Tim Curry, the actor whose portrayal of Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show made him a cult icon, has died at the age of 80. Variety reports that Curry died peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake.
Curry’s manager confirmed the news to CBS, the BBC’s US news partner.
From stage to screen: the Tim Curry Rocky Horror legacy
Born in Cheshire in 1946, Curry’s path to Frank-N-Furter began with his first professional role after university: the original London production of rock musical Hair in 1968. In 1973, a fellow cast member, Richard O’Brien, asked him to audition for a new musical and cast him as the lingerie-clad ‘sweet transvestite’ Dr Frank-N-Furter.
Curry first played the character on stage in the upstairs theatre at London’s Royal Court in 1973. The production’s popularity grew rapidly, leading to a big-screen adaptation in 1975 that also starred Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and O’Brien. The film was not an immediate hit on release but became a fan favourite. It holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in film history.
The Tim Curry Rocky Horror connection remained central to his reputation throughout his career, but his range extended well beyond that single role. He played fearsome clown Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It, and took the role of Long John Silver in 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island. His film credits also included The Hunt for Red October and Home Alone 2.
Broadway career and later years
Curry was nominated for three Tony Awards during his Broadway career. Among those nominations was one for his performance in Spamalot, in which he played Arthur when the production opened on Broadway in 2005, according to The New York Times.
In 2012, Curry suffered a stroke that required brain surgery, TMZ reports. His public appearances became rarer in the years that followed.
Curry’s career had spanned more than five decades, taking in stage, film and television across the UK and the United States. He remains one of relatively few performers to have built a devoted following from a single role, the outlandish Frank-N-Furter, while also accumulating a body of work that touched horror, comedy, adventure and musical theatre.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as further details are confirmed.
