Jill Vandenberg Curtis is an equestrian and horse rescue advocate best known as the widow of actor Tony Curtis. They married in 1998 and remained together until his death in 2010. Their shared commitment to animal welfare led to the founding of Shiloh Horse Rescue in Nevada in 2003.
She later married Todd Weber and is also known as Jill Curtis-Weber. Today, she continues the rescue’s work in Newell, South Dakota, while her family runs The Lucky Horse Co. in Deadwood. Sales from the handmade souvenir business help fund the sanctuary’s care for its animals.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Jill Vandenberg Curtis |
| Also known as | Jill Curtis-Weber |
| Reported birthday | February 27, 1971. |
| Reported age | 55 as of October 2026, based on that birth date |
| Reported height | 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet (180–183 cm), depending on the source. |
| Professional background | Equestrian, horse rescue advocate, and family business operator. |
| Family members involved in her work | Her mother, Sally VandenBerg, and sister, Sarah. |
| Late husband | Actor Tony Curtis |
| Marriage to Tony Curtis | November 6, 1998, until his death on September 29, 2010. |
| Later husband | Todd Weber, whom she married after Tony’s death. |
| Rescue organization | Shiloh Horse Rescue, co-founded with Tony Curtis in 2003 |
| Rescue’s current location | Newell, South Dakota |
| Main rescue focus | Sanctuary care for older horses and horses with special needs. |
| Family business | The Lucky Horse Co. in Deadwood, whose sales help support Shiloh. |
| Published inheritance report | Inside Edition reported in 2011 that she received the bulk of Tony Curtis’s estimated $60 million estate. That historical estate estimate is not her current personal net worth. |
Her Reported Age and Early Life
IMDb lists Jill Vandenberg Curtis’s birth date as February 27, 1971, which would make her 55 as of October 2026. In a 2014 interview profile, writer Nick Thomas described her teenage interests as centered more on horses than Hollywood stars.
Her interest in horses continued into adult life. The production company behind The Jill & Tony Curtis Story describes her as having grown up loving horses and later becoming an award-winning equestrian. That background predates Shiloh Horse Rescue, which she founded with Tony Curtis in 2003 and continued running after his death.
Her Equestrian Training and Competitive Riding
An older Shiloh profile describes Jill Vandenberg Curtis as a graduate “A” Pony Clubber and former three-day event rider. It reports that she competed across the United States and represented Southern California at the United States Pony Club Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, on three occasions.
Her experience also included instruction. The profile credits her and her sister, Sarah VandenBerg, with founding and teaching at Briarwood Riding School in the San Diego area. A separate equestrian directory identifies the sisters as its founders and places the school in Poway, where it offered programs ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
Her Late Husband, Tony Curtis, and His Film Career
Tony Curtis became one of Hollywood’s leading actors during the 1950s and 1960s. His films included Sweet Smell of Success (1957), The Defiant Ones (1958), and Some Like It Hot (1959). He received an Academy Award nomination for The Defiant Ones at the 1959 ceremony.
His other notable films included Spartacus (1960). He also appeared on television and developed interests in painting and writing. Jill married him in 1998 and later described his support for Shiloh Horse Rescue, including his decision to direct a portion of his art income toward their work helping unwanted horses.
How She Met Tony Curtis at a Los Angeles Restaurant
Tony Curtis recalled meeting Jill Vandenberg Curtis at a dinner party in a restaurant. In an interview published by SFGate, he said he asked whether he could see her again and got her phone number. A later interview profile places that introduction in Los Angeles.
Jill later remembered him as funny and sweet, saying she felt as though she had known him for years. Their relationship eventually led to marriage in 1998. Despite initial concerns about their age difference, she said her family grew to love Tony and helped care for him during his final years.
Their November 1998 Wedding in Las Vegas
Jill and Tony Curtis married on November 6, 1998, in Las Vegas. A Getty Images wedding photograph records the date and city, while a CBS News archive caption identifies their reception venue as Gatsby’s Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
Speaking in early 1999, Tony described his happiness as a newlywed. In an interview published by SFGate, he talked about enjoying life and wanting to go out to dinner with his wife. Their marriage continued until his death in September 2010, just short of their twelfth wedding anniversary.
