The Lady Haden-Guest Jamie Lee Curtis
Curtis in June 2010
Born | (1958-11-22) November 22, 1958 (age 55) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Other names | The Lady Haden-Guest The Scream Queen
Occupation | Actress Author Blogger
Years active | 1977?present
Spouse(s) | Christopher Guest, The 5th Baron Haden-Guest (1984?present)
Parents | Tony Curtis (father) Janet Leigh (mother)
Family | Kelly Curtis (sister)

Jamie Lee Curtis, The Lady Haden-Guest (born November 22, 1958) is an American actress and author. Although she was initially known as a "scream queen" because of her starring roles in several horror films early in her career, such as Halloween, The Fog, Prom Night, and Terror Train, Curtis has since compiled a body of work that spans many genres, and has won BAFTA and Golden Globe awards. Her 1998 book, Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day, made the best-seller list in The New York Times. Curtis has appeared in advertisements, and is a blogger for The Huffington Post. She is married to actor, screenwriter, and director Christopher Guest, The 5th Baron Haden-Guest.

## Early life[edit]

Curtis was born in Santa Monica, California, to actor Tony Curtis and actress Janet Leigh. Her paternal grandparents were Hungarian Jewish immigrants[1] and two of her maternal great-grandparents were Danish.[2] Curtis's parents divorced in 1962, after which her mother married Robert Brandt. Curtis has an older sister, Kelly Curtis, who is also an actress, and several half-siblings (all from her father's remarriages), Alexandra, Allegra, Ben, and Nicholas Curtis (who died in 1994 of a drug overdose).[3] Curtis attended Westlake School in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills High School, and graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall. Returning to California in 1976, she attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. She considered majoring in social work, but quit after one semester to pursue an acting career.

## Career[edit]

### Film[edit]

Curtis's film debut occurred in the 1978 horror film Halloween, in which she played the role of Laurie Strode. The film was a major success and was considered the highest grossing independent film of its time, earning accolades as a classic horror film. Curtis was subsequently cast in several horror films, garnering her the title, "scream queen".

Her next film was the horror film The Fog, which was helmed by Halloween director John Carpenter. The film opened in February 1980 to mixed reviews but strong box office,[4] further cementing Curtis as a horror film starlet. Her next film, Prom Night, was a low-budget Canadian slasher film released in July 1980. The film, for which she earned a Genie Award nomination for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress, was similar in style to Halloween, yet received negative reviews which marked it as a disposable entry in the then-popular "slasher film" genre. That year, Curtis also starred in Terror Train, which opened in October and was met with negative reviews akin to Prom Night. Both films performed only moderately well at the box office.[5] Curtis had a similar function in both films - the main character whose friends are murdered, and is practically the only protagonist to survive. Film critic Roger Ebert, who had given negative reviews to all three of Curtis's 1980 films, said that Curtis "is to the current horror film glut what Christopher Lee was to the last one-or Boris Karloff was in the 1930s".[6] Curtis later appeared in Halloween II, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later and Halloween: Resurrection, as well as giving an uncredited voice role in Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

Her role in 1983's Trading Places helped Curtis shed her horror queen image, and garnered her a BAFTA award as best supporting actress.[7] 1988's A Fish Called Wanda achieved near cult status ? while showcasing her as a comedic actress; she was nominated for a BAFTA as best leading actress.[7] She won a Golden Globe for her work in 1994's True Lies. Her film roles also include Disney's Freaky Friday (2003), opposite Lindsay Lohan, filmed at Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, California, near where Curtis and Guest live with their children. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for this film.[8]

In October 2006, Curtis told Access Hollywood that she had closed the book on her acting career to focus on her family. She returned to acting after being cast in June 2007 in Disney's live-action-animated film, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, co-starring opposite Piper Perabo as one of three live-action characters in the film. She also starred in the 2010 comedy film You Again, opposite Kristen Bell and Sigourney Weaver.[9]

### Television[edit]

Curtis made her television debut in an episode of Columbo, but her first starring TV role was opposite Richard Lewis in the situation comedy Anything But Love, which ran for four seasons from 1989 through 1992. Her performance as Hannah Miller received both a Golden Globe and People's Choice Award. She appeared as nurse Lt. Duran in the short-lived television series, Operation Petticoat; based on the big-screen version which starred her real-life father.

