Tony Curtis' Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Vega$ Philip Roth The Persuaders! (UK) Danny Wilde Shaft Clifford Gr… Bracken's World Tony Curtis Private Screenings Tony Curtis Clive Anderson All Talk (UK) Tony Curtis Film Night (UK) Tony Curtis Hollywood Babylon Host McCoy McCoy

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

Bernard Schwartz, better known as Tony Curtis, was born in the Bronx and started his career at the movies in 1949 coming from the theatre using at first James Curtis and later Anthony Curtis as names. He always tried to work in various genres in order to avoid being typecast. In the genre of comedy one has to mention e.g. Goodbye Charlie (1964) and at the adventures e.g. The Vikings (1958). That he is also able to play more complex and psychological roles he showed in The Boston Strangler (1968). Curtis also produced some movies and appeared after 1973 several times in different TV productions. His daughter Jamie Lee Curtis with his first wife Janet Leigh has followed her father successfully into the movie business.


TRIVIA:

• Was the inspiration for, and voice of, the character "Stoney Curtis" in _"The Flintstones" (1960)_ (qv).
• He enjoys playing the flute for pleasure and relaxation. He is a very accomplished player.
• Recovered from a cocaine addiction in the 1980s.
• He is a militant anti-smoker. Both Sir 'Michael Caine (I)' (qv) and Sir 'Roger Moore (I)' (qv) have credited Curtis with helping them quit smoking cigarettes in the early 1970s, though not cigars.
• Enjoys painting and creating "shadow boxes" of art objects. In late 2005, the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY) acquired one of his canvasses for its permanent collection.
• He has two adopted sons.
• Claims that his mother was physically abusive and that his father was impassive.
• Admits that he is largely estranged from all five of his children, including actress 'Jamie Lee Curtis' (qv), one of his children by first wife 'Janet Leigh' (qv).