LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Legendary actor Tony Curtis, a 1950s heartthrob whose storied career spanned more than 150 movies, has died. He was 85.
Curtis died Wednesday evening after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home near Las Vegas, the Clark County coroner told the Associated Press.
"He died peacefully here, surrounded by those who love him and have been caring for him," his wife, Jill Curtis, told AP. "All Tony ever wanted to be was a movie star. He didn’t want to be the most dramatic actor. He wanted to be a movie star, ever since he was a little kid."
Curtis is perhaps best known for starring in Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot with co-stars Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon. A year earlier, he earned an Oscar nomination for The Defiant Ones with Sidney Poitier.
Other notable films included 1957’s Sweet Smell of Success and Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus three years later.
Born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx, Curtis was also well known for his love life. He was married six times, beginning with Psycho actress Janet Leigh. His six children include actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
