Editing Tony Curtis (section)

==Later years and death==
Curtis was a lifelong [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] and attended the 1960 Democratic National Convention alongside such liberal performers as [[Edward G. Robinson]], [[Shelley Winters]], [[Ralph Bellamy]], and [[Lee Marvin]].<ref>{{YouTube|7opAIZ9dv3E}}</ref>

Curtis developed a heavy [[cocaine]] addiction in 1974 while filming ''[[Lepke (film)|Lepke]]'', at a time when his stardom had declined considerably and he was being offered few film roles.<ref>Curtis, Tony ''American Prince: My Autobiography'' (2008) p. 303</ref> In 1984, Curtis was rushed to the hospital suffering from advanced [[cirrhosis]] as a result of his alcoholism and cocaine addiction. He then entered the Betty Ford Clinic and vowed to overcome his various illnesses.<ref name=tele_695>{{cite news
|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/8034695/Tony-Curtis.html| title= Tony Curtis|author = | work= The Daily Telegraph | date= October 30, 2010| accessdate=October 1, 2010| location=London}}</ref> He underwent [[heart bypass]] surgery in 1994, after suffering a heart attack.<ref name=record_86908>{{cite web |title=Tony Curtis 1925-2010: A movie star and icon in the golden age of Hollywood |date=October 30, 2010 |work=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2010/10/01/movie-star-tony-curtis-was-icon-of-golden-age-of-hollywood-and-epitome-of-cool-86908-22599821/ |accessdate=October 1, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Tony Curtis portrait.jpg|thumb|left|Curtis in 2004]]
Curtis nearly died when he contracted [[pneumonia]] in December 2006 and was in a [[coma]] for more than a month. As a result, he used a wheelchair afterwards and could walk only short distances.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=560321&in_page_id=1773 |title=Bald and in a wheelchair: Tony Curtis cuts a frail figure as he rolls into Harrods |first=Laura |last=Roberts |work=Daily Mail |date=April 17, 2008 |accessdate=June 18, 2010 |location=London}}</ref>

On July 8, 2010, Curtis, who suffered from [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] (COPD), was hospitalized in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] after suffering an [[asthma]] attack during a book-signing engagement in Henderson, Nevada, where he lived.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tony Curtis 'stable' after asthma attack|url=http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/articles/2010/07/16/20100716tony-curtis-stable-after-asthma-attack.html|publisher=AZcentral.com|accessdate=July 19, 2010}}</ref>

Curtis died at his Henderson home on September 29, 2010, of [[cardiac arrest]].<ref name=nyt30_Sept_2010>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/movies/01curtis.html?partner=rss&emc=rss|title=Tony Curtis, Hollywood Leading Man, Dies at 85|author=Kehr, Dave|publisher=[[New York Times]]|date=September 30, 2010|accessdate=October 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11443271|title=Film star Tony Curtis dies at 85 |publisher=BBC News |date=September 30, 2010 |accessdate=September 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/69439,people,news,tony-curtis-dies-aged-85-marilyn-monroe-stanley-kubrick- |title=Film star Tony Curtis dies aged 85 |publisher=The First Post |date=September 30, 2010 |accessdate=September 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/celebs/article.aspx?cp-documentid=25774328 "Coroner:Actor Tony Curtis Dies At Las Vegas Home"]. Associated Press. Retrieved September 30, 2010.</ref> He left behind five children and seven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tony Curtis's Widow Speaks Exclusively To Inside Edition |date=March 29, 2011 |work=Inside Edition |url=http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/2194-tony-curtiss-widow-speaks-exclusively-to-inside-edition |accessdate=March 22, 2016}}</ref> His widow Jill told the press that Curtis had suffered from various lung problems for years as a result of cigarette smoking, although he had quit smoking about 30 years earlier.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/tony-curtis-died-long-history-lung-problems-smoking-widow-jill-curtis-article-1.443819 | title= Tony Curtis died after long history of lung problems from smoking, says widow Jill Curtis |first=Caroline |last=Culbertson |location=New York | work=Daily News |date=September 30, 2010 |accessdate=August 5, 2014}}</ref> In fact, during the 1960s Curtis served as the president of the American 'I Quit Smoking' Club.<ref>{{Cite news|url=|title=Tony Curtis on drugs charge at airport|last=|first=|date=27 April 1970|work=Daily Express|access-date=}}</ref> In a release to the Associated Press, his daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, stated:
<blockquote>
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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Legendary actor Tony Curtis has died|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/30/report-legendary-actor-tony-curtis-has-died/?iref=NS1|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=September 30, 2010|date=September 30, 2010}}</ref></blockquote>

His remains were interred at Palm Memorial Park Cemetery in Henderson, Nevada, on October 4, 2010.<ref>[http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/01/memorial-service-for-actor-tony-curtis-set-for-monday/?hpt=T2 "Memorial Service for actor Tony Curtis Set For Monday"]. cnn.com, Retrieved October 1, 2010</ref><ref name="news.yahoo.com">{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Oskar |date=October 4, 2010 |title=Actor Tony Curtis buried after Vegas funeral |work=Yahoo! News |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101004/ap_en_ot/us_tony_curtis_funeral |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013061828/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101004/ap_en_ot/us_tony_curtis_funeral |archivedate=October 13, 2010}}</ref> His memorial service was attended by his daughters, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis; [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]; [[Rich Little]]; and Vera Goulet, [[Robert Goulet]]'s widow.<ref name="news.yahoo.com"/> Investor [[Kirk Kerkorian]], actor Kirk Douglas and singer [[Phyllis McGuire]] were among the honorary [[pallbearers]].