Jamie Lee Curtis Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Jamie Lee Curtis was born on November 22, 1958, in Santa Monica, California. Her parents were actor Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. After her parents divorced in 1962, her mother remarried to Robert Brandt. She has several siblings from her father’s other marriages. 

Curtis went to the Westlake School and later to Beverly Hills High School. In 1976, she enrolled at the University of the Pacific in California but quit after a one month to pursue her acting career.

Beginning Of Career

Curtis made her on-screen debut in the 1978 horror film Halloween. The film became the highest grossing independent film of the time and put Curtis’ name on the most wanted Hollywood newcomers. Following this appearance, she was cast in several other horror films, and earned the title “scream queen.” 

Her next notable appearance was in the 1980 film The Fog, which mixed reviews, however, was a major box office success. The same year, Curtis starred in the horror film Prom Night, which earned her the Canadian Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress. Throughout the 1980s, Curtis continued to star in horror movies. In 1983, she won the BAFTA award as best supporting actress in the film Trading Places. 

Television Career

Curtis’ first television appearance was in the 1989 show, Columbo. After this appearance, she began staring at the sitcom Anything But Love, which ran until 1992. For her performance, Curtis won a Golden Globe and People’s Choice Award. She has again honored with a Golden Globe nomination for her work on the TNT’s show The Heidi Chronicles. 
Her later television work included the CBS’s television movie Nicholas’ Gift. In recent years, Curtis has starred in television show NCIS for five episodes in 2012. 

Later Career

In 2003, Curtis starred in the Disney’s family movie Freaky Friday alongside Lindsay Lohan. For the role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. In 2006, the actress announced that she is ending her acting career to focus on her family. However, since then she has starred in the 2007 Disney’s film Beverly Hills Chihuahua ad the 2010 comedy You Again. 

During her acting career, Curtis also worked on several children’s books. Her first book, When I was Little: A Four-Year Old’s Memoir of Her Youth came out in 1993. Curtis’ 1998 book Other Moods That Make My Day spent ten weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. Her latest book has been My Mommy Hung the Moon: A Love Story, published in 2010. 

Personal Life

Since 1984, Curtis has been married to 5th Baron Haden-Guest Christopher Guest, making her Lady Haden-Guest. She first saw him in the Rolling Stone magazine and told her friends she would marry him. The couple did marry five months later. They have two adopted children. It was rumored that she could not have children since she was born intersex. 

Curtis is an active philanthropist and has participated in fundraisers for American Foundation for Equal Rights and the 2016 Human Rights Campaign. She is also one of the leading advocates for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and she is involved with the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation.