Tony Curtis dies aged 85
Written by admin on September 30, 2010 – 6:15 pm - |
Hollywood legend Tony Curtis died yesterday from cardiac arrest at his home in Henderson, Nevada. He was 85.
Born Bernard Schwartz in Manhattan in 1925, Curtis became one of the biggest movie stars of the 1950s and 1960s, receiving an Oscar nomination for his brilliant performance opposite Sidney Poitier in “The Defiant Ones.” |
“The Defiant Ones” was just one of more than 140 films featuring Tony Curtis, including “Trapeze”, “The Sweet Smell of Success”, “Operation Petticoat”, “The Boston Strangler” and most famously the classic comedy “Some Like It Hot” which co-starred Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon.
Tony Curtis was also a big influence on 1950s teenagers, including a young Elvis Presley who was inspired by the actor’s black pompadour hairstyle. Curtis became aware of this and would later joke “Without my hair there would never have been rock ‘n’ roll.”
In his last couple of decades, Curtis spent much of his time painting and he turned this into a very successful second career, commanding more than $50,000 a canvas. He was also passionate about the Shilon Horse Rescue and Sanctuary which he started with his wife Jill.
Fellow screen icon Kirk Douglas told Entertainment Weekly:
| “This is a personal loss for me. Tony and I were two Jewish kids from poverty-level families who could not believe our luck in making it as big Hollywood stars. We had a lot in common, and shared a warm friendship and many adventures both on and off the screen for more than half a century.” |
Tony’s daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, said:
| “My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world.” |
Tony Curtis’ Memorial Service will be held on Monday, October 4 at 11am at the Palm Mortuary on Eastern Blvd in Las Vegas, NV. It will be open to the public.
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Posted in Obituaries |