Public Appearances at Premieres and Charity Events
Jill appeared with Tony at premieres before their wedding. Getty Images documents them at the Halloween H20: 20 Years Later premiere at Mann Village Theatre in Westwood on July 27, 1998. They also attended the 1999 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Morton’s in Los Angeles.
Their public appearances also included charity events. On February 11, 2006, the couple attended the Keep Memory Alive Foundation’s tenth annual gala at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. The event benefited the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer’s Institute, with photographs recording Tony and Jill arriving together.
Founding Shiloh Horse Rescue in 2003
Jill and Tony Curtis founded Shiloh Horse Rescue in Nevada in 2003, according to the organization’s official history. The project grew from her concern about unwanted horses being sent to slaughter. Tony later recalled encouraging her to act when she said she wanted to rescue them.
With volunteers, the couple developed a 40-acre ranch in Sandy Valley, near Las Vegas, adding wells, fences, and stables. Shiloh reports over 700 horses rescued and rehabilitated since its founding. It moved to South Dakota in 2019, with the sanctuary now in Newell and its fundraising store in Deadwood.
Caring for Older Horses and Animals With Special Needs
Shiloh’s official website describes it as a sanctuary for older horses and horses with special needs. Its work includes providing a permanent home, daily care, and a settled environment for animals needing ongoing support. An earlier organizational profile noted that many residents were over 25 years old.
A 2011 feature described horses recovering from neglect and injuries, including blind animals. It recorded a process of evaluating each horse for adoption or long-term sanctuary care. The current website also lists burros, goats, sheep, cows, and chickens among the animals living at the ranch.
The Jill & Tony Curtis Story: Their 2008 Documentary
The Jill & Tony Curtis Story is a 2008 documentary directed by Ian Ayres and produced by French Connection Films and Equidia. It follows the couple’s life together, with particular attention to Shiloh Horse Rescue and their efforts to help horses facing slaughter.
Scenes include a Utah horse auction, Tony’s Nevada art studio, and a Washington visit with Bo Derek to advocate against horse slaughter. The film also celebrates Shiloh’s 400th horse rescue. According to the producer, it received the Documentary Prize at the 2008 Bel Air Film Festival and was selected for the Montreal World Film Festival.
Supporting Tony During His Final Years and His Death in 2010
Jill later said her family helped look after Tony during his final years. Speaking to Inside Edition after his death, she described bringing him home from hospital and said he died peacefully in his bedroom, surrounded by people who loved him.
Tony died on September 29, 2010, aged 85. Jill later recalled 16 years together and nearly 12 years of marriage. She explained that Shiloh gave her something meaningful to work on during her grief, allowing the rescue to remain a continuing part of the life they had built together.
Tony Curtis’s Estate and Her 2011 Inheritance Interview
In her March 2011 Inside Edition interview, Jill discussed receiving the bulk of Tony Curtis’s estate, which the program estimated at $60 million. She said Tony had been specific about his wishes and wanted her provided for after their 16 years together.
The report also addressed the exclusion of his five surviving children from the will. Jill said money had been left for his grandchildren’s education. Her comments offered her explanation of Tony’s intentions. The $60 million figure described his estimated estate at that time, and does not establish Jill’s current personal net worth.
Marrying Todd Weber and Becoming Jill Curtis-Weber
Jill later married Todd Weber and became known as Jill Curtis-Weber. In 2024, BOOMER Magazine reported that they met at a country and western club in Las Vegas and married six months later. The article places their wedding around 2013, three years after Tony’s death.
She described Todd’s humor, intelligence, and kindness, and said he supported her past life with Tony. Their shared interest in Old West history helped shape their later move to South Dakota. There, they combined continued horse rescue work with a family business selling handmade Western souvenirs to support the sanctuary.
Moving Shiloh Horse Rescue to South Dakota in 2019
Shiloh’s official history dates its move from Nevada to South Dakota to 2019. Jill Curtis-Weber, Todd Weber, and her mother, Sally VandenBerg, relocated the rescue and its animals together. The organization initially operated on leased ranch land in the Black Hills region.
