He played a magician in one of his first starring roles- 1953's 'Houdini.'
He teamed with another fave actor of mine- Jack Lemmon- and he won critical acclaim in 1959's 'Some Like It Hot' with blonde sensation Marilyn Monroe and that same year- he got to act next to one of his idols- Cary Grant- in the first film I saw him in at the old Isis Theater at 31st Street and Troost: 'Operation Petticoat.'
I would see him again on the big screen- in 1968 at a Metro Plaza theater playing Albert DeSalvo who was The Boston Strangler.
He had a daughter by one of his wives (he would marry 6 times) Janet Leigh- who would also become an acclaimed actress- Jamie Lee Curtis- as well as another daughter Kelly.
In later life- his paintings won him more honors from the art world.
Born June 3, 1925 as Bernard Schwartz in New York City- he changed his name to Tony Curtis when his acting career took off in the late 1940's after a stint in the U.S. Navy in World War II.
Like many other Hollywood stars from that earlier 'Golden Era-' it is with sadness that I report the passing of Mr. Curtis at his home in the Las Vegas area late Wednesday at the age of 85.
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