What better way to remember Tony Curtis (who died last night at the age of 85) than by looking back on some of his best moments on screen? His career spanned six decades and yielded some classic American films — none the least of which is the great Billy Wilder comedy Some Like It Hot. Curtis played a musician who runs from the mob by disguising himself as woman in a traveling all-female band. In the clip below, Curtis and costar Jack Lemmon wobble on high heels and drool over Marilyn Monroe.
Before Some Like It Hot, Curtis earned his first and only Oscar nomination for his role in 1958′s The Defiant Ones, opposite Sidney Poitier.
Here’s a brief glimpse of Curtis, enslaved next to Kirk Douglas in 1960′s Spartacus.
And here he is looking noir suave as Sidney Falco in 1957′s The Sweet Smell of Success.
That’s just a sample of Curtis’ best work. What’s your favorite movie of his? (Be sure to check out Life.com’s photo gallery of Curtis’ life and career.)
More Tony Curtis:
Tony Curtis dies at 85
Tony Curtis remembers ‘Some Like It Hot’
“Some like it Hot”, “Spartacus” and “The Sweet Smell of Success” are three of the best movies ever made. And, Tony Curtis played very different characters in each. Truly a legend.
My favorite movie of his is “The Great Race” which I have found not mentioned anywhere.
I agree! It used to be on in regular rotation on the Saturday
Afternoon Matinee when I was a kid and my younger sisters & brother loved it! In fact, we used to quote the movie all the time! “Push the button Max!” Great stuff!! RIP Tony.
I love that film! He and Natalie Wood were perfect!
Oh I remember it. I remember growing up on it. I absolutely love it. It’s another Tony Curtis / Jack Lemmon pairing that I also love. I think I want to watch it now.
It’s gotta stink , that for fifteen years (55-69) Curtis starred in some of the greatest films ever made. And then spend the next forty years living off that success, as _Sextette_ and _Bad News Bears Go to Japan_ indicate. But I now wish I had seen his touring company doing _Some Like It Hot_ live, with Curtis playing Joe E Brown’s role.
I hear what you’re saying, but I feel like his early movies more than make up for whatever craptastic stuff he did later in his career.
RIP to a true legend.
I loved him as Harry Houdini in the 1953 film “Houdini.” He really inhabited that role. I wonder if he identified with the character’s up-from-nothing past.
I agree with you wendy on his role as houdini. He and janet leigh were excellent in that movie. I think he did identify as he played it so well
I was in that touring company of Some Like It Hot with Tony Curtis playing the Joe E Brown role. All I can say is that Tony had the biggest heart, was quick to laugh and smile, was full of life, charm and kindness, and treated everyone with respect. He is one of the classiest men I was fortunate to work with. He will be missed. My prayers to his wife (who is a sweetheart) and his family.
My condolences to his family and friends. I loved his work as an actor,
especially Some Like it Hot. I always laugh at the silliness. To be silly on cue is quite a feat.
I knew him personally and was an amazing man! Even at 80+ his eyes sparkled like a true movie star!
The Great Race is so far my favorite movie of his. It might not be his best performance, but it is definitely my favorite movie that he starred in!!!!
he was sooo hot back in the day.
And don’t forget Taras Bulba! Loved that movie, and loved Tony Curtis. What a wonderful spirit he was. You could see it in his eyes.
Yes, loved this one too!
Wow them in Heaven Tony, the show must go on…
What about the one that he played a Yul Brenners Cossack son. Was it called Tarras Bulba? Havn’t seen it in 30 years.
IMO he was the heart of Spartacus. I saw a recent interview of him and was amazed at how handsome and funny he still was. He will be missed.
The Vikings
His finest performance was in “Sweet Smell of Success” as Sidney Falco. “Match me, Sidney!” But don’t forget Nic Roeg’s “Insignificance”, in which he played a supremely nasty character frighteningly well. Farewell to another legend. There are all too few left.
I loved The Great Impostor as well. To bad the don’t show his movies on tv anymore.