New York, NY - September 30, 2010 - The widow of Tony Curtis, Jill Curtis, tells INSIDE EDITION that "We were together 16-years; we had a great time up until yesterday."

Jill Curtis tells INSIDE EDITION that he passed away at his home, surrounded by his loved ones.

JILL CURTIS:  "He died peacefully surrounded by those who loved him...in his bedroom where he loved to be...I'm very happy we made the decision to bring him home from the hospital.  He passed in his sleep."

Jill Curtis says she blames her husband's death on smoking - even though he quit many years ago.  

JILL CURTIS: "He had COPD* and very bad lung problems from smoking.  About 30-years-ago he quit. But his lungs never worked the way they should of.  So he was always fighting that."

Curtis died of cardiac arrest at the age of 85.

JILL CURTIS: "His heart survived many things that would have killed an ordinary man.  This time his heart was ready to go."

*Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

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