Tim Curry Brought One Of Nickelodeon's Most Beloved Cartoon Dads To Life

Tim Curry, the beloved actor who passed away on August 25, 2026, left behind a remarkable career that included unforgettable roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, and the It miniseries. However, his most cherished role may have been Nigel Thornberry, the eccentric and enthusiastic aristocrat-turned-wildlife documentarian in Nickelodeon's The Wild Thornberrys.

Curry provided the voice for Nigel in 90 episodes of the show, which aired from 1998 to 2004. The Thornberry family, including Nigel's daughter Eliza and Nigel's father Col. Radcliffe, embarks on globetrotting adventures as Eliza discovers her unique ability to communicate with animals. Despite his adult appearance, Nigel never truly grew up, as Curry humorously noted in a Nicktoons video promoting the series.

Curry also gave voice to Nigel's father and lent his talents to other projects like The Wild Thornberrys Movie, Rugrats Go Wild, and a crossover film featuring the Thornberrys and the babies from Rugrats. Curry's voice acting career spanned various genres, including FernGully: The Last Rainforest and animated classics like The Pirates of Dark Water and Captain Planet and the Planeteers.

He even voiced numerous characters in 90s TV shows like The Legend of Prince Valiant and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. Born in England, Curry's British accent proved to be an asset in cartoons, allowing him to play American characters and perfect his American accents. Nigel Thornberry was unmistakably English, and Curry's Nigel always delivered the iconic catchphrase, "Smashing!"