The prolific and versatile American actor Tony Curtis has died of a cardiac arrest at his home in Las Vegas. Curtis, who struggled with Hollywood's post-war anti-Semitism (he changed his name from Bernard Schwartz) and later cocaine addiction, starred in over a hundred features in the course of his career.
A skilled comic actor (perhaps best loved for his role in Some Like It Hot), Curtis displayed equal skill in more serious dramatic roles, including an acclaimed performance as the Boston Strangler, and a portrayal of an escaped convict in The Defiant Ones which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He also appeared frequently on television, notably alongside Roger Moore in The Persuaders!, and as a guest voice actor (playing "Stony Curtis") on The Flintstones.
Curtis—as prolific in his private life as in his professional career—is survived by his wife Jill Vandenberg and five of his six children, including actors Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis.
