Friends, Family React To The Death Of Tony Curtis

Reaction to the death of Tony Curtis at home in Henderson, Nev., at age 85:

“All Tony ever wanted to be was a movie star. He didn’t want to be the most dramatic actor. He wanted to be a movie star, ever since he was a little kid.” — Jill Curtis, wife

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“My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world.” — Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter

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“He’s one of those actors who in the ‘50s was a beautiful, charismatic leading man, who became sort of iconic as a sex symbol. Not somebody who you originally thought had a lot of depth. He was just charming and funny and yet he revealed himself to be quite complex and gave some great performances.” — Tony Goldwyn, actor, director, son of film producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

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“The guy was such a sweetheart. Beautifully neurotic, in a very endearing kind of Woody Allen way.” — Sam Rockwell, actor with Curtis in the 1998 movie “Louis and Frank”

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“Tony Curtis and Eddie Fisher in the same week. It’s very sad. He was funny, so very funny, very talented and a great spirit.” — Marlo Thomas

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“One thing Tony always said: ‘God is great, God won’t hurt us, ‘cause he looks like Tony Curtis.’ I guess now he knows how he looks.” — Jill Curtis

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Associated Press Writer Oskar Garcia in Las Vegas, AP entertainment editor Michael Weinfeld in Washington, D.C., and AP video producer Nicole Evatt in New York contributed to this report.