After four years of leasing, Jill and Todd purchased 40 acres on the South Dakota prairie, according to the rescue. Shiloh’s permanent sanctuary is now in Newell, while The Lucky Horse Co. operates on Deadwood’s Historic Main Street. These two locations support the family’s ongoing arrangement for animal care and fundraising.
The Lucky Horse Co. and Her Family’s Deadwood Business
The Lucky Horse Co. sells handmade souvenirs on Deadwood’s Historic Main Street. Its official website lists decorated and welded horseshoe artwork, magnets, key chains, signs, antiques, and other items. Jill runs the family business with Todd, her mother Sally, and her sister Sarah, with sales helping support Shiloh.
In a 2024 BOOMER Magazine interview, Jill said the family crafted its products in Deadwood, with Todd handling horseshoe welding. She also described how he built the shop around a living tree, using an old livery stable as design inspiration. Their retail work connects Western crafts with ongoing fundraising for the sanctuary.
Business Income and Personal Net Worth Estimates
Famous People Today published a $60 million estimate for Jill Vandenberg Curtis in July 2025. Its reasoning primarily reuses Tony Curtis’s estimated estate value and the inheritance story, without presenting a separate assessment of her current assets and liabilities. The figure therefore remains an unverified website estimate.
Her documented commercial activity includes The Lucky Horse Co., whose sales help support Shiloh. Those business descriptions do not establish her salary, ownership income, savings, or debts. Without such information, neither shop sales nor charity funds provide a sound basis for calculating her individual net worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jill Vandenberg Curtis?
She is an equestrian and horse rescue advocate best known as Tony Curtis’s widow and co-founder of Shiloh Horse Rescue, established in 2003.
How old is Jill Vandenberg Curtis?
Her reported birth date is February 27, 1971, which would make her 55 in October 2026. IMDb is one biographical source listing that date.
What does Jill Vandenberg Curtis do for a living?
She works in horse rescue and helps run The Lucky Horse Co. in Deadwood. The family business sells handmade souvenirs to help fund Shiloh’s animal care.
When did Jill Vandenberg Curtis marry Tony Curtis?
They married on November 6, 1998, in Las Vegas. Their marriage lasted until his death on September 29, 2010, shortly before their twelfth wedding anniversary.
Did Jill and Tony Curtis have children together?
No children together are recorded in standard biographies. Tony’s six children were born during earlier marriages, making Jill stepmother to his surviving children.
What is Shiloh Horse Rescue?
Shiloh is a rescue and sanctuary founded by Jill and Tony Curtis in Nevada in 2003. It now focuses on older horses and those with special needs.
Is Jill Vandenberg Curtis also known as Jill Curtis-Weber?
Yes. Shiloh’s official website uses Jill Curtis-Weber, the name associated with her later marriage to Todd Weber, which BOOMER Magazine discussed in its 2024 interview.
Who is Jill’s husband, Todd Weber?
Todd Weber is Jill’s husband and partner in the family business and rescue work. According to her BOOMER interview, he also creates welded horseshoe artwork.
Where does Shiloh Horse Rescue operate today?
The sanctuary is based in Newell, South Dakota. The family’s fundraising store, The Lucky Horse Co., operates separately on Historic Main Street in Deadwood.
What is Jill Vandenberg Curtis’s estimated net worth?
Famous People Today published a $60 million estimate in July 2025, largely using Tony Curtis’s estate value. It is not a verified assessment of her current wealth.
Conclusion: Jill Vandenberg Curtis’s Horse Rescue Work and Life After Tony Curtis
Jill Vandenberg Curtis’s public history includes her marriage to Tony Curtis, but her equestrian background and rescue work give her biography a wider focus. Shiloh began in Nevada in 2003 and continued after Tony’s death, with Jill, Todd Weber, and her family moving the rescue to South Dakota in 2019.
Today, the sanctuary in Newell and The Lucky Horse Co. in Deadwood connect animal care with a family business. Her work spans competitive riding, rescue leadership, and fundraising through handmade goods. Published wealth figures remain estimates requiring clear attribution, particularly when they reuse Tony Curtis’s historical estate valuation instead of independently assessing her finances.
