Tim Curry, the distinctive British actor famous for his portrayal of eccentric characters such as the flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” has passed away at 80 years old. His death was confirmed by his long-time manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, who initially stated he passed away on Wednesday but later clarified that it was on Tuesday night. The cause of death has not been revealed. Curry had been using a wheelchair since suffering a stroke in 2012.
Curry rose to fame in the 1970s as the lead in the horror-comedy stage musical “The Rocky Horror Show,” later reprising his role in the 1975 film adaptation, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” He gained recognition for portraying villainous characters like Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries “It” and Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 movie “Annie.”
In addition to his renowned mischievous humor and expressive facial expressions, Curry was cherished for his voice work in animated children’s productions such as “The Rugrats Movie” (1998), “The Pebble and the Penguin” (1995), “Rugrats in Paris” (2000), and “The Wild Thornberrys Movie” (2002). His stage performances earned him three Tony nominations and an Emmy nomination for his role in the horror series “Tales from the Crypt” in 1994.
Described as a genre-defying talent, Curry’s public relations manager, Sean Katz, highlighted his versatility in moving seamlessly across genres throughout his five-decade career. Katz emphasized Curry’s legacy of embracing diverse roles and captivating audiences with his dynamic personas.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and fans following Curry’s passing. Carol Burnett, his co-star in “Annie,” paid homage to him on social media, praising his acting skills and calling him a dear friend. Rob Schneider, who acted alongside Curry in “Home Alone 2,” expressed his sorrow at the loss of the talented performer. The official Instagram page for “The Rocky Horror Show” also honored Curry, acknowledging him as the original Dr. Frank-N-Furter and a true icon of the stage and screen.
