Tony Curtis (1925-2010)

The news came over the wires this morning that actor Tony Curtis had passed away at 85.

Curtis served in the Navy in World War II, then transitioned to Hollywood, where he earned an Oscar nomination for his role in "The Defiant Ones", and demonstrated his versatility by excelling in both dramatic & comic roles in films as diverse as "The Black Shield of Falworth", "Six Bridges to Cross", "Houdini", "The Boston Strangler", and, of course, "Some Like It Hot", in which he co-starred with Jack Lemmon & Marilyn Monroe.

Curtis also tried his hand in television, first with the 1971 British series, The Persuaders, with Roger Moore, and later in the short-lived NBC Mystery Movie entry, McCoy, and a brief stint acting opposite Robert Urich on Vega$. Ironically, Urich would co-star in a made-for-TV remake of "The Defiant Ones", playing Curtis' character.

Now, we'll see how long it takes before Turner Classic Movies or one of its competitors clears its schedule for a Curtis tribute marathon.

Rest in peace, Tony. You'll be missed.