Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh: Hollywood’s Secret Marriage Scandals Unveiled After 60 Years

Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, one of Hollywood’s most glamorous couples of the 1950s, captivated the public with their dazzling charisma and on-screen chemistry.

Behind their perfect façade, however, was a turbulent marriage riddled with jealousy, infidelity, and private investigators—secrets that would remain hidden for nearly six decades.

Tony Curtis, born Bernard Schwarz in the Bronx in 1925, grew up in extreme poverty and hardship. His parents, Hungarian Jewish immigrants, struggled financially and emotionally.

Curtis and his brother were placed in an orphanage due to his family’s dire situation. His challenging childhood was marred by tragedy, including the death of his younger brother Julius, who was struck by a truck. Curtis’s difficult upbringing shaped him, making him determined yet insecure—traits that later deeply affected his relationships.

Janet Leigh, originally Jeanette Helen Morrison, was born in Merced, California, in 1927. Despite economic hardships during the Great Depression, Leigh excelled academically, graduating high school at just 16.

Her life changed dramatically when Hollywood star Norma Shearer discovered her photograph at a ski resort, ultimately leading Leigh to sign with MGM.

Her rise to stardom was swift, debuting in the 1947 film “The Romance of Rosie Ridge” opposite Van Johnson. By 1949, Leigh was celebrated as Hollywood’s “top glamour girl,” noted for her roles in “Little Women,” “Holiday Affair,” and later the iconic Alfred Hitchcock thriller “Psycho.”

Curtis and Leigh met at a Hollywood publicity event in 1950, instantly drawn to each other’s charm and beauty. Despite strong objections from studio executives—who even offered Curtis money to marry another actress for publicity—the couple eloped in June 1951, witnessed by friend Jerry Lewis.

Their marriage quickly became Hollywood legend, both on-screen in films like “Houdini,” “The Vikings,” and “Who Was That Lady,” and off-screen as they appeared together at glamorous events, epitomizing Hollywood royalty.

However, beneath their public image, their relationship faced severe strain. Tony Curtis, insecure due to his troubled past, was obsessively jealous of Leigh, even going as far as hiring private investigators to monitor her, convinced she was having affairs—including one alleged affair with legendary singer Frank Sinatra, which never materialized. The couple’s private lives became a web of suspicion and tension.

A turning point came in 1955 when Curtis discovered what he believed was a love letter addressed to Leigh from choreographer Bob Fosse. Though Leigh denied any affair, Curtis’s trust was irreparably shattered.

Soon after, Curtis began engaging in numerous affairs, including relationships with actresses Gloria DeHaven and Natalie Wood. Wood reportedly became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage. Curtis later described DeHaven as “the love of his life,” even decades later.

As Curtis’s affairs multiplied, his paranoia and jealousy regarding Leigh intensified. He called her incessantly while she was filming, accusing her of infidelity without any proof.

This destructive cycle culminated during Curtis’s filming of “Taras Bulba” in Argentina in 1961, where he became involved with his 17-year-old co-star Christine Kaufmann. Leigh’s unannounced visit to the set, where she witnessed Curtis’s undeniable chemistry with Kaufmann, marked the painful end of their marriage.

Curtis moved in openly with Kaufmann after her 18th birthday, leading to widespread scandal and eventually to their divorce in September 1962.

Immediately after their divorce, Janet Leigh married stockbroker Robert Brandt, seeking stability and privacy away from Hollywood’s relentless spotlight.

Their union lasted over 40 years until Leigh’s death in 2004. Leigh’s daughters, notably actress Jamie Lee Curtis, praised Brandt for providing the family with love, stability, and an escape from their chaotic past.

Tony Curtis, however, embarked on a tumultuous path, marrying Kaufmann shortly after the divorce. Their marriage, plagued by infidelity and drug use, ended by 1968.

Curtis remarried multiple times, each relationship bringing more personal turmoil and tragedy, including the devastating heroin overdose death of his son Nicholas at age 23. Curtis’s repeated failed relationships and declining Hollywood career highlighted a stark contrast to Leigh’s peaceful later life.

Their divorce severely impacted their children, particularly Jamie Lee Curtis, who openly discussed the emotional turmoil of growing up amidst her parents’ bitter separation.

Despite this challenging background, Jamie carved her own successful path in Hollywood, notably in the horror genre, creating her legacy separate from her parents’ shadow. Her critically acclaimed performances culminated in her Oscar win in 2023 for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Before his death in 2010, Tony Curtis took controversial steps, cutting all five of his children from his will in favor of his fifth wife, Jill, who was significantly younger. His daughter Kelly subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the decision, alleging undue influence, although the courts ultimately upheld the will.

Sixty years later, the explosive details of Curtis and Leigh’s marriage reveal a starkly different narrative than the polished image presented to the public. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of the often-hidden complexities behind Hollywood’s glittering façade.