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Tony Curtis 1925 - 2010

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As Jeremy mentioned earlier, Tony Curtis passed away this morning from a cardiac arrest. He was 85 years old. In addition to being the father of Jamie Lee Curtis, Mr. Curtis was a brilliant screen actor with a lengthy motion picture and television career. Curtis was perhaps best known for starring opposite Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot, although it was his performance as a bigoted prison convict in The Defiant Ones opposite Sidney Poitier that garnered him his only Oscar nomination. In the late 1950s and all of the 1960s, he was one of the biggest motion picture stars in America, starring in Spartacus, The Great Race, The Outsider and The Boston Strangler, among others. In the ’70s, he turned to television, and created memorable characters in the shows, “Persuaders,” “McCoy,” and “Vega$.”

His passing was sad, but damn, he had a hell of a life. In addition to his prolific acting career, the man had relationships with Natalie Wood, Marilyn Monroe, and a marriage to Janet Leigh, one of five marriages for Curtis, who leaves behind five children. He also had the good fortune to work with other icons, like Jimmy Stewart, Robert DeNiro, Douglas Sirk, and Stanley Kubrick, among others.

Rest in peace, Mr. Curtis.










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Comments

There it is. LOVE YOU MADLY!

Posted by: coveredinbees at September 30, 2010 1:07 PM

I always thought Curtis looked astonishingly like he could be Ray Liotta's father

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 1:24 PM

One of the greats. And truly one of the best-looking dudes to grace the silver screen.

Posted by: samantha t at September 30, 2010 1:40 PM

"I love you, Spartacus!"

Posted by: jon at September 30, 2010 1:50 PM

He was wonderful. I grew up in that era and always enjoyed his movies. I was very young when I saw "The Defiant Ones" and, no shit, it changed my way of thinking.
He'll be missed but leaves behind a great legacy.

Posted by: Spender at September 30, 2010 1:50 PM

I met him about a year ago- I told him I was a big fan and he asked me what my favorite movie of his was. I told him it was The Black Shield Of Farnsworth. He laughed and said "THAT one?" He was a nice guy. RIP, Mr. Curtis.

Posted by: JFD at September 30, 2010 1:51 PM

Mr. Julien and I say that it is the true test of a movie star if they have at least one classic under their belt. Tony Curtis had several: Some Like It Hot, Sweet Smell of Success, Spartacus, The Defiant Ones . It's quite a resume.

This is how I will remember him. Mostly because this picture hangs in my bathroom -

http://www.edwardcella.com/html/Detail.asp?WorkInvNum=926&whatpage=exhib

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 30, 2010 1:56 PM

RIP, Mr. Curtis. :(

Also, I love Mrs. Julien's picture.

And also, who is . ? Any relation to , ?

Posted by: Anna von Beav at September 30, 2010 2:01 PM

Next to his roles in Spartacus and Operation Petticoat, I'll always remember him best for the 1978 film The Manitou.
That movie scared the mother.fucking.shit. out of me, at the time (I was 11).

Rest in Peace, Tony.

Posted by: Rykker at September 30, 2010 2:02 PM

Just adored him. Sobbing.

Posted by: Cindy at September 30, 2010 2:15 PM

R.I.P., you legend. Now Josephine & Daphne are finally reunited.

Posted by: Snrub at September 30, 2010 2:50 PM

Nothing tops his performance as Stoney Curtis in the Flintstones.
He was doing a movie called 'Slave Boy', and he was going to be their slave for a day.


Posted by: OldSchool60 at September 30, 2010 2:53 PM

He was so, so good in Some Like it Hot.

Posted by: figgy at September 30, 2010 3:15 PM

Will never forgive him for an interview where he shit-talked Marylin Monroe. Maybe it was a case of old people say crazy shit, but still not classy, don't care what actor/actress it is.

Rest in peace, though.

Posted by: Stew at September 30, 2010 3:43 PM

Some Like it Hot is one of the most fantastic movies ever. Godspeed Mr. Curtis.

Posted by: Julie at September 30, 2010 3:57 PM

"Now Josephine & Daphne are finally reunited."

Stop giving me the chill/tears combo, DAMN IT!

Posted by: samantha t at September 30, 2010 3:57 PM

I'm putting The Defiant Ones in my netflix queue now.

Aww. I adored him in Some Like It Hot, and Spartacus. So sad.

Posted by: linny at September 30, 2010 3:59 PM

I agree with the sentiment - what a life, though! It's always sad when a major talent dies, but at the end of a fantastic run? I feel like it's better to say Godspeed and Thank you!

Posted by: replica at September 30, 2010 4:46 PM

Anyone who reads this and has never seen The Boston Strangler, go get your hands on it now. Curtis fought to get that role and at the time everyone thought he was crazy to want it.

Just...go watch it.

Thank you, Mr. Curtis, for your work and for Jamie Lee. RIP.

Posted by: Lefty Mothersbaugh at September 30, 2010 7:23 PM

And the world is little less cool.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at September 30, 2010 7:57 PM

My 12 yo daughter still lists "Some Like it Hot" as her favorite live-action film. It's been at the top of her list since she was seven or eight. When I told her Mr. Curtis was gone, she laid the DVD out on a bit of black paper and made me promise we'd watch it over the weekend. (What can I say? She has a flair for the dramatic!)

Thanks, Tony, for helping me teach my offspring what real comedy and good cinema are all about.

Posted by: autunmwind3 at October 1, 2010 12:18 AM

I believe that the name of the movie was The Black Shield of Falworth.

Posted by: Arkansan at October 1, 2010 9:27 AM