Jack Curtis
Encyclopedia
Jack Curtis Jr. was born to Vaudevilee Dancer Mabel Ford and agent Jack Curtis Sr. in New York on June 16, 1926. He started voice acting as a teenager in the 1940s, performing in a myriad of radio shows, including "Coast to Coast on a Bus", where he first met Peter Fernandez
. In 1962, he made the cult classic The Flesh Eaters
, that was released in 1964. Although credited as the film's director, he also wrote, edited, and provided camera work.
Curtis was also the half brother to Bea Curtis, who was married to Harry Fox
of The Foxtrot
. He was also the 1st cousin of magician Roy Benson who appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
. Jack's longtime friend Peter Fernandez
hired him to dub voices for Speed Racer
. At the time he also provided voice-overs for the cartoon series, Marine Boy
.
At the age of forty-four, Curtis died of pneumonia
that he contracted in the hospital, which could not be treated as he was allergic to penicillin, the only antidote in 1970. He was remembered fondly by friends and co-workers alike; particularly for his sense of humor and practical jokes. Corinne Orr
recalls, "He was so outrageous, and a warm and giving person."
He was survived by second wife Paulette Rubinstein Curtis, and their daughter Liane Alexandra Curtis
who works as an actress and lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Peter Fernandez
Peter Fernandez was an American actor, voice actor, and director. Despite a career extending from the 1930s, he is probably best known for his uncredited roles in the 1967 anime Speed Racer. Fernandez co-wrote the scripts, was the voice director, and translated the English language version of the...
. In 1962, he made the cult classic The Flesh Eaters
The Flesh Eaters (film)
The Flesh Eaters is a 1964 American horror/science fiction thriller, directed on a low budget by Jack Curtis and edited by future filmmaker Radley Metzger...
, that was released in 1964. Although credited as the film's director, he also wrote, edited, and provided camera work.
Curtis was also the half brother to Bea Curtis, who was married to Harry Fox
Harry Fox
Harry Fox , born Arthur Carringford, was a vaudeville dancer and comedian, most famous for giving his name to the Fox Trot dance in New York. His steps were recorded by dance instructor F. L. Clendenen in his 1914 book Dance Mad as "The Fox Trot, as danced by Mr. Fox"...
of The Foxtrot
The Foxtrot
The Foxtrot is a television play by Rhys Adrian, first broadcast on BBC One in 1971 as part of the Play for Today strand. It is notable as an early example of the series' departure from socially aware, issue-based drama towards comedy and non-naturalism.-Synopsis:The play is a domestic drama...
. He was also the 1st cousin of magician Roy Benson who appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. Jack's longtime friend Peter Fernandez
Peter Fernandez
Peter Fernandez was an American actor, voice actor, and director. Despite a career extending from the 1930s, he is probably best known for his uncredited roles in the 1967 anime Speed Racer. Fernandez co-wrote the scripts, was the voice director, and translated the English language version of the...
hired him to dub voices for Speed Racer
Speed Racer
Speed Racer is an English adaptation name of the Japanese manga and anime, which centered on automobile racing. Mach GoGoGo was originally serialized in print form in Shueisha's 1958 Shōnen Book, and was released in tankōbon book form by Sun Wide Comics, re-released in Japan by Fusosha...
. At the time he also provided voice-overs for the cartoon series, Marine Boy
Marine Boy
Marine Boy was one of the first color anime cartoons to be shown in a dubbed form in the U.S., and later in Australia and the United Kingdom. It was originally produced in Japan as by Minoru Adachi and animation company Japan Tele-Cartoons. It was sold outside of Japan via K...
.
At the age of forty-four, Curtis died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
that he contracted in the hospital, which could not be treated as he was allergic to penicillin, the only antidote in 1970. He was remembered fondly by friends and co-workers alike; particularly for his sense of humor and practical jokes. Corinne Orr
Corinne Orr
Corinne Orr is a Canadian-born actress and voice artist, who now lives in New York City, where she has resided for more than four decades....
recalls, "He was so outrageous, and a warm and giving person."
He was survived by second wife Paulette Rubinstein Curtis, and their daughter Liane Alexandra Curtis
Liane Alexandra Curtis
Liane Alexandra Curtis is an American film and television actress and musician. She has garnered a cult following after such B grade theater and video releases as Critters 2: The Main Course and Girlfriend from Hell as well as smaller roles in higher profile classics such as Sixteen Candles and...
who works as an actress and lives in Los Angeles with her family.