Tony Curtis was an American actor who was best known for his role alongside Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like It Hot.” He was born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, in East Harlem, New York, where he had a difficult childhood. Curtis’s mother and youngest brother were diagnosed with schizophrenia and were committed to a mental institution. When he was eight years old, Curtis and his brother Julius were placed in an orphanage because their parents couldn’t provide for them. Tragically, Julius would die four years later after being struck by a truck.
At 11 years old, Curtis attended a Boy Scout camp and attended classes at Seward Park High School. It was during this time that he took an interest in acting. When he came of age, Curtis enlisted in the United States Navy and served aboard a submarine tender called the USS Proteus. After he was discharged, the aspiring actor went to the City College of New York where he took formal acting classes. Curtis was then scouted by a well-known talent agent who got him a contract with Universal Pictures, and adopted his stage name, “Tony Curtis.”
In 1957, Curtis got his breakthrough role with the film “Sweet Smell of Success.” His role alongside Sidney Poitier for “The Defiant Ones” also earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Later on, Curtis would garner critical and commercial successes with films such as “Some Like It Hot,” “Operation Petticoat,” and “Spartacus.” Although his popularity declined after the 1960s, Curtis continued to lead a consistent career in show business. In his lifetime, the actor won numerous awards and starred in over a hundred films.
On September 29, 2010, Curtis died at his residence in Henderson, Nevada. After his passing, the actor’s life was once again thrown under the spotlight and scrutinized. From his failed marriages to his suspected sexuality, fans are still burning with unanswered questions. So, was Tony Curtis gay? Here’s what the star has to say about homosexuality.
VOTE: What was Tony Curtis’ Sexuality?
Tony Curtis’ List Of Marriages
Aside from his excellent acting chops, Curtis was known for his long list of affairs and multiple marriages. Before he shot to fame, the actor famously dated Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood. Curtis was also married at least six times in his life and fathered six children from three different women. Here’s a breakdown of the highs and lows of Curtis’ many marriages.
Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh (1951-1962)
In 1951, Curtis married his long-time co-star, Janet Leigh. The couple met years before and had already starred together in multiple films. Their relationship blossomed while they were working, so at one point, it was only natural for them to get together. Apparently, the studio was against their coupling, warning them that their marriage could end their careers. Curtis and Leigh defied orders and eloped in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Fortunately, the pairing became known as Hollywood’s golden couple. They would later have two children, Kelly Curtis, and award-winning actress, Jamie Lee Curtis. The couple were married for ten years but it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. It was an open secret in show business that Curtis and Leigh had a troubled marriage, so the press wasn’t surprised when they decided to divorce in 1962. After their divorce, Leigh married her second husband, Robert Brandt.
Tony Curtis and Christine Kaufmann (1962-1968)
Fresh off his divorce, Curtis married German-Austrian actress, Christine Kaufmann. She was only 18 years old at the time and starred alongside Curtis in the film, “Taras Bulba.” Not long after their wedding, Kaufmann gave birth to two daughters, Alexandra and Allegra Curtis. Unfortunately, the actress semi-retired from her acting career to raise their children. When the couple finally divorced in 1968, Kauffman went back to the spotlight.
Tony Curtis and Leslie Allen (1967-1982)
The ink wasn’t even dry yet on the divorce papers when Curtis married for the third time. This time, he got together with a woman named Leslie Allen. They tied the knot in 1968 and had two children: Nicholas and Benjamin Curtis. Sadly, the latter would eventually pass away years later due to a heroin overdose. Curtis and Allen also split in 1982.
Tony Curtis and Andrea Savio (1983-1992)
In 1983, Curtis got married for the fourth time to budding actress, Andrea Savio. She was known for her roles in “Death Screams,” “Beach Fever,” and “Stryker.” Their union lasted almost ten years before they finally called it quits. They didn’t have any children.
Tony Curtis and Lisa Deutsch (1992-1994)
Within the same year of breaking up with Savio, Curtis met his fifth wife, a lawyer named Lisa Deutsch. It was also the actor’s shortest marriage, lasting only for a year before they split up in 1994.
Tony Curtis and Jill Vandenberg (1993-2010)
Curtis’s sixth and last wife was his horse trainer, Jill Vandenberg. The couple married in 1993 and established a horse ranch in Nevada. Vandenberg was married to Curtis at the time of his death. It was also widely known that the actor rewrote his will five months before his passing, effectively leaving out all his children and giving Vandenberg sole control of his estate. Three years after Curtis died, Vandenberg remarried, sold the ranch, and moved to South Dakota.
The Actor’s View On Homosexuality
Similar to many old icons in Hollywood, Curtis had a complicated relationship with the LGBTQ community. His views on homosexuality weren’t always consistent or progressive. At some point during his career, Curtis was also rumored to be queer.
Apparently, the actor compared kissing his then-girlfriend, Marilyn Monroe, to kissing a dictator. Curtis also had a sensual scene with Laurence Olivier in the film “Spartacus” which was later cut out in the editing room. These instances convinced fans that the actor might be gay. However, Curtis has always insisted that he was straight and that he loved his gay fans.
During the premiere of the 2005 film, “Brokeback Mountain,” Curtis clarified a misquote and showed support for the controversial movie.
I never said that I didn’t like the film. I just didn’t know what the big deal was. To see two guys falling in love? A lot of people were waiting for them to break out the Vaseline and start f*cking each other up the as*. People didn’t want to see the subtleties unfold.”
Tony Curtis to Xtra Magazine, 2009
Curtis also maintained that he has worked with multiple gay actors and professionals in Hollywood. He also enjoyed it whenever he was referenced in pop culture no matter the context. Until the end of his career, Curtis was openly supportive of the LGBTQ.
Was Tony Curtis Gay?
No, Tony Curtis wasn’t gay. He was married six times and had six children. The actor has never been linked to men in his life. However, Curtis was extremely supportive of the LGBTQ community.
Featured Image: “Tony Curtis”, by Kate Gabrielle, licensed under CC BY 2.0 DEED