Tony Curtis

Born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925 in New York City, Tony Curtis was a prolific actor whose career spanned six decades. With roles covering a wide range of genres, Curtis acted in over 100 films and in his later years, made numerous television appearances. He achieved his first major recognition as a dramatic actor in Sweet Smell of Success (1957) with co-star Burt Lancaster, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Defiant Ones (1958) alongside Sidney Poitier. Notably, he starred in comedies like Some Like It Hot and was part of the historical drama Spartacus in 1960. Though his film career declined after 1960, he later starred in the critically acclaimed true-life drama The Boston Strangler in 1968. Moreso, Curtis took on notable roles such as the Ukrainian Cossack Andrei in Taras Bulba in 1962 and appeared in the ITC TV series The Persuaders!. Curtis was also an avid painter with a passion for surrealism, with his work recognized in galleries and even the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.