Tim Curry, Rocky Horror Picture Show star, dies aged 80

Tim Curry, the actor whose flamboyant performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show made him a cult icon, has died at the age of 80.

It has been confirmed to Variety magazine that screen legend Tim Curry has died at the age of 80. He has lived with significant health challenges since a severe stroke in 2012, largely withdrawing from the public eye.

To those of us in the theatre community, Curry will always be known as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and its 1975 film adaptation. He began his career on the London stage, making his professional debut in Hair (1968–69), before appearing in The Rocky Horror Show (1973), Travesties (1975–76), Amadeus (1980) and The Pirates of Penzance (1982).

A career spanning stage and screen

Over the course of a six-decade career, Curry earned a Daytime Emmy Award alongside Tony and Olivier Award nominations for his stage work. He was also a prolific voice actor, and continued working following his 2012 stroke.

The acclaimed actor rose to international fame in the 1975 film adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, alongside Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. Initially considered a box office failure, the film went on to become one of cinema’s most enduring cult classics.

Curry also famously played Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It, a role that has continued to terrify generations of audiences. Likewise, he can also be seen in many beloved films, including Annie, Clue, Muppet Treasure Island and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

A community mourns

Tributes for the actor have poured in since the news broke, with friends and fans alike taking to social media to share how much he meant to them.

Carol Burnett, who appeared in Annie with Curry, shared a clip from the film with a caption that read, ‘We had such a wonderful time working together on ‘Annie.’ Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him.’

The official Instagram account for The Muppets paid tribute to his role as Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island, writing: ‘Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry. As a performer he was unparalleled – witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny… We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.’

We echo the sentiments. He meant so much to so many of us.

Thank you, Tim.

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Main photo: Tim Curry at the 47th Emmy Awards Governor's Ball. Photo by Alan Light