On September 29, 2010, Tony Curtis died. According to his IMDb page, the actor, born Bernard Herschel Schwartz, died of cardiac arrest in Henderson, Nevada.

It had been twelve years since the celebrity’s death in 2022. Tony’s final wife was Jill Vandenberg Curtis, a lady he married in 1998 and 46 years younger than him.

The star’s wife acquired his entire estate, and he claimed to being alienated from all of his children.

His former widow, according to the Mansfield News Journal, had moved on with her life three years after his death.

Jill became Jill Curtis-Weber after marrying Todd Weber. In 2019, the couple sold their Nevada ranch and relocated to Deadwood, South Dakota, in March of that year.

The ex-wife of ‘The Defiant Ones’ actor now runs a wild-horse sanctuary with her new spouse. Jill told the publication why she and Todd decided to go elsewhere, saying:

‘Todd and I were eager to begin a new, simpler life in a magnificent historic Old West town.’

She added that she and Tony used to watch and like the ‘Deadwood’ series and that she thought her late husband would have liked the town where she now lived. Jill observed similarities between the late actor and Todd.

According to the actor’s ex-wife, the two guys shared the same wit, generosity, sense of humor, and intelligence. Tony might have appreciated her new husband, who was accepting of her history.

Jill stated that she never felt obligated to live up to her previous husband, who was characterized as having a ‘larger-than-life personality.’

The late star’s ex-wife revealed that she and Todd lived wonderfully and shared similar interests.

She claimed they worked together every day and that she had been ‘extremely lucky in love throughout’ her life.

For years, celebrities refused to leave money to their children, despite having occupations that ensured their loved ones would not have to suffer financially.

When Tony decided to join the ranks of celebrities who disinherited their children, he left his children sad. Throughout his life, the actor was married six times and had six children.

However, five months before he died from cardiac arrest, he ruled his children out of his will. Jill ended up having an auction where she sold some of her late husband’s belongings.

The Auction and Tony’s Will

Tony worked in the entertainment industry for nearly 60 years, appearing in over 14 films and winning several industry honors.

He indicated in his will that he was not under undue influence, and he acknowledged the existence of his children.

However, he purposefully chose not to include them in his inheritance, and his will did not explain why.

The news apparently startled the star’s children, and their grief was exacerbated when the earnings from their late father’s sale were delivered to his wife.

Julien’s Beverly Hills, California Sale House was in charge of the online auction, which raised over a million dollars! Tony and Jill’s chosen charity received a portion of the revenue.

An Andy Warhol picture sold for $53125 during the auction, as did the actor’s Yachtsman Jacket from ‘Some Like It Hot,’ which earned $48 000.

A Chagall painting sold for $23,125, and a Firebird Convertible went for $21,250.

Not every item sold, however, came in large sums, and Jill also auctioned off the emotional letters she shared with the late movie star.

Other letters sold included those Tony exchanged with celebrities including Cary Grant, Pablo Picasso, Ted Kennedy, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She sold approximately 500 artifacts, which included Navy medals, Hollywood honors, and her late husband’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Plaque.

The late actor’s sixth wife also sold some of his artwork and casino membership cards for $192. Tony’s child had a negative reaction to the auction.

The Reaction of Tony’s Daughter at the Auction

Following the sale, Tony’s daughter Allegra reportedly stated that the family was outraged because the auction’s sole beneficiary was their father’s widow. Allegra was the actor’s daughter from his marriage to Christine Kaufmann, an actress.

Jill was accused of organizing the auction without alerting her or her siblings. Furthermore, she did not leave anything valuable for the late actor’s children to remember his legacy.

While Allegra contended that her late father would have been saddened to see his items auctioned, his auctioneer, Darren Julien, disagreed. Julien stated that the late star told him what he wanted sold.

Allegra also alleged that her father’s will was affected, resulting in their separation. She stated that because of their close friendship, she believed he was under unnecessary pressure to change it.

Jill claimed in her defense that her late husband had notified his children that they would be disinherited before his death.

She also revealed that their relationship had always been strained for reasons unrelated to her.

Allegra later pointed out that while five of Tony’s grandchildren received $30,000 apiece, Jamie Lee Curtis’ two children received nothing.

She also expressed concern that her father’s will might damage what remained of his status as a Hollywood legend.

Tony’s Other Children Oppose His Will Kelly Lee, another of Tony’s children, did more than just make public charges.

She filed a lawsuit against her father’s Trust, alleging his widows and others of coercing her renowned father into changing his will through pressure, threat, fraud, or undue influence.

Kelly Lee [Curtis], his oldest daughter, remembered him fondly, notably his affinity for bright stuff.

Jamie Lee, the late star’s most renowned kid, stayed mum about the subject, though she did explain the strained relationship she experienced with her father following his death. During an appearance on ‘The Talk’ in 2010, Jamie Lee said that Tony was not a good father.

She claimed he had shown little interest in his children and stated that she held no animosity against the late actor despite his poor parenting skills. Despite the turbulence, Tony’s children remembered dad fondly.

Reminiscences of Their Late Father

Despite the fact that his estate caused a squabble, Tony’s children remembered him fondly. Allegra recalled him as a pleasant parent who made an effort to interact with his children and form bonds.

Kelly Lee, his eldest daughter, remembered him fondly, particularly his affinity for bright stuff. Despite his celebrity, his most significant contribution to his children was taking care of his family.

During his marriage to ‘Psycho’ actress Janet Leigh, the ‘Spartacus’ actor welcomed his daughters Kelly Lee and Jamie Lee.

After his marriage to German actress Christine Kaufmann, he had two daughters, Alexandra and Allegra.

Tony’s third marriage to “The Last Tycoon” actress Leslie Allen resulted in the deaths of sons Ben and Nicholas in 1994. Despite being a decent provider, the late actor struggled with demons and made some mistakes.

His failings, however, did not prevent his children from mourning his passing and doing everything they could to honor his memory. May he rest in peace, and may his family mend from their schism.