She starred in the 1981 TV film Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story, playing the part of the eponymous doomed Playmate. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for her work in TNT's adaptation of the Wendy Wasserstein play The Heidi Chronicles. More recently, Curtis starred in the CBS television movie Nicholas' Gift, for which she received an Emmy nomination. Curtis also appeared in the science fiction series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and an early episode of The Drew Carey Show. Jamie Lee Curtis was a game-show panelist on several episodes of Match Game.

In 2012, she appeared in 5 episodes of the television series NCIS, playing the role of Dr. Samantha Ryan, a potential romantic interest of Special Agent Gibbs. It has been hinted that her role may be a recurring one. During an interview, she openly said that if they could develop a story line, she would be more than happy to be on the show more.[10] If the role is made recurring, it will be at least the second time Harmon has worked with Curtis; he played her fianc? and later husband in the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday [11]

### Children's books[edit]

Working with illustrator Laura Cornell, Curtis has written a number of children's books,[12] all published by HarperCollins Children's Books.[13]

- When I Was Little: A Four-Year Old's Memoir of Her Youth, 1993.
- Tell Me Again About The Night I was Born, 1996.
- Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day, 1998; listed on the New York Times best-seller list for 10 weeks.[14]
- Where Do Balloons Go?: An Uplifting Mystery, 2000.
- I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem, 2002.
- It's Hard to Be Five: Learning How to Work My Control Panel, 2004.
- Is There Really a Human Race?, 2006.
- Big Words for Little People, ISBN 978-0-06-112759-5, 2008.
- My Friend Jay, 2009, edition of one, presented to Jay Leno
- My Mommy Hung the Moon: A Love Story, 2010.

### Invention[edit]

In 1987, Curtis filed a US patent application that subsequently issued as Patent No. 4,753,647. This is a modification of a diaper with a moisture proof pocket containing wipes that can be taken out and used with one hand.[15] Curtis refused to allow her invention to be marketed until companies started selling biodegradable diapers,[16] although the full statutory term of this patent expired February 20, 2007, and is now in the public domain.

## Humanitarian and political causes[edit]

In March 2012, Curtis was featured with Martin Sheen and Brad Pitt in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play '8' ? a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage ? as Sandy Stier.[17] The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.[18][19]

## Personal life[edit]

Curtis married actor Christopher Guest on December 18, 1984, becoming the The Lady Haden-Guest when her husband inherited the Barony of Haden-Guest in 1996, upon the death of his father. The couple have two adopted children (Annie, b. 1986; Thomas b. 1996).[20] Curtis is actor Jake Gyllenhaal's godmother.[21]

On her website, Curtis tells her young readers that she "moonlights as an actor, photographer, and closet organizer."[12] She takes time to support various philanthropic groups. Curtis was Guest of Honor at the 11th annual Gala and Fundraiser in 2003 for Women in Recovery, Inc., a Venice, California-based non-profit organization offering a live-in, twelve-step program of rehabilitation for women in need. Past honorees of this organization include Sir Anthony Hopkins and Angela Lansbury. Curtis is also involved in the work of the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, serving as the annual host for the organization's "Dream Halloween" event in Los Angeles, launched every year in October.[22][23]

Curtis appeared on the cover of the May/June 2008 issue of AARP Magazine, with gray hair and in water up to her chest.[24]

Curtis was an alcoholic who was once addicted to pain killers that she began using after a routine cosmetic surgical procedure. She became sober in 1999[25] and maintains that recovery is the greatest achievement of her life.[26]

