Jamie Lee Curtis is a highly acclaimed American actress, producer, and children's author, celebrated for her work in horror and comedy. Her iconic roles in slasher films have earned her the title "scream queen." Throughout her career, she has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has also been nominated for a Grammy Award. Her diverse talents extend beyond acting to producing and writing children's books, solidifying her status as a multifaceted figure in the entertainment industry.
1925: Birth of Tony Curtis
Curtis's father, Tony Curtis, was born in 1925.
1927: Birth of Janet Leigh
Jamie Lee Curtis's mother, Janet Leigh, was born in 1927.
1956: Birth of Kelly Curtis
Curtis's sister, Kelly Curtis, was born in 1956.
November 22, 1958: Birth of Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis was born on November 22, 1958, in Santa Monica, California, to actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis.
1959: "Operation Petticoat" Film
The film "Operation Petticoat", which later became a series starring Curtis, was originally released in 1959 and starred her father, Tony Curtis.
1962: Parents' Divorce
Curtis's parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, divorced in 1962.
1966: Birth of Allegra Curtis
Curtis's half-sister, Allegra Curtis, was born in 1966.
1976: High School Graduation and College Start
Curtis graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1976 and briefly attended the University of the Pacific to study law.
1977: Early Television Roles
In 1977, Curtis appeared in various television series, including "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries", "Columbo", and "Operation Petticoat".
1977: Television Debut
In 1977, Curtis made her television debut in an episode of the NBC drama series "Quincy, M.E."
1978: Continued Television Work
Curtis continued her television work in 1978 with appearances on shows like "Charlie's Angels" and "The Love Boat".
1978: Film Debut in "Halloween"
Curtis's film debut was in 1978 with the slasher film "Halloween", directed by John Carpenter. This role launched her career and established her as a scream queen.
1978: "Halloween" Release
The original "Halloween" film, starring Curtis as Laurie Strode, was released in 1978.
1979: Release of Alien
Sigourney Weaver's film *Alien* was released in 1979. Jamie Lee Curtis, a close friend of Weaver, has stated she has never watched the film in its entirety due to being too scared.
February 1980: "The Fog" Release
"The Fog", directed by John Carpenter and starring Curtis, was released in February 1980.
July 1980: "Prom Night" Release
Curtis starred in the Canadian slasher film "Prom Night", released in July 1980.
1980: Multiple Horror Film Releases
In 1980, Curtis starred in three horror films: "The Fog", "Prom Night", and "Terror Train", further solidifying her status in the genre.
1981: "Halloween II" Release
Curtis reprised her role as Laurie Strode in "Halloween II" in 1981.
1981: "Roadgames" and "Halloween II"
Curtis starred in the Australian thriller "Roadgames" and reprised her role as Laurie Strode in "Halloween II" in 1981.
1981: "Roadgames", "Halloween II", and Television Films
In 1981, Curtis appeared in the thriller "Roadgames", reprised her role in "Halloween II", and starred in television films like "Death of a Centerfold" and "She's in the Army Now".
1982: "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" Release
Curtis had an uncredited voice role in "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" in 1982.
1983: "Trading Places" and Image Shift
Curtis's role in the 1983 comedy "Trading Places" marked a shift from her horror film image and earned her critical acclaim.
1983: BAFTA Award for "Trading Places"
In 1983, Curtis won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the comedy "Trading Places".
December 18, 1984: Marriage to Christopher Guest
Jamie Lee Curtis married Christopher Guest on December 18, 1984.
1985: "Perfect" and Sex Symbol Status
Curtis's role as a workout instructor in the 1985 film "Perfect" earned her recognition as a sex symbol.
1985: Perfect and Tall Tales & Legends
In 1985, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in the film "Perfect" alongside John Travolta and as Annie Oakley in an episode of "Tall Tales & Legends". While "Perfect" gained a cult following, it was initially a critical and commercial failure.
1986: As Summers Die
In 1986, Jamie Lee Curtis starred alongside Bette Davis in the HBO film "As Summers Die".
1986: Adoption of Annie
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest adopted their daughter Annie in 1986.
1987: First Diaper Patent Application
In 1987, Jamie Lee Curtis filed her first patent application for a modified diaper.
