Actor and artist, Tony Curtis passed away this morning at his home in Henderson, at the age of 85.
From the Las Vegas Sun: Tony Curtis, who defiantly worked to mold himself from a 1950s movie heartthrob to a respected actor with such films as "Sweet Smell of Success," "The Defiant Ones" and "Some Like It Hot," has died. He was 85.
The Oscar-nominated actor died about 9:25 p.m. PDT Wednesday at his Henderson, Nev., home of a cardiac arrest, Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy said Thursday.
Reflecting a determined streak that marked other areas of his life, Curtis began with frivolous movies that exploited his handsome physique and appealing personality but then steadily moved to more substantial roles, starting in 1957 in the harrowing show business tale "Sweet Smell of Success."
In 1958, "The Defiant Ones" brought him an Academy Award nomination as best actor for his portrayal of a white racist escaped convict handcuffed to a black escapee, Sidney Poitier. The following year, he donned women's clothing and sparred with Marilyn Monroe in one of the most acclaimed film comedies ever, Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot."
His first wife was actress Janet Leigh of "Psycho" fame; actress Jamie Lee Curtis is their daughter.
Curtis struggled against drug and alcohol abuse as starring roles became fewer, but then bounced back in film and television as a character actor.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/30/actor-tony-curtis-dies-at-las-vegas-area-home/
Curtis was proud of living and calling Las Vegas his home. R.I.P. Tony.
I got to meet him a few years ago, and blogged about it just a few weeks ago. Lovely man & fabulous actor.
ReplyDeletehttp://getnickt.blogspot.com/2010/07/tony-curtis-meeting-in-desert.html