Tim Curry, the versatile actor whose career spanned iconic turns as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the terrifying Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 adaptation of It, has died at the age of 80.
His representative, Sean Katz, confirmed the passing. A statement from his longtime manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, noted that the actor died peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on August 26, 2026. Hurwitz remembered him not just for his flamboyant stage and screen presence, but for his expansive mind and gentle heart, which remained vibrant until his final moments.
In recent years, Curry had been open about his health challenges following a 2012 stroke. During an appearance at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles in 2025, he spoke candidly about his limited mobility. He noted that he was confined to a wheelchair and faced ongoing difficulties with his left leg, humorously remarking that his days of singing and dancing were behind him.
Curry’s legacy is perhaps most deeply tied to his portrayal of the fishnet-wearing Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The film, a subversion of the Frankenstein narrative featuring tracks like The Time Warp, has served as a midnight cinema staple for over five decades. Reflecting on the movie’s impact in an interview last year, Curry expressed pride in its message of liberation and individuality, noting that it gave audiences permission to be themselves and to live by the motto, Don’t dream it, be it.
Beyond his cult status, Curry enjoyed a prolific career across various genres. He charmed family audiences in films such as Muppet Treasure Island, where he played Long John Silver, and as the concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. His musical theater background also earned him significant acclaim, including a Tony Award nomination for his role as King Arthur in the Broadway production of Spamalot.
His filmography showcased remarkable range, from the tension of The Hunt for Red October to the fantasy of Ridley Scott’s Legend. Comedy fans frequently cited his performance as the butler Wadsworth in the 1985 mystery Clue as a career highlight. Curry himself often pointed to Clue and the 1991 screwball comedy Oscar, where he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone, as his favorite projects. He noted that the character of Dr. Thornton Poole in Oscar was the role most reflective of his own personality.
Though he never married or had children, Curry reflected on his personal life in his 2025 memoir, Vagabond. He wrote that he had both loved and been loved, while maintaining a firm boundary regarding the privacy of his personal affairs. His contributions to the arts remain a testament to a career defined by bold choices and an enduring, generous spirit. The report also notes that curry had been suffering from health issues in recent years and told fans in 2025 that he still struggles with mobility after a 2012 stroke. The report also notes that so I won’t be singing and I won’t be dancing very soon. The report also notes that throughout his more than five-decade career, Curry endeared himself to family audiences playing patriarch Gomez Addams in 1998’s “Addams Family Reunion,” pirate Long John Silver in “Muppet Treasure Island” and a suspicious Plaza Hotel concierge in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The report also notes that in addition to “Rocky Horror,” Curry often shined in the musical realm: portraying the conniving Rooster opposite Carol Burnett’s Miss Hannigan in 1982’s “Annie,” and earning a Tony Award nomination for best leading actor for Monty Python’s deeply silly Broadway adaptation of “Spamalot,” in which he played King Arthur.