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English actor Tim Curry, best known for his roles in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and ‘It’, has died at the age of 80.
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Curry died at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday, August 25, with his longtime manager confirming his death.
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He built a successful career across film, television and theatre, with memorable roles in ‘Clue’, ‘Legend’ and ‘Home Alone 2’.
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Curry continued working after suffering a major stroke in 2012, despite the health challenges that followed.
August 26, (THEWILL) — English actor and singer Tim Curry, best known for his roles in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and ‘It’, has died at the age of 80.
Curry died at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday, August 25. His longtime manager, Marcia Hurwitz, confirmed his death.
Police reportedly responded to his home later that night, with no foul play suspected. His cause of death has not been revealed.
Curry became famous for playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in ‘The Rocky Horror Show’. He first played the role on stage before taking it to the big screen in the 1975 film ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’.
The role became the most famous of his career and helped turn the film into a cult classic.
Curry later gained another generation of fans for his portrayal of Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘It’.
His other notable roles included Wadsworth in ‘Clue’, the Lord of Darkness in ‘Legend’, Long John Silver in ‘Muppet Treasure Island’ and the hotel concierge in ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’.
Beyond film and theatre, Curry also built a successful voice-acting career, lending his distinctive voice to more than 100 animated series, films and video games, including ‘The Wild Thornberrys’, ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’, ‘FernGully: The Last Rainforest’ and ‘Dragon Age II’.
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Born in Cheshire, England, in 1946, Curry began his acting career on the London stage. He appeared in the original West End production of ‘Hair’ in 1968 before being cast as Frank-N-Furter in ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ in 1973.
Curry also enjoyed a successful theatre career, earning three Tony Award nominations for his roles in ‘Amadeus’, ‘My Favorite Year’ and ‘Spamalot’. He also worked extensively in television and voice acting, earning a Daytime Emmy Award for his voice work.
In 2012, Curry suffered a major stroke that left him with lasting mobility problems and reliant on a wheelchair. Despite the health challenges, he continued working, particularly in voice acting, and remained connected with his fans.
During a 2025 screening marking the 50th anniversary of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, Curry spoke about the impact of the stroke and his difficulty walking.
Curry’s career spanned more than five decades and included some of the most memorable characters in film, television and theatre.
His portrayal of Frank-N-Furter, in particular, made him a lasting figure in popular culture and earned him a devoted following around the world.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
