At 83, Tony Curtis is one for books

Film legend Tony Curtis is coming out with his memoirs in October. Curtis, 83, let the cat out of the bag during a telephone conversation Wednesday.

The book, in the works for two years, is titled "American Prince: a Memoir" and will be released Oct. 14.

It is a collaboration with best-selling Peter Golenbock, one of the nation's best-known sports authors.

A book signing tour will include stops in London, Paris, San Francisco, New York and possibly Budapest, Hungary, where Curtis' parents grew up.

"I'm so happy. I'm 83 years old, and things are popping left and right," said Curtis, who has lived in Henderson since 2001.

The London book signing will take place at Harrods, the department store owned by Mohammed Al Fayad. His son, Dodi Al Fayed, who died with Princess Diana in a 1997 car crash in Paris, "was one of my best friends," Curtis said.

Curtis appeared in more than 100 films and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1959 for his portrayal of an escaped convict in "The Defiant Ones."

He said he will tie in some art shows with the book tour.

He hopes to make an appearance at the 30-year reunion of the ABC series "Vega$" on Oct. 4-5 at the Luxor. The 68-episode series, which featured the late Robert Urich as detective Dan Tanna, debuted April 25, 1978, and ended May 27, 1981.

For his role as casino boss Philip Roth, Curtis consulted with Burton Cohen, who was running the Desert Inn at the time.

"If I can make it, I'll be there," Curtis said.

He will be honored Aug. 27 by Turner Classic Movies with 24 hours of his movies.

MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY

Slash, lead guitarist for the rock supergroup Velvet Revolver, recalled a memorable 21st birthday during an interview Wednesday with Mark & Mercedes, the morning team at KMXB-FM, 94.1.

Slash said he celebrated his 21st "getting plowed with Dean Martin."

Slash said he was at a Hamburger Hamlet franchise in Los Angeles with his manager and Martin, the laid-back crooner who was a member of the Rat Pack.

Slash celebrated his 43rd birthday Wednesday at Jet nightclub. Asked about the search for a new Velvet Revolver frontman after the split with Scott Weiland, Slash responded, "They don't want somebody to emulate Scott Weiland. They want to go above and beyond that."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Siegfried & Roy announced the names of two 3-month-old tiger cubs on Wednesday: The snow-white cubs, born April 29, are Star and Celestial. The surprise announcement was made during a party for Clark County students at Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage. A first-grade class from Moore Elementary and a third-grade class from Charlotte Hill Elementary both submitted Star's name. Celestial's name was submitted by Jackie Topacio of Cerritos, Calif., and Lori Diaz from Ocoee, Fla.

SIGHTINGS

Tennis star Serena Williams, getting a red carpet welcome and tour Wednesday at the corporate headquarters of Zappos.com in Henderson. Runner-up to sister Venus at Wimbledon earlier this month, Serena met with Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh. She leaves for the Olympics in Beijing next week. ... MTV host LaLa Vazquez bought one pair of shoes and a handbag Wednesday at the Giuseppe Zanotti Design boutique for a total of $1,700. ... Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, back for the second week in a row at the Addicted to Quack pool party Tuesday night at Palms Place. ... Female impersonators Frank Marino and Larry Edwards, signing the cookbook, "Cooking Doesn't Have to be a Drag," on Tuesday at the Get Booked bookstore. Joining them was the author, Stephen Bieniek.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Terrific news for our men and women serving our country in Iraq: Heidi and Spencer from 'The Hills' have announced that they are planning to travel to Iraq. As if things aren't bad enough over there." -- Jimmy Kimmel

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.