Tim Curry Dead: Icon of Comedy and Patron Saint of Saturday-Night Dress-Up Was 80

Tim Curry, a versatile actor recognized for his performances in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Clue, IT, and numerous other films, has passed away at the age of 80. TMZ reported his death occurred late Tuesday night at his residence in Los Angeles. Curry's cause of death was coronary artery disease.

Born on April 19, 1946, in Grappenhall, Cheshire, he was raised in Plymouth, London, and Bath. Curry's passion for singing led him to study English and drama at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 1968. That same year, he made his mark in the original London cast of the musical Hair. While there, Curry encountered Richard O’Brien, the author of The Rocky Horror Show, who later cast him as the iconic Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

This performance marked a turning point in Curry's career, as he reprised the role in the 1975 film adaptation, a pivotal moment for his rise to fame. Throughout his career, Curry starred in a diverse array of films, such as Annie (1982), Legend (1985), Clue (1985), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Charlie's Angels (2000), and Scary Movie 2 (2001).

His most recognized television role was Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 ABC miniseries It, though he also made regular guest appearances in series like Criminal Minds, Roseanne, Monk, Will & Grace, and Psych. Although Curry achieved significant success on screen, he continued to perform on stage throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in productions such as Titus Andronicus, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Travesties, and more.

After a break from stage roles in the 1990s, he returned to perform as Ebenezer Scrooge in a 2001 production of A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. In his later years, Curry struggled with a major stroke in July 2012, which left him using a wheelchair; consequently, he shifted towards a career in voice acting during the 2010s.

Despite the limitations imposed by the stroke, Curry maintained limited public appearances, reuniting with his Rocky Horror co-stars and reiterating his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter multiple times, including at a 2020 fundraising event for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.