Tim Curry, the British actor whose portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter turned “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” into a cult phenomenon, has died at age 80.
TMZ reported Wednesday that Mr. Curry passed away late Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles. Citing law enforcement sources, the outlet said police responded to the residence at 11:23 p.m. and that no foul play is suspected. Mr. Curry had dealt with serious health problems for more than a decade, according to the outlet.
Mr. Curry got his start on the London stage in the late 1960s, landing his first major role in the original London production of “Hair” in 1968. That production connected him with Richard O’Brien, who went on to write “The Rocky Horror Show,” a role Mr. Curry originated on stage as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the cross-dressing mad scientist, before reprising it in the 1975 film adaptation, according to Consequence. The film was largely dismissed by critics on release but built a devoted following as a midnight-movie staple over the following decades.
He went on to terrify a generation of viewers as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 ABC miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s “It,” and younger audiences knew him as the mysterious hotel concierge Mr. Hector in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” His film credits also included “Annie,” “Clue,” “Legend,” “The Hunt for Red October,” “Muppet Treasure Island,” “Addams Family Reunion” and “Scary Movie 2.” On television, he earned a Daytime Emmy for voicing Captain Hook in “Peter Pan & the Pirates” and picked up three Tony Award nominations over his career, including for originating the role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the original 1980 Broadway production of “Amadeus.”
Mr. Curry suffered a major stroke in July 2012 that required brain surgery and left him reliant on a wheelchair for the rest of his life, a turn that pushed him toward voice acting in his later years. He continued to make occasional “Rocky Horror” reunion and anniversary appearances despite his health, and told interviewers as recently as last year, around the release of his memoir “Vagabond,” that he was still unable to walk, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Mr. Curry never married and had no children.
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