1988: A Fish Called Wanda and Dominick and Eugene
In 1988, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in two films: the cult classic comedy "A Fish Called Wanda", for which she received BAFTA and Golden Globe Award nominations, and "Dominick and Eugene" alongside Tom Hulce and Ray Liotta.
1988: BAFTA Nomination for "A Fish Called Wanda"
Curtis received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the 1988 comedy "A Fish Called Wanda".
1989: Start of "Anything but Love"
In 1989, Curtis began starring in the ABC sitcom "Anything but Love".
1989: Anything but Love Premieres
In 1989, Jamie Lee Curtis's first starring television role began with the premiere of the sitcom "Anything but Love".
1990: Support for Great Synagogue
Beginning in 1990, Jamie Lee Curtis and her father supported the rebuilding of the Great Synagogue in Budapest.
1990: Blue Steel
In 1990, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in the action thriller "Blue Steel", directed by Kathryn Bigelow, receiving positive reviews for her performance.
1991: "My Girl" Release
Curtis starred in the coming-of-age drama "My Girl" in 1991.
1992: End of "Anything but Love"
Curtis's sitcom "Anything but Love" concluded in 1992.
1992: Forever Young
In 1992, Jamie Lee Curtis starred alongside Mel Gibson in the romantic fantasy film "Forever Young".
1992: Anything but Love Concludes
In 1992, after four seasons, "Anything but Love" concluded its run. Curtis received a Golden Globe and People's Choice Award for her performance.
1994: Golden Globe for "True Lies"
Curtis won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1994 action-comedy "True Lies".
1994: Death of Nicholas Curtis
Curtis's half-brother, Nicholas Curtis, died of a drug overdose in 1994.
1994: True Lies Success
In 1994, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in the action-comedy "True Lies", directed by James Cameron. The film was a critical and commercial success, becoming the 3rd highest-grossing film of the year, earning Curtis a Golden Globe Award and her first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
1994: Quentin Tarantino Praises and My Girl 2
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino praised Curtis's film "Perfect" in a Rolling Stone interview. That same year, the sequel to Curtis's successful film "My Girl", titled "My Girl 2", was released.
1994: My Girl Sequel
In 1994, the sequel to the commercially successful film "My Girl", titled "My Girl 2," was released, in which Jamie Lee Curtis reprised her role.
1995: The Heidi Chronicles
In 1995, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in TNT's adaptation of the Wendy Wasserstein play "The Heidi Chronicles", earning her another Golden Globe Award nomination.
April 8, 1996: Jamie Lee Curtis Becomes a Baroness
On April 8, 1996, Jamie Lee Curtis became a baroness, styled as The Lady Haden-Guest, when her husband, Christopher Guest, inherited the title Baron Haden-Guest after his father's death.
1996: House Arrest and The Drew Carey Show
In 1996, Curtis starred in the family comedy film "House Arrest" and made a guest appearance on the sitcom "The Drew Carey Show".
1996: Adoption of Ruby
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest adopted their daughter Ruby in 1996.
1997: Fierce Creatures and Fangoria Hall of Fame
In 1997, Jamie Lee Curtis reunited with her "A Fish Called Wanda" co-stars in "Fierce Creatures" and was inducted into the Fangoria Hall of Fame.
1998: Nicholas' Gift, Halloween H20, and Hollywood Walk of Fame
1998 was a busy year for Curtis. She starred in the CBS television film "Nicholas' Gift" (earning an Emmy nomination), reprised her role as Laurie Strode in "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later", and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1998: "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" Release
Curtis returned to the "Halloween" franchise in 1998 with "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later".
1998: Emmy Nomination and Children's Book
In 1998, Curtis received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the television film "Nicholas' Gift", and published her children's book "Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day".
1998: Sits in the House of Lords
In 1998, before the House of Lords Act 1999 abolished her husband's seat, Jamie Lee Curtis sat in the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.
1999: Jamie Lee Curtis Achieves Sobriety
In 1999, Jamie Lee Curtis became sober from an opiate addiction that began after a cosmetic surgical procedure. She credits reading Tom Chiarella's account of addiction with helping her recovery, and calls her sobriety her greatest achievement.
1999: Virus
In 1999, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in the science fiction horror film "Virus", a project she later expressed regret over.
1999: House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 reformed the House of Lords and removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the House, affecting Jamie Lee Curtis's husband's seat.
