Tony Curtis: 1925-2010

Tony Curtis climbed from a harsh childhood in the Bronx to the very peak of Hollywood stardom. Born in 1925 to a pair of Jewish Hungarian immigrants, his given name was Bernard Schwartz. While mental illness and tragedy haunted his youth, he found refuge in acting after World War II. Arriving in Hollywood in 1948, he adopted a new name but never lost his New York accent or attitude. Throughout the '50s and '60s, Curtis appeared in a wide range... more 

Tony Curtis climbed from a harsh childhood in the Bronx to the very peak of Hollywood stardom. Born in 1925 to a pair of Jewish Hungarian immigrants, his given name was Bernard Schwartz. While mental illness and tragedy haunted his youth, he found refuge in acting after World War II. Arriving in Hollywood in 1948, he adopted a new name but never lost his New York accent or attitude. Throughout the '50s and '60s, Curtis appeared in a wide range of classic films. He co-starred alongside legendary actors like Burt Lancaster, Sidney Poitier, Kirk Douglas, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. He also worked with some of the greatest directors of all time, including Billy Wilder and Stanley Kubrick. Click ahead to see Curtis' most memorable roles. less