Tony Curtis
Acting
🎂 1925-06-03
Tony Curtis 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.
Cast credits(209)
Tony Curtis
2000
Self
2007
Self
1962
Self - Guest
2006
Stony Curtis (voice)
1960
1993
Self
1997
Danny Wilde
1971
Self
1998
Self
1981
Self
1968
Roth
1978
Self
1950
Self
1948
Self
1953
Self
1987
Self - Mystery Guest
1950
Self
1984
Self
1948
Self
1974
Self - Guest
1968
Self (archive footage)
2019
Antoninus
1960
Joe (Josephine)
1959
Self - Recipient
1956
Self - Guest
1956
Donald Baumgart (voice) (uncredited)
1968
Peter DiCaprio
1996
Morris
2003
Self
1952
Self (archive footage)
2013
Self
1992
Self (archive footage)
2024
Self (archive footage)
2012
1988
Fernand Morcerf Mondego
1975
Self
1971
Bob Weston
1964
Self
1973
Self (archive footage)
2014
Lieutenant Nicholas Holden
1959
Eric
1958
The Great Leslie
1965
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. / Martin Donner / Dr. Gilbert / Ben. W. Stone / Dr. Joseph Mornay / Robert Boyd Hammnd
1960
Martin N. Fenn
1980
Self
1977
Myles Falworth
1954
John 'Joker' Jackson
1958
Harry Houdini
1953
1969
Flanagan
1981
Cpl. Jackson "Jake" Leibowitz
1963
Cory
1957
Sidney Falco
1957
Bernard Lawrence
1965
Johnny Steele
1994
Self
2009
Albert DeSalvo
1968
Caporal Britt Harris
1958
Alexei Karansky
1978
Self
2003
Joe Martini
1957
Tony Curtis (Ringside Fan)
1999
Self
2012
Self
1987
Randy Brent
1978
Burke
1954
Carlo Cofield
1967
Actor Portraying Maurice or Philippe (uncredited)
1964
Tino Orsini
1956
The Senator
1985
Self
1979
Self
2006
Marvin Lazar
1978
Self
2003
Tony Curtis
1960
Dominic
1995
1966
Doan
1950
Self
1954
Max Schloss
1990
Andrei Bulba
1962
Self
1995
Charles Cartwright
1986
Pete Hammond Jr.
1960
Tony Curtis
1997
Eddie Quaid / Packy Glennon
1955
Mr. Julian
1966
King Fendel
1998
Tom Ferris
1966
Self
1986
Chester Schofield
1969
Dr. Clavius
1983
Giacomo Casanova / Giacomino
1977
Eric (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010
Mr. Cornfield
1988
Julna
1951
Cpl. Paul Hodges
1958
Self (archive footage)
2022
Self
1994
Danny Wilde
1974
Danny Wilde
1974
George Wellington Tracy
1964
Self
1996
Chester Masterson
1981
Mario Galindo
1953
David
1953
Self
1987
1977
Rodriguez
1976
David Wilson
1960
Self
1995
Danny Wilde
1976
Self
2001
Kit Dalton
1950
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2014
Carl Fisher
1993
Johnny Dark
1954
Sam Giancana
1986
Self
1955
Joey Jordan
1973
Charlie
1951
Dave Shaw (voice) (uncredited)
1950
Paul Callan
1952
Joey Hyatt (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Host
2002
Bellboy (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Ira Hamilton Hayes
1961
Mr. Schwartz
2008
Jerry Florea
1955
Himself
2007
Wald
1997
Frank Renzetti
1979
Ben Matthews
1956
Self
2006
Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter
1975
Danny Wilde/Aunt Sophie Schwartz
1979
Archimedes Porter
1989
Self (archive footage)
2006
J.P. Shelldrake
1990
Col. Iago
1982
Captain Jones
1950
Adam Dyer
1970
Alexander Yardley
1992
Blackie
1980
Joey DeLeon
1982
Self
2004
Lenny Star Springer
1998
Self (uncredited)
1971
Brent Coulter (as Anthony Cutis)
1950
Danny Wilde
1973
Mitch (as Anthony Curtis)
1949
Danny Wilde
1975
Self
1988
Nick Johnson
1966
Nick Bonelli
1953
Ernie Stoddard
1983
Self
2001
1985
Gigolo (uncredited)
1949
Kashma Baba
1952
Hector
1986
WIlly La Rouge
1989
Jack Steele
1997
Lucky Bergstrom
1994
Alvah Morrell
1952
Nightclub Patron
1952
Pepe
1950
Parsifal Katzanella-Boden
1984
Shannon Gambroni
1970
McCoy
1975
Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask
1955
David O. Selznick
1980
Self
1956
Bernard (voice)
1998
Harry Erskine
1978
Eddie Darrow
1953
1987
Self
1953
Guerrando da Montone
1967
Self
2010
Self
2001
Steve McCluskey
1962
Copella
1991
Harry Houdini (archive footage) (uncredited)
1982
Aziru / Dr. Mohassid
1993
Organ Grinder
1963
1949
1951
Self
2010
Self
2011
Robert Talbot
1980
Self
2010
Tony
1956
Danny Wilde
2017
Charles Foster
1986
Joe Maxwell
1954
Narrator (voice) / Self
1991
Mr. B
1989
Self
1960
Danny Wilde
1980
Terry Williams
1964
1952
Stephen Moore
1992
Danny Wilde
1977
1952
1954
Baffo
1951