The Five Lives Of Tony Curtis: From Hollywood Heartthrob To Controversial Artist

Tony Curtis remains one of Hollywood’s most fascinating and complex figures, a man whose career trajectory was as dramatic as his personal life. Even today, in late December 2025, the legacy of the actor born Bernard Schwartz continues to be re-examined, driven by ongoing interest in classic cinema and the enduring controversy surrounding his final years and estate. From his early days as a studio-groomed heartthrob to his later, critically acclaimed dramatic roles and his surprising second career as a visual artist, Curtis was a master of reinvention, a talent that allowed him to span six decades in the entertainment industry. His story is a powerful reminder that behind the silver screen glamour lay a deeply complicated man.

The conversation around Curtis has been revitalized by recent retrospectives, such as one at MoMA, which celebrate his versatility and undeniable charm, particularly in seminal films like Some Like It Hot and The Defiant Ones. However, any look back at the star is incomplete without confronting the later-life decisions that created a painful rift with his children, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, a controversy that continues to shadow his public memory. This deep dive explores the many layers of the man who captivated millions, detailing his life, his art, and the shocking family drama that played out after his death.

Tony Curtis: A Comprehensive Profile and Biography

Born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx, New York, Tony Curtis overcame a challenging, impoverished childhood to become one of the most recognizable faces of the Golden Age of Hollywood. His journey from a Jewish-Hungarian immigrant background to international stardom is the quintessential American success story, though his personal struggles often mirrored the complexity of his on-screen roles.

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• Full Name: Bernard Schwartz
• Born: June 3, 1925, in The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
• Died: September 29, 2010 (aged 85), in Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
• Spouses:
  • Janet Leigh (m. 1951; div. 1962)
  • Christine Kaufmann (m. 1963; div. 1968)
  • Leslie Allen (m. 1968; div. 1982)
  • Andrea Savio (m. 1984; div. 1992)
  • Lisa Deutsch (m. 1993; div. 1994)
  • Jill Vandenberg Curtis (m. 1998)
• Children: Six, including Kelly Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Allegra Curtis, Alexandra Curtis, Nicholas Curtis (deceased), and Benjamin Curtis.
• Notable Films: Some Like It Hot (1959), The Defiant Ones (1958), Spartacus (1960), The Boston Strangler (1968), Sweet Smell of Success (1957).
• Awards: Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Defiant Ones.
• Lesser-Known Career: Prolific painter and assemblage artist.

The Evolution of a Leading Man: From Heartthrob to Serious Actor

Curtis’s early career in the 1950s was defined by his striking good looks and the studio system's efforts to market him as a romantic idol. His breakthrough came with roles that played on his suave, energetic persona, such as in Houdini (1953) and The Black Shield of Falworth (1954). However, he quickly grew tired of the "pretty boy" label and was determined to prove his dramatic range.

The late 1950s marked a pivotal transformation. He delivered a stunning, Oscar-nominated performance opposite Sidney Poitier in The Defiant Ones (1958), playing an escaped convict chained to a Black man in the racially charged South. This role shattered his previous image and established him as a serious dramatic force. He followed this with his most iconic comedic performance as Josephine/Joe in Billy Wilder’s masterpiece, Some Like It Hot (1959), co-starring Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon. His famous line about kissing Monroe, "It was like kissing Hitler," has become a notorious piece of Hollywood lore, although he later expressed regret for the comment.

Curtis continued to challenge himself with darker, more complex roles, most notably as the chilling serial killer Albert DeSalvo in The Boston Strangler (1968). This performance showcased a raw intensity that was a world away from his early swashbuckling roles, cementing his reputation as a versatile and underrated actor. His willingness to embrace varied genres—from the epic scale of Spartacus (1960) to the cynical drama of Sweet Smell of Success (1957)—demonstrated a commitment to his craft that transcended his initial casting as a mere heartthrob.

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The Secret Second Life: Tony Curtis, the Artist Extraordinaire

While his acting career is what made him a household name, Tony Curtis nurtured a deep passion for visual arts that became his "second career" later in life. Starting in the early 1960s, Curtis devoted himself to painting, assemblage, and sketching, finding a new, unscripted form of creative expression. He famously stated that painting became a "way of life" for him, offering a freedom he hadn't always found in the structured world of filmmaking.

His artwork is characterized by bright colors and a bold, expressive style, often featuring still lifes, landscapes, and abstract pieces. Unlike many celebrity artists, Curtis achieved significant commercial success and critical recognition in the art world. His paintings and assemblages were exhibited in galleries across the globe, and his work commanded respectable prices, proving that his artistic pursuits were more than just a hobby. This artistic endeavor offered him a creative outlet during periods when his film career slowed down, providing a vital sense of purpose and identity outside the Hollywood machine.

The Controversial Final Act: The Will and the Estrangement

Perhaps the most enduring and painful aspect of Tony Curtis's legacy is the public drama surrounding his final will and his relationship with his six children. Curtis had a famously tumultuous personal life, marrying six times. His first marriage to actress Janet Leigh produced two daughters, Kelly and the globally famous Jamie Lee Curtis.

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In the months leading up to his death in 2010, Curtis redrew his will and trust, making a shocking decision: he explicitly cut out all five of his surviving children, leaving his entire estate to his sixth wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis. This included his valuable art collection, which was estimated to be worth millions. The move was a devastating blow to his children, who publicly expressed their heartbreak and confusion.

The will's provisions led to a bitter legal dispute, with his children alleging that their father was the victim of "undue influence" and that he was frail and mentally compromised when the changes were made. Jamie Lee Curtis, who has spoken candidly about her often-absent father, was among those who were deeply affected by the final snub. The controversy highlighted the deep estrangement that had existed between Curtis and his children for much of their lives, a sad counterpoint to the dazzling public persona he cultivated. While the legal battles eventually subsided, the emotional scars remain a major part of the narrative surrounding the Hollywood icon, offering a sobering look at the private turmoil of a public figure.

Tony Curtis’s life was a study in contrasts: the handsome star who fought for serious roles, the film icon who found solace in painting, and the charismatic leading man whose final act was marked by a deeply personal and public family rift. His work endures on screen, but his complex human story—filled with ambition, heartbreak, and unexpected artistic passion—ensures that the name Tony Curtis will continue to spark debate and fascination for generations to come.