Tony Curtis dead at 85

The 1950s movie star died of cardiac arrest last night in Las Vegas.

The Some Like it Hot star was one of Hollywood’s great personalities. Admittedly more successful for his good looks than his acting abilities, Curtis had affairs with the likes of Natalie Wood and Marilyn Monroe and had a reputation as a fast-living, drug-taking ladies’ man. He was married six times, and fathered Jamie Leigh Curtis with his frequent costar Janet Leigh. Curtis grew up in the Bronx and was born Bernie Schwarz. He changed his name after attracting the attention of a Hollywood scout in New York. In 2006 he had a brush with death after being hospitalized for pneumonia. He slipped into a coma for several days but recovered. He had six children.