2000: Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year and Drowning Mona
In 2000, Curtis was honored as Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year and appeared in the crime comedy "Drowning Mona".
2001: The Tailor of Panama, Daddy and Them, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
In 2001, Curtis starred in "The Tailor of Panama", appeared in "Daddy and Them", and voiced Queen Camilla in the animated film "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys".
2002: "Halloween: Resurrection" Release
Curtis appeared in "Halloween: Resurrection" in 2002.
2002: Halloween: Resurrection
Jamie Lee Curtis appeared in "Halloween: Resurrection" in 2002.
2003: Freaky Friday Reunion
The 2012 role in "NCIS" reunited Curtis with Mark Harmon, who played her character's husband in the 2003 film "Freaky Friday".
2003: "Freaky Friday" Release
Curtis starred in the comedy "Freaky Friday" in 2003.
2003: Women in Recovery Gala
In 2003, Jamie Lee Curtis was the guest of honor at a gala for Women in Recovery.
2003: Freaky Friday and Grammy Nomination
In 2003, Jamie Lee Curtis starred alongside Lindsay Lohan in the Disney film "Freaky Friday", earning critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination. She also received a Grammy nomination for her audiobook "The Jamie Lee Curtis Audio Collection".
2004: Christmas with the Kranks
In 2004, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in "Christmas with the Kranks". While a box office success, the film was not well received by critics.
2004: Death of Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh, Curtis's mother, passed away in 2004.
October 2006: Retirement from Acting
In October 2006, Jamie Lee Curtis announced her retirement from acting to focus on her family.
February 20, 2007: Diaper Patent Expiration
On February 20, 2007, Jamie Lee Curtis's patent for a modified diaper expired.
June 2007: Return to Acting - Beverly Hills Chihuahua
In June 2007, Jamie Lee Curtis returned to acting, taking a role in the Disney film "Beverly Hills Chihuahua".
2008: Support for Children's Hospital Bond Act
During California's 2008 general election, Jamie Lee Curtis appeared in television advertisements supporting the Children's Hospital Bond Act.
2010: You Again
In 2010, Curtis starred in the comedy film "You Again".
2010: Death of Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis, Curtis's father, died in 2010.
2011: The Little Engine That Could
In 2011, Curtis provided a voice role for the animated film "The Little Engine That Could".
2011: Support for Children's Hospital Los Angeles
In 2011, Jamie Lee Curtis supported the opening of a new inpatient facility for Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
2011: Huffington Post Blogging Begins
Jamie Lee Curtis began blogging for The Huffington Post in 2011.
March 2012: Performance in "8"
In March 2012, Jamie Lee Curtis performed in a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage.
2012: New Girl Role Begins
Jamie Lee Curtis began her recurring role as Joan Day on the sitcom "New Girl" in 2012.
2012: NCIS Role
In 2012, Curtis had a recurring role as Dr. Samantha Ryan on the series "NCIS".
2013: From Up on Poppy Hill
In 2013, Curtis lent her voice to the English version of the animated film "From Up on Poppy Hill".
2014: Veronica Mars
Curtis had a supporting role in "Veronica Mars" in 2014.
2015: Scream Queens Begins
Curtis started her lead role as Cathy Munsch in "Scream Queens" in 2015.
2015: Start of "Scream Queens"
Curtis started starring in the Fox series "Scream Queens" in 2015.
2015: Spare Parts
In 2015, Curtis appeared in the biographical drama "Spare Parts".
2015: Interview about Alien
In a 2015 interview, Jamie Lee Curtis mentioned her close friendship with Sigourney Weaver and admitted she has never fully watched Weaver's 1979 film *Alien* due to fear.
June 2016: Tribute to Orlando Shooting Victims
In June 2016, Jamie Lee Curtis participated in a video tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting.
2016: End of "Scream Queens"
Curtis's role in "Scream Queens" ended in 2016.
2016: IndieWire Recognition
In 2016, IndieWire named Jamie Lee Curtis as one of the best actors never nominated for an Academy Award. She later received a nomination in 2023.
2016: Second Diaper Patent Application
In 2016, Jamie Lee Curtis filed a second patent application relating to disposable diapers.
