Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx New York, the son of a failed actor turned tailor. His father moved frequently and that led to Schwartz's first foray into acting. He said later in interviews that since he was always the new kid, he was always getting beaten up. He worked out and angle where he'd be the crazy kid on the block, so the other kids wouldn't mess with him - and then went on to work out some "crazy" routines.
It also caused young Bernie Schwartz to escape into the unreal world of the movies; not only for psychological security, but for real physical safety. Back then, for about a dime, you could spend 10 or 12 hours in the movies hanging out in the front row. So that's what Bernie did. It was some where that the roving packs of neighborhood kids wouldn't track him down and beat him up.
Movies would later become Schwartz's escape from poverty. He arrived in LA as a ‘morally unacceptable, uneducated, ill-mannered upstart’. Casting agents liked what they saw enough to overlook the rough edges, and pretty soon he was working regularly in bit roles. He also got a name change. The studios felt his name was too ethnic, so it got anglicized to Antony Curtis. Antony came from the title of his favourite novel Antony Adverse, and Curtis from the name of a favorite uncle.
Curtis went on to become the studio's most popular stars. He stared in such notable films as Some Like It Hot with Jack Lemmon and Marylin Monroe, The Defiant Ones with Sydney Poitier, and Spartacus with Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, and about half the star power in Hollywood at the time. He also garnered more weekly fan mail than any of the competing talent. He was married to Janet Leigh, another studio darling of the day, in what was supposed to be a dream match PR ploy. Curtis was to marry 6 times in all. Among his children is actress Jamie Lee Curits.
As Curtis got older movie roles dried up. That lead to a prolonged battle with depression, booze, and cocaine. It was in one of his frequent bouts of recovery that he took up painting as therapy. He got so good that he began selling his paintings professionally. He even got some critical praise for his work.
Later life was difficult for Curtis. Years of heavy smoking gave him his famous rough voice. It also eventually caused lung disease. Curtis struggled with that for years. It was to leave him in a wheel chair. It also contributed to the heart attack which killed him only recently.
Curtis leaves many to mourn: wife Jill, family, friends, colleagues, and fans throughout the world. His wife made a public statement following the announcement of his death.
