Tim Curry, known for roles in cult classic films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Clue, has died aged 80.
The legendary British actor and singer died Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home, according to TMZ. His longtime agent, Marcia Hurwitz, confirmed his death to the New York Times. His cause of death has not been disclosed, but police sources told the outlet no foul play is suspected.
Curry dealt with significant health problems in recent years after a major stroke in 2012 left him unable to walk. He continued to work as a voice actor across film, TV and video games until his death.
A classically trained performer, Curry had a knack for taking on eccentric characters like Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise, the killer clown from Stephen King’s It miniseries. He played Rooster Hannigan, the brother of Carol Burnett’s scheming Miss Hannigan, in the 1982 adaptation of Annie, and the creepy hotel concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Curry never married, and was known for keeping his personal life private. However, in October 2025, he published a memoir called Vagabond that pulled back the curtain on his boarding school upbringing as well as his decades in the spotlight.
His last-ever Instagram post, 12 days before his death, encouraged readers to buy the book, ending the message with an iconic line from Rocky Horror: “Well. How nice.”
Tim Curry dead at 80
- Beloved actor Tim Curry has died
- Actor faced health struggles in recent years
- Tim Curry's iconic roles: From Dr. Frank-N-Furter to Rooster Hannigan
- His final interview before his death
- Carol Burnett pays tribute to 'Annie' co-star
Tim Curry lent his voice to hit Nickelodeon show
19:22 , Caitlin HornikCurry voiced Nigel Thornberry on the animated Nickelodeon series The Wild Thornberrys from 1998-2004.
In one of the final Instagram posts on his official page, Curry shared a compilation video of his work as the family’s patriarch, who was known for his catchphrase, “Smashing!”
Elaine Hendrix remembers Tim Curry
19:15 , