Tim Curry, the British actor renowned for his portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at the age of 80. He passed away on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, California, according to his longtime manager, Marcia Hurwitz. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Before his death, Curry had battled health issues for over a decade following a stroke.
Curry appeared in numerous films, often playing villainous characters. He was nominated for three Tony Awards for his stage performances and lent his voice to many animated films and television shows.
His most iconic role was Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist in the rock musical The Rocky Horror Show, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1973. He brought the role to Broadway and reprised it in the 1975 film adaptation alongside Barry Bostwick, Meat Loaf, and Susan Sarandon.
In a 1975 television interview, Curry reflected on the risk of being typecast by the role: "When I read the script, I found it very witty and funny. I hesitated because if it was successful, it might be hard to escape the role. But I've always thought a part isn't worth doing if you don't take a risk."
He later played a child-killing monster in the 1990 miniseries It, adapted from Stephen King's horror novel. That same year, he portrayed a Soviet medical officer in The Hunt for Red October, based on Tom Clancy's novel.
In 1993, he played the scheming Cardinal Richelieu in the adventure film The Three Musketeers opposite Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, and Chris O'Donnell.
Born in the village of Grappenhall, Cheshire, England, Curry studied acting at the University of Birmingham. He earned critical acclaim for his stage roles, receiving his first Tony nomination in 1981 for the lead in Amadeus, followed by My Favorite Year (1993) and Monty Python's Spamalot (2005) as King Arthur.
With a deep baritone voice, Curry was in demand for animated voice work. He won a Daytime Emmy in 1991 for his voice role in the animated series Peter Pan and the Pirates.
Curry withdrew from a stage production in the UK in 2011 due to poor health. In 2013, his representative confirmed he had suffered a stroke but was recovering. He subsequently used a wheelchair and reduced his workload. In 2024, he returned to the screen in the horror film Stream.
Curry lived in Los Angeles, never married, and had no children. He was also a composer and singer, having released several albums.
