Actor Tim Curry remembered for Rocky Horror, It and a varied career

Tim Curry, the versatile actor who became internationally known as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, has died aged 80. Reports say he died at his home in Los Angeles.

Curry also played the Lord of Darkness in Legend and Pennywise in the 1990 television miniseries It, while maintaining a wide-ranging career in theatre, film, television and voice acting.

From West End breakthrough to cult-film icon

Born in 1946, Curry earned a drama and English degree from the University of Birmingham in 1968. That year, he joined the original cast of the first West End production of Hair, where he met Richard O’Brien.

O’Brien later cast Curry as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, which debuted on stage in 1973. Curry reprised the role for the 1975 film adaptation, appearing in heavy makeup, stockings and suspenders as the flamboyant scientist.

His other major transformations included the horned, scarlet-skinned Lord of Darkness in Ridley Scott’s Legend in 1985 and the heavily made-up Pennywise in It in 1990, based on Stephen King’s novel.

A career across stage, screen and television

Curry’s theatre work included Tristan Tzara in Tom Stoppard’s Travesties, Mozart in the Broadway production of Amadeus and King Arthur in the Broadway run of Spamalot. His film roles ranged from The Shout and The Ploughman’s Lunch to comedies including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Muppet Treasure Island, Scary Movie 2 and McHale’s Navy.

He also provided voices for animated films and series, including Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, Ribbit, Duckman, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Mask and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. His television work included portrayals of William Shakespeare, Bill Sikes and the wizard Trymon, as well as guest appearances in Psych, Poirot and Criminal Minds.

Health challenges and final memoir

Curry suffered a stroke in 2012 while receiving a massage and underwent brain surgery. The stroke left him with mobility problems and affected his short-term memory.

He released his memoir, Vagabond, in 2025.