Tim Curry

Tim Curry has died at age 80. The British actor was known for iconic roles like Dr. Frank-N-Furter in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and Pennywise in 'It.'

Timothy James Curry (19 April 1946 – 25 August 2026) was an English actor and singer. Known for his villainous roles on stage and screen, he received an Emmy Award as well as nominations for a Grammy Award, two Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards. He was best known for portraying Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the musical The Rocky Horror Show (1973–1975) as well as in the musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

Curry started his career in the West End production of the musical Hair (1968–1969). He went on to be nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his roles as The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance (1982) and King Arthur in Spamalot (2007). On Broadway, he earned three Tony Award nominations, his first for Best Actor in a Play for his role as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus (1980) and followed by two nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Play for My Favorite Year (1992) and Spamalot (2005).

Curry received acclaim for his onscreen roles, Rooster Hannigan in Annie (1982), Darkness in Legend (1985), Wadsworth in Clue (1985), Hector, the Plaza front desk receptionist in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers (1993), Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island (1996), and Gomez Addams in Addams Family Reunion (1998). He also took roles in The Worst Witch (1986), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Loaded Weapon 1 (1993), Congo (1995), Charlie's Angels (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), and Kinsey (2004).

On television, Curry portrayed Pennywise in the miniseries It (1990) and acted in Oliver Twist (1982), Tales from the Crypt (1992), Will & Grace (2004), and Return to Cranford (2009). He voiced numerous roles including his Daytime Emmy Award-winning performance as Captain Hook on Peter Pan & the Pirates (1990–1991), Hexxus in Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992), Drake in The Pebble and the Penguin (1995), Sir Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys (1998–2004), and Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2012–2014).

As a singer, Curry released three rock-focused studio albums: Read My Lips (1978), Fearless (1979), and Simplicity (1981). He was nominated for the Grammy Award for A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (2002). He released his memoir Vagabond in 2025.

Personal life and death

Curry never married and had no children. He did not consider his relationship history a public matter.

A keen horticulturalist, Curry developed and restored gardens at many of his former residences and at several other properties in Los Angeles. Asked where his interest in gardening came from, he said: "I think if you're English, a trowel appears in your hand when you're 30 like a prosthetic device".

A former smoker, Curry stated that he had used hashish and cocaine. He also spent time in alcohol rehabilitation but did not consider himself an alcoholic.

On 13 July 2012, Curry suffered a major stroke while receiving a massage. The stroke required brain surgery. He used a wheelchair afterwards and continued to experience mobility issues, particularly in his left arm and leg. It also affected his short-term memory. In September 2025, Curry said he was still unable to walk.

In October 2020, Curry reprised his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter in a live table reading of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in support of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to raise funds for Joe Biden's presidential campaign.

Curry's memoir, Vagabond, was released on 14 October 2025 by Grand Central Publishing. Asked by a fan about the origin of the title, Curry said: "It comes from in the 17th and 18th centuries, actors were regarded as vagabonds and sort of criminals—and because I've always moved around so much."

Curry died at his home in Los Angeles on 25 August 2026, aged 80. A cause of death was not provided, though he had experienced multiple health issues after his stroke.