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Tim Curry, the quirky British actor known for playing eccentric roles like the flamboyant, fishnet-wearing mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at age 80.
His longtime manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, said Curry died at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday night, after originally saying he died Wednesday. No cause of death was immediately disclosed. Curry suffered a stroke in 2012 and had since used a wheelchair.
He surged into the spotlight in the 1970s as the star of the horror-comedy stage musical The Rocky Horror Show, and reprised his role for the 1975 screen adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
He became known for playing fiendish, loony villains, including the clown Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It. He also starred as another famous antagonist, Rooster Hannigan — brother of the bitter, gin-soaked Miss Hannigan, played by Carol Burnett — in the 1982 movie Annie.
Beyond being known for his mischevious humour and rubber face, Curry was beloved by many as a voice in many animated children’s productions including The Rugrats Movie (1998), The Pebble and the Penguin (1995), Rugrats in Paris (2000) and The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002).
His work on the stage earned three Tony nominations — for Spamalot, My Favourite Year and the title role in Amadeus — alongside an Emmy nod in 1994 for an appearance on horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt.
A genre-defying career
In an official statement released to CBC News, Curry’s PR manager, Sean Katz, said the actor’s strength was his ability to move fluidly between genres.
“Throughout his life, he refused to be boxed in or confined to others’ expectations. Across five decades, he moved fluidly between comedy, horror, drama and music, delighting himself and his legion of fans with his countless dynamic personas.”
He said Curry’s greatest legacies were “his curious, expansive mind and generous, gentle heart, both of which remained open and filled with anticipation until his final breath.”
In 1974, the Rocky Horror phenomenon made its American stage debut and began production as a feature-length film adaptation starring Tim Curry as the flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter. (credit: FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
Throughout his five-decade career, Curry would glide back and forth between genres — occasionally departing from comedy and horror to take on dramatic roles in features such as The Three Musketeers (1993) and The Hunt for Red October (1990).
He also played as the butler Wadsworth in the 1985 comedy cult classic Clue, the villainous Bill Sikes in the 1982 TV movie of Oliver Twist and corrupt music industry villain, Winston Newquay in the 1989 TV series Wiseguy.
His comedic roles included the suspiciously slick hotel concierge Mr. Hector in Home Alone 2 (1992), the eccentric, greedy philanthropist Herkermer Homolka in Congo (1995) and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island (1996).
“I like playing the more curious corners of the human mind and human behaviour, partly because they’re a tad more interesting,” Curry told The Associated Press in 1993.
Tributes pour in
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from many of Curry’s former colleagues and admirers.
Burnett, Curry’s Annie co-star, honoured him on her Instagram, sharing a clip of the pair performing in the movie, calling him a dear friend and praising his talents. “Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could.”
Actor and comedian Rob Schneider wrote on X that he was “gutted” by the death of his Home Alone 2 co-star. “A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies. I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him.”
The official Instagram page for The Rocky Horror show also posted a tribute. “Today, we mourn the loss of Tim Curry. A singular talent. A true original. And the man who first brought Dr. Frank-N-Furter to life.”
The post continued, “He didn’t simply play a character. He created an icon. Thank you Tim.”