Heartbreaking Details About the Actor’s Life

This article mentions sexual misconduct and addiction.

Over the course of her decade-spanning career, Jamie Lee Curtis became a horror movie legend in “Halloween,” a rebellious teenage girl in “Freaky Friday,” and a contemptuous IRS inspector in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Her incredible filmography has been marked by triumphant moments, like her Oscar win in 2023, mixed with unfortunate tragedies.

Advertisement

Curtis didn’t have to struggle from the bottom. Her parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, were both successful actors, as are some of her siblings. Speaking with The New Yorker, the “True Lies” star reflected on her Hollywood upbringing. She acknowledged her privileged life but mentioned how she endured setbacks even from an early age. From familial issues and insecurities to health problems and the deaths of close loved ones, Curtis has overcome numerous challenges.

Advertisement

Before Jamie Lee Curtis was born, her parents’ relationship was already deteriorating. As she outlined in an interview with More, “By the time I came along … my parents’ bond had deteriorated precipitously as their stardom grew. And like any other save-the-marriage baby, I failed.” Growing up in a famous family wasn’t always easy for Curtis.

Advertisement

Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh had been married for 12 years when he left her for 17-year-old actor Christine Kaufmann. Janet was humiliated, though she too eventually remarried. Tony went on to divorce and remarry several times. Curtis had to navigate many complex emotions about love and relationships. She admitted to struggling with her own feelings about love, wondering what happens to it over time.

Advertisement

Over the years, Jamie Lee Curtis has opened up about the complex relationship she had with her father. While her mother stayed with her second husband, Robert Brandt, Tony Curtis went on to marry five more times.

Advertisement

Curtis explained that her father wasn’t as present during her formative years, discussing the evolution of their relationship in a chat with Rolling Stone back in 1985. Substance misuse was another issue. As she told Variety, she did cocaine and freebased once with her dad. He got sober for a short period but relapsed. Curtis also mentioned it wasn’t just her relationship with him that was strained; her siblings also had ups and downs with him.

Advertisement

In Hollywood, there’s constant pressure on women to look a certain way, leading many to undergo plastic surgery. Jamie Lee Curtis has strong opinions on the subject and has had her experiences too. In a November 2019 interview with Variety, Curtis revealed she had a cosmetic procedure in 1992 to reduce puffiness around her eyes.

Advertisement

Curtis later discussed her plastic surgery regrets on “Lorraine” in 2021. She admitted she hated the results and felt worse afterward. Having tried Botox and liposuction, Curtis now advocates for natural beauty, stating, “I want to look 70 when I’m 70.”

Advertisement

Jamie Lee Curtis is one of six children, including her older sister Kelly Curtis and four younger half-siblings. Tragically, her half-brother Nicholas Curtis died from a heroin overdose in 1994 when he was 21 years old.

Advertisement

On a July 2023 episode of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Curtis spoke about his death and her own struggles with addiction. She revealed that Nicholas’ passing brought the family somewhat together but admitted that her relationship with her father, Tony Curtis, remained strained.

Advertisement

In the late ’90s, Curtis faced a breast cancer scare. She spoke about this unsettling time at the 18th annual Celebrating Women breast cancer luncheon in 2017. Curtis described waiting for the diagnosis as a moment of feeling incredibly alone, which left a lasting impact on her.

Advertisement

Fortunately, her tests came back negative, but the experience inspired her to support those battling the illness. Curtis emphasized how pervasive breast cancer is, noting that almost everyone knows someone affected by the condition.

Advertisement

In February 2024, Jamie Lee Curtis celebrated a major milestone: 25 years of sobriety. On Instagram, she wrote, “One day at a time. 9,125 of them. … For all those struggling with addiction and shame, there are others out here who care. My hand in yours.”

Advertisement

Curtis spoke candidly about her addiction to painkillers and alcohol. She was first prescribed Vicodin for a cosmetic procedure in 1992, which led to a decade of misuse. Curtis eventually sought help after a friend caught her taking pills.

Discussing her legacy, Curtis said she hopes it will be breaking the cycle of addiction in her family. “It’ll be the single greatest thing I do, if I can stay sober.”

Advertisement