Tim Curry, star of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, dies at age 80

Curry, a three-time Tony nominee, was champion known for his portrayal of Dr Frank-N-Furter successful the cult classical musical.

Tim Curry, the British histrion champion known for his prima crook arsenic Dr Frank-N-Furter successful the cult classical philharmonic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died astatine property 80.

Curry, who had struggled with his wellness for much than a decennary aft a debilitating stroke, died peacefully astatine his location successful Los Angeles, California, according to a connection released by his longtime manager, Marcia Hurwitz, connected Wednesday. No origin of decease was disclosed.

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The histrion appeared successful galore movies, often arsenic a hammy villain. He was nominated astatine the yearly Tony Awards 3 times for Broadway roles and performed dependable enactment successful respective animated films and tv shows.

But his astir iconic relation was arsenic Frank-N-Furter, a cross-dressing idiosyncratic successful the stone philharmonic The Rocky Horror Show, which premiered successful 1973 astatine the Royal Court Theatre successful London.

He took the show-stopping relation to Broadway and past reprised his crook arsenic Frank-N-Furter successful the 1975 movie adaptation, alongside Barry Bostwick, Meat Loaf and Susan Sarandon.

“I’m not overmuch of a antheral by the airy of day. But by night, I’m 1 hellhole of a lover. I’m conscionable a saccharine transvestite from transsexual Transylvania,” Curry sang successful 1 scene, dressed successful garish oculus shadow, achromatic corsetry and stockings topped with a garter belt.

In a 1975 tv interview, Curry noted the hazard of having his vocation defined by the role.

“When I work it, I conscionable thought it was very, precise witty and funny,” Curry said of the script, though helium confessed to immoderate archetypal reluctance to prima successful the role.

“I mean, I was hesitant successful that, if it worked, it mightiness beryllium a hard happening to shingle off. But, really, I’ve ever thought that [a part] wasn’t worthy doing unless you took a risk.”

He aboriginal starred arsenic the child-killing monster successful the 1990 miniseries It, an adaptation of Stephen King’s fearfulness novel.

That aforesaid year, helium performed arsenic a Soviet aesculapian serviceman successful the movie The Hunt for Red October, based connected the Cold War-era caller by Tom Clancy.

Later, helium lent sneering gravitas to the relation of the double-dealing Cardinal Richelieu successful the 1993 escapade movie The Three Musketeers, with Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Chris O’Donnell.

“Tim Curry was idiosyncratic I cared profoundly about, helium was idiosyncratic I loved moving with and I americium truthful fortunate to person these memories,” Sutherland said successful a connection connected Wednesday.

Rich baritone voice

Born successful the English colony of Grappenhall, Cheshire, Curry studied play astatine Birmingham University.

Critics reason helium did overmuch of his champion enactment connected stage. His archetypal Tony information came successful 1981 for his show successful the rubric relation of Amadeus, a play fictionalising the large composer Mozart’s interactions with his rival, Antonio Salieri.

A 2nd Tony motion came successful 1993 for his starring relation successful the philharmonic My Favorite Year. In 2005, helium scooped up a 3rd information for his portrayal of King Arthur successful the zany philharmonic Monty Python’s Spamalot.

Having a affluent baritone voice, helium was besides successful request arsenic a dependable histrion for animated films and tv shows. He won a Daytime Emmy Award successful 1991 for his dependable enactment connected the animated bid Peter Pan and the Pirates.

Curry withdrew from a British signifier accumulation successful 2011 owed to sick health. In 2013, his cause said that helium had suffered a changeable but was recovering “in large humor”.

From past on, helium utilized a wheelchair and reduced his workload. In 2024, however, helium returned to the large screen, appearing successful the fearfulness movie Stream.

Curry, who lived successful Los Angeles, ne'er joined and had nary children. A composer and a singer, Curry also performed with his ain stone set and released a fistful of albums.