Tony Curtis Biography
The life of Bernard Schwartz was one that depicted a rise from rags to the highest level of riches, known to the world as Tony Curtis, this actor graced entertainment screen for over sixty years and his works exhibited pure talent and versatility that made him enjoy success in over one hundred productions.
The story of Tony Curtis traces back to the neighbourhood of Bronx, New York, USA where he was born to Helen Klein and Emanuel Schwartz on June 3 1925. His parents had left their home country of Hungary to come to the US in pursuit of the American dream only to find that life was no different from where they were running from. Early life for Curtis was hard since the Schwartz family was only fluent in their native dialect and with no legal papers to work in the US or any job skills to talk of Helen Klein and Emanuel Schwartz had to make do with odd jobs by exploitative bosses.
The family’s lacking was so great that food was a luxury, they had to live with only a pair of clothes and home was a tiny storage room offered by Curtis’ parents’ employers. With no money to spare for education Curtis wound up on the streets of Bronx hanging out with violent and criminal groups. He stated that the move in his life was as a result of depression from the loss of his only sibling soon after coming to the US, also in order to escape from the chains of poverty and make a quick buck Curtis opted to deal in drugs.
After spending most of his teenage hood in a reckless life Curtis was pulled to the show business at the age of 23, with an idea to make it big in film he relocated to Hollywood. In 1949 Curtis got his first role in Criss Cross, well, the role was minor and the film did not make it to the top of movie charts, he continued in film despite not having any success. In 1957 Curtis was cast alongside established actor Burt Lancaster for the film Sweet Smell of Success, this proved to be the break he was waiting for and with the film’s high reviews and his appearance with an accomplished actor like Lancaster Curtis set his name on the movie scene as a talented and comical act.
Curtis went on to feature in films like Who Was That Lady?, Operation Petticoat, Kings Go Forth, The Vikings, The Defiant Ones, The Midnight Story, The Outsider and Spartacus. He also acted on The Rat Race, 40 Pounds of Trouble, The Last Tycoon, London Conspiracy, You Can't Win 'Em All, The Persuaders!, The Count of Monte Cristo and Mission: Monte Carlo.
Close to the time of his death he appeared on Reflections of Evil, Where's Marty?, The Blacksmith and the Carpenter, David & Fatima and The Jill & Tony Curtis Story.
Curtis passed away on September 29 2010 following a heart failure.
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