2016: Scream Queens and Award Nominations
In 2016, the second season of "Scream Queens" aired. Curtis received Golden Globe and People's Choice Award nominations for her first season performance.
2016: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton
Jamie Lee Curtis endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
November 28, 2017: Second Diaper Patent
On November 28, 2017, Jamie Lee Curtis's second patent related to disposable diapers was issued.
2017: Eminem Mention
Jamie Lee Curtis was mentioned in Eminem's verse on Big Sean's song "No Favors" in 2017.
2017: Huffington Post Blogging Ends
Jamie Lee Curtis stopped blogging for The Huffington Post in 2017.
2018: New Girl Role Ends
Curtis' recurring role in the sitcom "New Girl" ended in 2018.
2018: Halloween and An Acceptable Loss
In 2018, Curtis returned to her iconic role as Laurie Strode in the successful "Halloween" sequel and also appeared in the drama film "An Acceptable Loss", earning positive reviews for her performance.
2018: "Halloween" (2018) Release
Curtis starred in the 2018 installment of the "Halloween" franchise.
2019: "Knives Out" Release
Curtis was part of the ensemble cast of the mystery film "Knives Out" in 2019.
2019: Knives Out Release
In 2019, Jamie Lee Curtis appeared in the film "Knives Out" as Linda Drysdale-Thrombrey. The film was a critical and commercial success.
2020: Letters from Camp Podcast Launch
Jamie Lee Curtis launched the podcast "Letters from Camp" on Audible in 2020.
September 2021: Golden Lion Award
In September 2021, Jamie Lee Curtis received the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival for her lifetime achievements.
October 2021: Halloween Kills Release
In October 2021, "Halloween Kills," starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, was released.
2021: Good Friend Podcast Launch
In 2021, Jamie Lee Curtis launched the podcast "Good Friend with Jamie Lee Curtis" for iHeartRadio.
2021: Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement
In 2021, Jamie Lee Curtis received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. She expressed feeling revitalized and joyful about her work.
2021: "Halloween Kills" Release
The film "Halloween Kills" was released in 2021, with Curtis as Laurie Strode.
February 2022: Mother Nature Announcement
In February 2022, Jamie Lee Curtis announced her co-authorship of the graphic novel "Mother Nature."
October 12, 2022: Handprint Ceremony
On October 12, 2022, Jamie Lee Curtis was honored with a handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater, with speeches by Melanie Griffith and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
October 2022: Halloween Ends Release
In October 2022, "Halloween Ends," featuring Jamie Lee Curtis' final portrayal of Laurie Strode, was released.
2022: Everything Everywhere All at Once Acclaim
In 2022, Jamie Lee Curtis received critical acclaim and numerous award nominations, including her first Oscar nomination, for her performance in "Everything Everywhere All at Once." She won the Academy Award and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress.
2022: "Halloween Ends" Release
The final installment of the "Halloween" franchise starring Curtis, "Halloween Ends", was released in 2022.
2022: Academy Award for "Everything Everywhere All at Once"
Curtis's performance in the 2022 film "Everything Everywhere All at Once" earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
2022: Return to "Halloween" Franchise
Curtis concluded her run as Laurie Strode with "Halloween Ends" in 2022, marking her seventh appearance in the franchise.
July 2023: Mother Nature Publication
In July 2023, the graphic novel "Mother Nature," co-written by Jamie Lee Curtis, was published by Titan Comics.
July 28, 2023: Haunted Mansion and Emmy Win
On July 28, 2023, "Haunted Mansion," starring Jamie Lee Curtis, was released. She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in "The Bear."
2023: Box Office Success
As of 2023, Curtis's films have grossed over $2.5 billion at the box office.
2023: First Academy Award Nomination
In 2023, Jamie Lee Curtis received her first ever Academy Award nomination.
2023: Maltin Modern Master Award
In 2023, Jamie Lee Curtis received the Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
2024: Endorsements of Williamson and Schiff
In 2024, Jamie Lee Curtis endorsed Marianne Williamson for president and Adam Schiff for Senate.
August 8, 2025: Freakier Friday Release
"Freakier Friday," the sequel to "Freaky Friday," starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, is set for release on August 8, 2025.
September 7, 2036: Second Diaper Patent Expiration
Jamie Lee Curtis's second diaper patent will expire on September 7, 2036.