Brady laments Curtis’ death
Two years ago, Tony Curtis thought about old age and mourned the loss of other stars as big as him.
"They are all dead now. Cary, Jack Lemmon, Sinatra, all my Hollywood friends. Sometimes I feel so lonely," he told the Times of London in a story headlined, "Tony Curtis, last of the great Lotharios."
When news of Curtis' death reached my mom on Thursday, she told my dad, and she thought he was going to cry.
Meanwhile, I was informing Wayne Brady of Curtis' death during an interview (Brady performs tonight and Saturday at Planet Hollywood).
"Ohhh, nooo," Brady said.
"Tony Curtis, for my money, was one of those old-school, movie star, class acts -- larger than life and flamboyant.
"He really was one of the last, old-school cinema idols," he said.
" 'Some Like It Hot' set the bar for buddy movies -- and for any movie where a guy was supposed to dress up as a girl and have all the comedy come from that.
"It wasn't just, 'Oh hey, it's funny because a guy is dressed up as a girl.' He was funny AND he was going to get the girl. Remember that: He was going to get the chick!"
In his Times of London interview, Curtis said the best things in life were his wife, Jill, and painting.
To Tony Curtis: the last big matinee idol.
JOAN RIVERS, FOR THE WIT
She performs today and Saturday at The Venetian. Because she skewers stars on "Fashion Police," I recently asked her how long it takes to get dressed.
"I'm old!" she said. "Oh my God, Betty White -- it probably takes two days. So for me, it takes a little less. It takes a day."
Joking aside, it takes an hour, she said. Her stylist works on "Fashion Police" and helps her "pull this thing together."
"If I've gained weight, we have to change the jacket because your arms are making funny sounds when you lift them up."
FAMOUS PEOPLE, FAMOUS PLACES
Avril Lavigne parties at MGM dayclub Wet Republic on Saturday. ... Heather Chadwell of "Rock of Love" appears tonight at strip club Crazy Horse III. ... Mark Salling of "Glee" is at club Tao after 10 p.m. Saturday. ... I'll see you at tonight's opening of Fright Dome at Circus Circus' Adventuredome.
Doug Elfman's column appears Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. E-mail him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.
