RCOD 334-35 1222-21

RCOD 334-35 1222-21 Tony Curtis and Christine Kaufmann Obligatory credit-CAMERA PRESS/L/S Born into humble surroundings in New York on June 3rd 1925, actor Tony Curtis, real name Bernard Schwartz, has lived the American dream. A gang member in his teens, Curtis served in the navy during WWII before becoming an actor. He made his debut in 'Criss Cross' (1949) and worked his way up through the studio system, helped by his pin-up looks and much copied hairstyle. He recieved an Academy nomination for 'The Defiant Ones' (1958) and followed this with the smash 'Some Like It Hot' (1959). A decade later his career had stalled and in 1973 he announced his retirement from film work to concentrate instead on television. Although rarely seen on screen today Tony Curtis remains a popular Hollywood figure. PICTURED: Tony Curtis with his second wife, German actress Christine Kaufmann, in 1963. 1963