TCM Honors Tony Curtis’ 100th Birthday! Celebrate With 5 Facts About the Star
Legendary actor Bernard Schwartz, better known as Tony Curtis, would have turned 100 today. He was born in New York City on June 3, 1925 and he died in Henderson, Nevada, on Sept. 29, 2010, at age 85. To celebrate the icon’s centennial, Turner Classic Movies is airing five of his memorable movies, beginning at 8pm ET with Best Director Oscar nominee Billy Wilder‘s classic comedy Some Like It Hot (1959), which costars Best Actor nominee Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe and Joe E. Brown.
Next, Curtis costars with Burt Lancaster in the film noir/satirical drama Sweet Smell of Success (1957), which really should have gotten some Oscar love. Curtis did get an Oscar nod — the only one of his career — for Best Actor in the next film, the Best Picture-nominated drama The Defiant Ones (1958), which literally pairs him with fellow Best Actor nominee Sidney Poitier as two chained-together escaped convicts. Following that is the historical fiction swashbuckling epic The Vikings (1958), led by Curtis, Kirk Douglas, Ernest Borgnine and Curtis’ then-wife, Janet Leigh.
Today’s Curtis celebration concludes with The Great Race (1965), director Blake Edwards‘ epic slapstick comedy about an early 20th century automobile race among a wild cast of characters portrayed by a large cast led by Curtis, Lemmon, Natalie Wood and Peter Falk. In honor of the tribute, let’s learn some interesting facts about the star:
1 He helped Michael Caine and Roger Moore quit smoking
Everett Collection
Curtis was once a heavy smoker, puffing through cigarettes daily for over 30 years. But after quitting, he became a passionate anti-smoking advocate, even helping a few famous friends kick the habit, too. Both Michael Caine and Roger Moore credited Curtis with giving them the final push to quit smoking in the early 1970s. Though neither of them gave up cigars completely, they said his persistence made a big difference.
2 He stood up for Sidney Poitier when few others would
Everett Collection
In 1958, Curtis starred alongside Sidney Poitier in The Defiant Ones. At a time when racial inequality was still deeply entrenched in Hollywood, Curtis insisted that Poitier receive co-starring billing, which was something that had rarely been done for a Black actor at the time. His decision broke one of the industry’s long-standing taboos. It was more than just a credit line, it was a public stand for equality, and Poitier himself never forgot it.
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3 He witnessed the Japanese surrender in World War II
Everett Collection
While serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Curtis was stationed aboard a submarine tender in Tokyo Bay. From about 300 yards away, using a pair of binoculars, he watched the formal Japanese surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri. He would later say it was one of the most powerful moments of his life.
4 His love for art landed him a spot at MoMA
Everett Collection
In his later years, Curtis found peace in painting and spent much of his 80s creating vivid, abstract works. Far from being just a hobby, his talent was so respected that the Museum of Modern Art in New York added some of his paintings to its permanent collection. He also made shadow boxes and held successful exhibitions, including one in Hawaii that earned him over a million dollars.
5 He was buried with some strange items
ABC/Everett Collection
When Curtis passed away in 2010, his family made sure he was surrounded by the things he loved most. Among the items placed in his casket were a favorite Stetson hat, his iPhone, driving gloves, an Armani scarf and a copy of Anthony Adverse, the novel that inspired his stage name, shares New York Magazine.
Remind 
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