Hollywood legend Tony Curtis dies at 85

THE actor Tony Curtis - who was immortalised as the drag in comedy Some Like It Hot - has died at the age of 85, it was announced today.

• Curtis, pictured in 2008, had a second career as a successful painter

The star, whose career spanned more than 60 years, suffered a heart attack.

Sir Roger Moore, who starred alongside Curtis in TV hit The Persuaders, led tributes to Curtis, telling Sky News: "He was a fine actor. I shall miss him."

The former James Bond star said: "We had a lot of laughs together for about 15 months, working together every day.

"He was great fun to work with, a great sense of humour and wonderful ad libs.

"We had the best of times."

• Curtis (left) in drag for Some Like It Hot, with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon

Sir Michael Parkinson, who interviewed the star several times, said his performance in Some Like It Hot would live forever.

He said: "He was a very, very fine actor. Some Like It Hot is one of the greatest comedies of all time.

"The man who made it, Billy Wilder, did not suffer fools so for Tony Curtis to work with him and make that film shows just how good he was.

"He was an extraordinary man. Hollywood tried to make him into a sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s but he was his own man.

"He was a great chatshow guest and was wonderfully indiscreet but he was very bright and did not take himself too seriously."

• Curtis with his actress wife Janet Leigh in 1958. He was married six times.

The actor's business manager and family spokesman Preston Ahearn told US TV network ABC News that Curtis passed away last night peacefully in bed next to his wife Jill in their home in Nevada.

Clark County coroner Mike Murphy said the actor suffered a heart attack.

Curtis was the father of actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who is known for her roles in the original Halloween movie, True Lies and most recently You Again.

Curtis, who had heart surgery in 1994, began his acting career as a 1950s heartthrob but became a respected actor in films such as The Defiant Ones.

His portrayal of a racist escaped convict handcuffed to a black escapee, Sidney Poitier, in the film brought him an Oscar nomination in 1958.

Jamie Lee Curtis paid tribute to her father today.

She said: "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. He will be greatly missed."