Controversy Surrounds Auction of 'Some Like It Hot' Actor Tony Curtis' Belongings

Beverly Hills auction house Julien's is previewing a major sale Sept. 17 of the belongings of the late Tony Curtis.

But none of Curtis' six children -- already pretty much disinherited from his will after Curtis died Sept. 30, 2010 -- are beneficiaries of it.

The items, which include prints by Balthus (three worth about $35,000 each) and Andy Warhol (worth $20,000 to $30,000), have been put up for sale for about $600,000 by his sixth and last wife Jill, who inherited the bulk of the Curtis estate.

But according to Allegra Curtis, daughter of Tony's second wife, actress Christine Kaufmann, Jill neither informed the rest of his family that the sale was happening nor allowed them to have any sentimental items.

"Jill Curtis is the only beneficiary of this auction. She did not consult us. This is not what my dad would have wanted. Jill's even selling off credit cards and driver licenses. She's also selling my dad's letters to Cary Grant, Jerry Lewis, Picasso -- these belong in a museum. It's the dissemination of the estate of Tony Curtis. He deserves better."

Meanwhile, Julien's Auctions owner Darren Julien says: "Tony came to many of our auctions with Jill and said he wanted Julien's to handle his auction after he died. I know this is exactly what he wanted."