Tim Curry, the versatile performer of screen and stage who made his name as the flamboyant Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died aged 80. Reports say Curry died at his home in Los Angeles, with his manager confirming he passed peacefully. No cause of death is known as yet.
THIS ARTICLE AT A GLANCE
- Tim Curry died on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at his home in Los Angeles.
- Curry originated the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter in the West End stage production of The Rocky Horror Show
- He reprised the role for the 1975 film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Curry also played Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It
- He suffered a major stroke in 2012 that left him requiring a wheelchair
- Curry received Tony nominations for Amadeus on Broadway and Spamalot in 2004
- He won a Daytime Emmy for voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan and the Pirates
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Curry’s longtime manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz told Variety that the actor “passed away peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles” on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded to a death investigation for a man in his 80s at about 11:20 pm local time.
“A legendary talent whose unmistakable voice, theatrical presence and fearless performances made him a pop culture icon.”
Curry was born on 19 April 1946 in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. He started his career on the London stage in the 1970s, performing in the original West End production of Hair. Later, he appeared on Broadway in Tom Stoppard’s Travesties and in Amadeus, earning a Tony nomination for best actor in a play.
Curry is best known for playing Dr Frank-N-Furter, the mad scientist in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He first played the character on the West End stage in the early 1970s and then took on the role again for the 1975 film. Midnight showings have helped make the film the longest-running theatrical release ever.
“I don’t fear death. I try to avoid it, as I think we all do, but I suspect that in the end I will welcome it.”
Throughout his life, Curry often said that his romantic relationships and personal life were private matters. In a 1975 interview, he stated:
"I don't talk about who I'm fucking or whether I'm in love"
Curry’s skill at playing campy villains and his distinctive baritone voice led to many memorable roles in the 1980s. He played the butler Wadsworth in Clue, the Lord of Darkness in Willow, and the shape-shifting clown Pennywise in the TV miniseries It, based on Stephen King’s novel.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Curry appeared in many Hollywood films, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Three Musketeers, The Hunt for Red October, Muppet Treasure Island, and Charlie’s Angels. He also made guest appearances on TV shows like Roseanne, Will and Grace, and Monk.
Curry was also a prolific voice acCurry was also a prolific voice actor. He won a Daytime Emmy for playing Captain Hook in the animated series Peter Pan and the Pirates. He voiced Nigel Thornberry on Nickelodeon’s The Wild Thornberrys and appeared in FernGully: The Last Rainforest and The Rugrats Movie. He appeared on various movie soundtracks and released three solo albums. His 1979 single I Do the Rock charted on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In 2004, Curry returned to Broadway and played King Arthur in Spamalot, a comedy musical by Monty Python’s Eric Idle based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. His performance earned him a Tony nomination for best leading actor in a musical.
Curry had a major stroke in 2012, which meant he needed a wheelchair and mostly focused on voice acting and attending fan events. Despite his health issues, he stayed a beloved figure in the entertainment world and with fans everywhere.
