband, and frankly, utterly ridiculous in the past 20 years, but one of the last of the stars of the Golden Years of Hollywood.

RIP Bernard Schwartz

Corgi,

I think the movie is called "Don't Make Waves".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwJP2egiL0

FG!

Gazza wrote on Sep 30^th, 2010 at 10:32am:

I think I heard him tell that on Graham Norton just a few years ago...you are right Gazz...TC was a great interviewee!!
A real personality.

RIP TC

Thanks Factory GIrl

Never heard that gag before. I thought he hated Monroe. Didnt he say kissing he was like kissing Hitler?

Just picked up 50th Anniversary Some Like It Hot dvd @ Kmart for $5. :booze

corgi37 wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2010 at 6:16am:

Thanks Factory GIrl

Never heard that gag before. I thought he hated Monroe. Didnt he say kissing he was like kissing Hitler?

He did, but he also said that it was more of a jokey comment which the press took a bit too seriously.

Some like 'em hot: Tony Curtis in New Orleans in 1952
Published: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 5:00 AM
John Kelly, The Times-Picayune

Local members of the Tony Curtis Fan Club turned out to greet their favorite star when he came to town March 10, 1952, to attend the world premier of his film, "Flesh and Fury," at the RKO Orpheum Theater.
Bobby soxers gave an enthusiastic welcome when movie stars Tony Curtis and Jan Sterling arrived here yesterday from Hollywood for the world premier of their film, "Flesh and Fury," at the Orpheum. Particularly in evidence were members of the Tony Curtis Fan Club. Photo shows Curtis being elevated by two of his fans. At right is Miss Sterling. Mar. 11, 1952
Jan Sterling, his co-star, smiles at right as two unidentified "bobby soxers" give Curtis a rousing reception.

Staying at the Roosevelt Hotel, Curtis presided over a meeting of the fan club there which elected Katherine Ahlschier president and Lynn Sansone chairman.

While in town the stars auctioned off a pair of boxing gloves Curtis wore in the film and attended a parade in their honor before appearing at the premier.
Curtis' best roles lay before him, including "Sweet Smell of Success" in 1957 and the classic comedy "Some Like It Hot" in 1959.

Born Bernard Schwartz in New York City in 1925, Curtis attended acting school on the GI Bill of Rights after serving in the Navy during World War II. He was married to actress Janet Leigh from 1951 until 1962 and they had two children, including future actress Jamie Lee Curtis. Tony Curtis married five more times before his death Sept. 29 at the age of 85.

Tony Curtis and Jan Sterling at the world premier of their film, "Flesh and Fury," at the RKO Orpheum Theater March 11, 1952.

Tony Curtis, right, and Jan Sterling, second from right, sign autographs for fans March 10, 1952.

John Kelly can be reached at [email protected]

http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2010/10/some_like_em_hot_tony_curtis_i.html

Just watched "The Defiant Ones". Great movie.

ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board
http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl GENERAL >> MAIN BOARD >> R.I.P. Tony Curtis http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl?num=1285851005 Message started by Honky Tonk Man on Sep 30^th, 2010 at 7:50am