Curtis has appeared in advertisements for Activia since 2007,[27] and is a blogger for The Huffington Post online newspaper.[28] During California's 2008 General Election, Curtis appeared in the "YES on Prop 3" TV advertisements.[29]

## Filmography[edit]

Film appearances
Year | Title | Role | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
1978 | Halloween | Laurie Strode |
1980 | The Fog | Elizabeth Solley |
Prom Night | Kim Hammond |
Terror Train | Alana Maxwell | Nominated ? Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress Nominated ? Saturn Award for Best Actress
1981 | Escape from New York | Narrator, computer voice | Only film outside of the Halloween franchise working with Donald Pleasence
Roadgames | Pamela 'Hitch' Rushworth |
Halloween II | Laurie Strode |
1982 | Halloween III: Season of the Witch | Phone Operator | voice only, uncredited
1983 | Trading Places | Ophelia | BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1984 | Love Letters | Anna Winter |
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension | Sandra Banzai | featured in DVD extended version
Grandview, U.S.A. | Michelle 'Mike' Cody |
1985 | Perfect | Jessie |
1986 | As Summers Die | Whitsey |
1987 | A Man in Love |
Amazing Grace and Chuck |
1988 | Dominick and Eugene | Jennifer Reston |
A Fish Called Wanda | Wanda Gershwitz | Nominated ? BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated ? Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1990 | Blue Steel | Megan Turner | Festival du Film Policier de Cognac Special Mention Award (For the acting performance) Mystfest Film Festival Award for Best Actress
1991 | Queens Logic | Grace |
My Girl | Shelly DeVoto |
1992 | Forever Young | Claire Cooper |
1994 | My Girl 2 | Shelly DeVoto Sultenfuss |
Mother's Boys | Judith 'Jude' Madigan |
True Lies | Helen Tasker | American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Saturn Award for Best Actress Nominated ? Screen Actors Guild Award - Best Supporting Actress Nominated ? MTV Movie Award for Best Performance Nominated ? MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss
1996 | House Arrest | Janet Beindorf |
1997 | Fierce Creatures | Willa Weston |
1998 | Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | Laurie Strode/Keri Tate | Nominated ? Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress - Horror Nominated ? Saturn Award for Best Actress
Homegrown | Sierra Kahan |
Nicholas' Gift | Maggie Green | Nominated ? Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie
1999 | Virus | Kelly Foster |
2000 | Drowning Mona | Rona Mace |
2001 | The Tailor of Panama | Louisa Pendel |
Daddy and Them | Elaine Bowen |
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys | Queen Camilla, the Queen Hippo of Castaway Cove | voice only
2002 | Halloween: Resurrection | Laurie Strode |
2003 | Freaky Friday | Tess Coleman/Anna Coleman | Nominated ? Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated ? Saturn Award for Best Actress Nominated ? Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
2004 | Christmas with the Kranks | Nora Krank |
2005 | The Kid I | Herself |
2008 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Aunt Viv |
2010 | You Again | Gail |
2011 | The Little Engine That Could | Beverly | Voice only
2012 | From Up on Poppy Hill | Ryoko Matsuzaki | Voice only

