The Cheshire-born actor has opened up about his health in a new interview
Danny Gutmann and Josh Pennington Content editor
19:02, 14 Oct 2025
He rose to fame on The Rocky Horror Picture Show(Image: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
For years, renowned actor Tim Curry graced the silver screen with his portrayal of some of Hollywood’s most iconic characters. However, a stroke in 2012 dramatically altered his life.
Born and raised in Cheshire during the 1940s, Tim secured his first significant acting role at the tender age of 22 in an adaptation of the American musical Hair.
His career skyrocketed following his performance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1973, and he continued to establish himself as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors through a variety of roles.
However, a routine visit to the masseur in 2012 took a shocking turn, leaving a lasting impact on his life.
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In a recent interview with The Guardian, he disclosed that he hadn’t initially realised anything was amiss when his masseur expressed concern, reports the Mirror.
It was during a trip to the masseur in 2012 that he sustained a stroke(Image: Earl Gibson III/WireImage)
Despite Tim’s insistence that he was fine, his masseur’s decision to call for an ambulance turned out to be the correct one.
Following tests that revealed he had suffered a stroke, he underwent immediate brain surgery. Now, 13 years later, he continues to live with the effects of the condition, relying on a wheelchair for mobility.
The 79 year old actor’s condition has left him unable to use his left arm and prone to bouts of temper, but he confessed to the media outlet that the most challenging aspect for him is dealing with short-term memory loss and its impact on his career, stating: “I can’t remember a f*****g thing. I’m not sure that I could do theatre again.”
When questioned about his fears of suffering another stroke in the future, he conceded that he has come to terms with the possibility, saying: “I probably should. It could happen any time. I wouldn’t want to go through it again. Because it just makes you so f*****g vulnerable.”
His newly released memoir hit bookshelves today(Image: Getty Images)
As per NHS guidelines, “the main symptoms of a stroke can occur suddenly,” and may include: “face weakness – one side of your face may droop (fall) and it might be hard to smile; arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm; and speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused.”
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Despite his health challenges, Tim’s acting career has persevered over recent years. His last appearance on the big screen was in 2024, featuring in Stream, a film directed by Michael Leavy.
Most recently, he authored his autobiography, Vagabond, with the memoir being released across bookshops nationwide today (14 October).