US Navy WWII veteran Tony Curtis dies at age 85

September 30, 2010 · By Jerry Castillo

Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis

Sept. 30, 2010 Henderson, NV.  Tony Curtis, the dashingly handsome film star of the 1950s and ’60s best remembered for his hilarious turn in drag in Billy Wilder’s classic comedy “Some Like It Hot” and dramatic roles in “The Defiant Ones” and “Sweet Smell of Success,” died Wednesday night. He was 85.

Curtis died in Henderson, Nev., of cardiopulmonary arrest, said a spokeswoman for the Clark County coroner.

“My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages,” his daughter actress Jamie Lee Curtis said in a statement. “He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world.”

During World War II, Curtis joined the United States Navy at age 17 inspired by watching Cary Grant in Destination Tokyo and Tyrone Power in Crash Dive (1943). He served aboard USS Proteus (AS-19), a submarine tender, and on September 2, 1945, he witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from about a mile away. Following his

USS Proteus (AS 19)

USS Proteus (AS 19)

discharge, Curtis, under the GI Bill studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School in New York. He was discovered by a talent agent and casting director Joyce Selznick. Curtis claims it was because he “was the handsomest of the boys.” Arriving in Hollywood in 1948 at age 23, he was placed under contract at Universal Pictures for $75.00 a week and changed his name to Tony Curtis. Although the studio taught him fencing and riding, Curtis admits he was at first only interested in girls and money.

In 1991, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting him at the hotel I was working at the time. He was promoting some of his art work in Dallas.  He was such a charismatic person it was hard not to like him. As usual he was holding the arms of a very tall and beautiful woman and was being funny and lighthearted.  He will be missed by many.

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3 Responses

  1. SEOBlackHat

    October 1st, 2010 at 1:06 AM

    1

    Cool! Just what I was looking for.

  2. Jackie

    October 1st, 2010 at 3:32 PM

    2

    He was such a handsome man. We are going to miss your big smile.

  3. Emanuel Reeshof

    October 2nd, 2010 at 6:37 PM

    3

    Hi thanks for yet another very interesting post.


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