Television appearances
Year | Title | Role | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
1977 | Quincy M.E.[30] | Girl in Dressing Room | Episode: Visitors in Paradise
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Mary | Episode: Mystery of the Fallen Angels
Columbo | Waitress Waitress | Episode: Try and Catch Me Episode: The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case
1978 | The Love Boat | Linda | Episode: Till Death Do Us Part, Maybe/Chubs/Locked Away
Charlie's Angels | Linda Frey | Episode: Winning Is for Losers
1978?1979 | Operation Petticoat | Lt. Barbara Duran | 23 Episodes
1979 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Jen Burton | Episode: Unchained Woman
1981 | She's in the Army Now | Pvt. Rita Jennings | TV Movie
Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story | Dorothy Stratten | TV Movie
1982 | Callahan | Rachel Bartlett | TV Movie
Money on the Side | Michelle Jamison | TV Movie
1985 | Tall Tales Legends | Annie Oakley | Episode: Annie Oakley
1986 | As Summers Die | Whitsey Loftin | TV Movie
1989?1992 | Anything But Love | Hannah Miller | Series Regular Golden Globe Award for Best Actress ? Television Series Musical or Comedy, 1989 Nominated ?Golden Globe Award for Best Actress ? Television Series Musical or Comedy, 1991
1995 | The Heidi Chronicles | Heidi Holland | TV Movie Nominated ?Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
1996 | The Drew Carey Show | Sioux | Episode: Playing a Unified Field
1998 | Nicholas' Gift | Maggie Green | TV Movie
2000 | Pigs Next Door | Clara | Voice
2005 | A Home for the Holidays | TV Program Host | TV Movie
2012 | NCIS | Dr. Samantha Ryan | 5 episodes[31][32]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis Interview: Starring as Herself: Embracing Reality". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
2. ^ There/Hollywood, page 6, 1985, by Janet Leigh
3. ^ "TCM:Tony Curtis Bio". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
4. ^ "The Fog gross tally". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 9, 2006.
5. ^ "The Numbers Jamie Lee Curtis grosses". Retrieved March 9, 2006.
6. ^ Roger Ebert (October 9, 1980). "Terror Train". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 9, 2006.
7. ^ a b Lee Curtis "Jamie Lee Curtis". BAFTA Awards Database. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
8. ^ "Complete list of nominees for 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards". (Associated Press). USA Today, December 18, 2003.
9. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (June 29, 2007). "Curtis heads for Disney's 'Border'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
10. ^ Day, Patrick (2012-02-22). "Jamie Lee Curtis brings potential romance to NCIS". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
11. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Harmon reunite on "NCIS"". CBS News.
12. ^ a b "Books". Jamie Lee Curtis Books.
13. ^ Children's Books. Harper Collins.
14. ^ McNamara, Mary (October 16, 2000). new york times best sellerhl=en "Howling Success: Once The Queen Of Scream, Jaime Lee Curtis finds new fame as a children's author". The Los Angeles Times. The Spokesman-Review. p. B3.
15. ^ Curtis; Jamie L. (Los Angeles, CA) (February 20, 1987). "United States Patent: 4,753,647". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 2008-04-01. "A disposable infant garment which takes the form of a diaper including, on its outer side, a sealed, but openable, moisture-proof pocket which contains one or more clean-up wipers."
16. ^ Acton, Johnny (2005). The Ideas Companion: Crafty Copyrights, Tricky Trademarks and Peerless Patents (A Think Book). Robson Books (Anova). ISBN 1-86105-835-7.
17. ^ Kellogg, Jane. "George Clooney, Brad Pitt and More of Hollywood Perform Prop. 8 Play '8' (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
18. ^ ""8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality". YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
19. ^ "YouTube to broadcast Proposition 8 play live". pinknews.co.uk. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
20. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis and Kids Arrive for Avatar". People. December 18, 2009.
21. ^ Schruers, Fred (October 30, 2005). "Interview: Jake Gyllenhaal, crown prince of Tinseltown". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2010-05-05.
22. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis Online website".
23. ^ "Children Affected by Aids website".
24. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis Goes Topless on Cover of AARP Magazine". Fox News. March 22, 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
25. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis Interview". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 2009-10-17. [dead link]
26. ^ Curtis, Jamie Lee (July 20, 2009). "King of Pain". The Huffington Post.
27. ^ Williams, Kevin (2010-09-20). "Curtis talks a lot of crap". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
28. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis Blog". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
29. ^ "Imagine with Us: Yes on Prop 3, Children's Hospital Bond (website)". .
30. ^ "Quincy, M.E.: Visitors in Paradise Cast and Crew". Fandango. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
31. ^ "Fall Preview 2011 Photos: Jamie Lee Curtis on NCIS". CBS. August 24, 2011.
32. ^ "Jamie Lee Curtis to spar with Gibbs on 'NCIS'". Entertainment Weekly. August 25, 2011.

