Las Vegas Weekly

September 18, 2009 · 10:33 AM

Tony Curtis: New movie and book — and two secrets he’ll take to the grave

By Robin Leach

Tony Curtis.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Screen legend Tony Curtis greeted me like a long lost friend this week, and it was as if he was glad to be alive and renewing acquaintances. I’m assuming that was because the 84-year-old superstar who lives here in Las Vegas had a health scare while in New York recently on his art and book tour.

I was the only reporter present at the Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner for sommeliers and wine enthusiasts in Rao’s at Caesars Palace. Tony had joined Southern Wine & Spirits head honcho Larry Ruvo, who was celebrating a major Mayor Oscar Goodman and City Council decision. Earlier in the day, they had earmarked 40 acres of downtown land to be donated to his Cleveland Clinic partners in the Lou Ruvo Brain Center. The clinic, regarded as one of the finest health facilities and care centers in the nation, now submits a land use proposal for a medical expansion.

Before the dinner got underway, I chatted with the very cheery and enthusiastic superstar actor who has appeared in more than 100 films during his career. I told him he was looking healthy and well after his recent hospital scare in Manhattan, and he and wife Jill told me that it had started solely because he’d choked on food and he was kept in a hospital for observation and that it had nothing to do with a recent illness. Friends had become concerned about the possible serious repercussions with his coma after a December 2006 battle with pneumonia.

In his wheelchair with knockout sixth wife Jill looking on, Tony said: “I’m feeling great and looking great. Look at me. I’m great for 84 and as busy as ever. I’m in fine spirits. I’ve got my glow back, and I’m feeling fantastic.”

Then he went on to tell me about all of his activities, in addition to his daily paintings, which are in exhibits throughout the world. He’s also been on the road promoting his autobiography American Prince,, a memoir that includes his time spent with Frank Sinatra and James Dean.

Tony revealed that his newest book Some Like It Hot: My Memories of Marilyn Monroe and the Making of the Classic Movie spills almost all behind-the-scenes secrets of the 1959 classic and his well-publicized affair with the sexy blonde bombshell. He’s been publicizing it and was off the next day to the 50th anniversary reunion of Some Like It Hot at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, where the film was shot.

“It exposes all the secrets except just two,” he chuckled. “I had to keep something to myself. Those go to the grave with me, and I’m certainly not telling you, Robin, what I kept out. They can guess, but I’ll never tell.” Some Like It Hot is No. 1 on the American Film Institute’s 100 all-time funniest movies.

Even at this late age, Tony hasn’t given up on movie roles, even though he confesses today he’s far more interested in his artwork. He has a cameo in the upcoming The Other Guys with Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Will Ferrell and Michael Keaton. The action comedy about cops, previously titled The B Team, is scheduled for release next August.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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