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Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama. In his later years, Curtis made numerous television appearances. Although his early film roles were partly the result of his good looks, by the later half of the 1950s he became a notable and strong screen presence. He began proving himself to be a fine dramatic actor, having the range to act in numerous dramatic and comedy roles. In his earliest parts he acted in a string of mediocre films, including swashbucklers, westerns, light comedies, sports films, and a musical. However, by the time he starred in ''Houdini'' (1953) with his wife Janet Leigh, "his first clear success," notes critic David Thomson, his acting had progressed immensely.〔Siegel, Scott and Barbara. ''The Encyclopedia of Hollywood’’ 2nd ed. Checkmark Books (2004) pp. 108–109〕〔Thomson, David. ''The New Biographical Dictionary of Film'' Alfred A. Knopf (2002) pp. 196–197〕 He won his first serious recognition as a skilled dramatic actor in ''Sweet Smell of Success'' (1957) with co-star Burt Lancaster. The following year he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in another drama, ''The Defiant Ones'' (1958). Curtis then gave what could arguably be called his best performance: three interrelated roles in the comedy ''Some Like It Hot'' (1959). Thomson called it an "outrageous film," and a survey carried out by the American Film Institute voted it the funniest American film ever made.〔("Hollywood Legend Tony Curtis Dead at 85" ) Fox News, September 30, 2010〕 The film co-starred Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, and was directed by Billy Wilder. That was followed by Blake Edwards’s comedy ''Operation Petticoat'' (1959) with Cary Grant. They were both frantic comedies, and displayed his impeccable comic timing.〔Broeske, Pat H. And McCarty, John. ''International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers: Actors and Actresses'' (3rd Ed.) St. James Press (1997) pp. 275-277〕 He often collaborated with Edwards on later films. In 1960, Curtis co-starred in ''Spartacus'', which became another major hit for him. His stardom and film career declined considerably after the early 1960s. His most significant dramatic part came in 1968 when he starred in the true-life drama ''The Boston Strangler'', which some consider his last major film role.〔 The part reinforced his reputation as a serious actor with his chilling portrayal of serial killer Albert DeSalvo. Curtis was the father of actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Jamie Lee Honours Her Dad )〕 by his first wife, actress Janet Leigh. ==Early life== Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, in the Bronx, New York, to Helen (née Klein) and Emanuel Schwartz. His parents were Hungarian Jewish immigrants: his father was born in Ópályi, near Mátészalka, and his mother was a native of Nagymihály (contemporary Michalovce, Slovakia); she later said she arrived in the US from Losonc (Lučenec).〔(Zomrel americký herec Tony Curtis, po matke slovenského pôvodu ) (Slovak); ''You Bet Your Life'', S06E20, 9 February 1956. 02:08-02:20.〕 He did not learn English until he was five or six, postponing his schooling.〔 His father was a tailor and the family lived in the back of the shop—his parents in one corner and Curtis and his brothers Julius and Robert in another. His mother once made an appearance as a participant on the television show ''You Bet Your Life'', hosted by Groucho Marx. Curtis said, "When I was a child, Mom beat me up and was very aggressive and antagonistic." His mother was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. His brother Robert was institutionalized with the same mental illness. When Curtis was eight, he and his brother Julius were placed in an orphanage for a month because their parents could not afford to feed them. Four years later, Julius was struck and killed by a truck. Curtis joined a neighborhood gang whose main crimes were playing hooky from school and minor pilfering at the local dime store. When Curtis was 11, a friendly neighbor saved him from what he felt would have led to a life of delinquency by sending him to a Boy Scout camp, where he was able to work off his energy and settle down. He attended Seward Park High School. At 16, he had his first small acting part in a school stage play.〔 Curtis enlisted in the United States Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor and war was declared. Inspired by Cary Grant's role in ''Destination Tokyo'' and Tyrone Power's in ''Crash Dive'' (1943), he joined the Pacific submarine force.〔''Private Screenings: Tony Curtis'' Turner Classic Movies, January 19, 1999.〕 Curtis served aboard a submarine tender, the USS ''Proteus'''','' until the end of the Second World War. On September 2, 1945, Curtis witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from his ship's signal bridge about a mile away. Following his discharge from the Navy, Curtis attended City College of New York on the G.I. Bill. He then studied acting at The New School in Greenwich Village under the influential German stage director Erwin Piscator. His contemporaries included Elaine Stritch, Walter Matthau, Beatrice Arthur, and Rod Steiger. While still at college, Curtis was discovered by Joyce Selznick, the notable talent agent, casting director, and niece of film producer David O. Selznick. In 1948, Curtis arrived in Hollywood at age 23. When he was placed under contract at Universal Pictures, he changed his name from Bernard Schwartz to Tony Curtis. It is also the same studio where he met unknown actors Rock Hudson, Julie Adams and Piper Laurie. The first name was from the novel ''Anthony Adverse'' and 'Curtis" was from Kurtz. a surname in his mother's family. Although Universal Pictures taught him fencing and riding, in keeping with the cinematic themes of the era, Curtis admitted he was at first only interested in girls and money. Neither was he hopeful of his chances of becoming a major star. Curtis's biggest fear was having to return home to the Bronx as a failure: I was a million-to-one shot, the ''least'' likely to succeed. I wasn't low man on the totem pole, I was ''under'' the totem pole, in a sewer, tied to a sack.〔''Life'' magazine, Nov. 17, 1961 pp. 161-176〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tony Curtis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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