## External links[edit]

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jamie Lee Curtis.

| Wikinews has related news: Jamie Lee Curtis quits acting

- Official website for Jamie Lee Curtis Laura Cornell books
- API at the Internet Movie Database
- API on Twitter
- Works by or about API in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- API collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Jamie Lee Curtis interview

Awards for Jamie Lee Curtis
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (1968–1984)
Billie Whitelaw (1968) Celia Johnson (1969) Susannah York (1970) Margaret Leighton (1971) Cloris Leachman (1972) Valentina Cortese (1973) Ingrid Bergman (1974) Diane Ladd (1975) Jodie Foster (1976) Jenny Agutter (1977) Geraldine Page (1978) Rachel Roberts (1979) Rohini Hattangadi / Maureen Stapleton (1982) Jamie Lee Curtis (1983) Liz Smith (1984)
Complete list (1968–1984) (1985–2009) (2010–2034)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1969–1989)
Carol Burnett/Julie Sommars (1969) Mary Tyler Moore (1970) Carol Burnett (1971) Jean Stapleton (1972) Cher/Jean Stapleton (1973) Valerie Harper (1974) Cloris Leachman (1975) Carol Burnett (1976) Carol Burnett (1977) Linda Lavin (1978) Linda Lavin (1979) Katherine Helmond (1980) Eileen Brennan (1981) Debbie Allen (1982) Joanna Cassidy (1983) Shelley Long (1984) Estelle Getty/Cybill Shepherd (1985) Cybill Shepherd (1986) Tracey Ullman (1987) Candice Bergen (1988) Jamie Lee Curtis (1989)
Complete List (1969–1989) (1990–2009) (2010–2029)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Judy Holliday (1950) June Allyson (1951) Susan Hayward (1952) Ethel Merman (1953) Judy Garland (1954) Jean Simmons (1955) Deborah Kerr (1956) Kay Kendall / Taina Elg (1957) Rosalind Russell (1958) Marilyn Monroe (1959) Shirley MacLaine (1960) Rosalind Russell (1961) Rosalind Russell (1962) Shirley MacLaine (1963) Julie Andrews (1964) Julie Andrews (1965) Lynn Redgrave (1966) Anne Bancroft (1967) Barbra Streisand (1968) Patty Duke (1969) Carrie Snodgress (1970) Twiggy (1971) Liza Minnelli (1972) Glenda Jackson (1973) Raquel Welch (1974) Ann-Margret (1975) Barbra Streisand (1976) Diane Keaton/Marsha Mason (1977) Ellen Burstyn/Maggie Smith (1978) Bette Midler (1979) Sissy Spacek (1980) Bernadette Peters (1981) Julie Andrews (1982) Julie Walters (1983) Kathleen Turner (1984) Kathleen Turner (1985) Sissy Spacek (1986) Cher (1987) Melanie Griffith (1988) Jessica Tandy (1989) Julia Roberts (1990) Bette Midler (1991) Miranda Richardson (1992) Angela Bassett (1993) Jamie Lee Curtis (1994) Nicole Kidman (1995) Madonna (1996) Helen Hunt (1997) Gwyneth Paltrow (1998) Janet McTeer (1999) Renée Zellweger (2000) Nicole Kidman (2001) Renée Zellweger (2002) Diane Keaton (2003) Annette Bening (2004) Reese Witherspoon (2005) Meryl Streep (2006) Marion Cotillard (2007) Sally Hawkins (2008) Meryl Streep (2009) Annette Bening (2010) Michelle Williams (2011) Jennifer Lawrence (2012)
Template:Saturn Award for Best Actress 1991?2010

Authority control | WorldCat VIAF: 103647389 LCCN: n90700096

Persondata
Name | Curtis, Jamie Lee
Alternative names |
Short description | Actress, author
Date of birth | November 22, 1958
Place of birth | Los Angeles, California
Date of death |
Place of death |