by Tony Curtis
First published 2008
Tony Curtis opens his autobiography with a simple declaration: he always wanted to be in movies. He achieved that dream beyond his wildest expectations, becoming Hollywood royalty during the industry's golden era. Curtis chronicles his rise from unknown to leading man, starring in classics like Houdini, Spartacus, and Some Like It Hot. He shares behind-the-scenes stories of working with Frank Sinatra, Laurence Olivier, and director Billy Wilder, plus his relationships with Natalie Wood and Marilyn Monroe. But fame came with a price. Curtis reveals the destructive patterns that marked his personal life: a series of failed marriages, battles with drug addiction, and the constant pressure of living in the public eye. He also explores his later passion for painting and the marriage that finally lasted. Curtis writes with candor about both the exhilarating highs and crushing lows of stardom, offering readers an unvarnished look at Hollywood's heyday through the eyes of someone who lived it.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rags-to-riches, rise-and-fall
Setting: Hollywood
Period: 20th Century
384 pages · Hardcover · Crown Archetype
Content warnings: addiction, drug-use