Tim Curry, Rocky Horror and It Star, Dies at 80

Tim Curry, the English actor and singer whose performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter made The Rocky Horror Picture Show a cult landmark, has died at 80. Curry died Tuesday night, Aug. 25, at his home in Los Angeles, according to his longtime manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz. A cause of death was not disclosed in the initial reports from Variety and The Associated Press.

Variety reported that Hurwitz confirmed Curry died peacefully at his Toluca Lake home. CBS News also reported the manager’s confirmation and identified Curry’s work in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the original television adaptation of Stephen King’s It among the roles that defined his public profile. The reports said Curry had experienced significant health problems since suffering a severe stroke in 2012.

Curry first played Frank-N-Furter in the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show in London. He later carried the role to the 1975 film directed by Jim Sharman, where the character’s theatrical confidence and extravagant style became the centre of the movie’s continuing midnight-screening culture. Variety described the film as a production that initially struggled before finding a long second life with audiences.

His work extended far beyond that single character. On stage, Curry received Tony recognition for Amadeus and My Favorite Year and an Olivier Award nomination for The Pirates of Penzance. He also played King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot in Broadway and London productions. His screen credits included Annie, Legend, Clue, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and the film version of Charlie’s Angels.

Curry also built a substantial television and voice-acting career. He voiced Captain Hook in the animated series Peter Pan and the Pirates and played Pennywise in the 1990 television miniseries based on It. Variety reported that voice work and video-game roles became a larger part of his professional life after the stroke limited his mobility.

The actor’s death was reported with the date of Aug. 25 after an early public statement incorrectly listed another date. His manager had not released a cause of death when the reports were published. Curry leaves a body of stage, film, television and music work that continued to connect audiences with some of entertainment’s most recognisable productions.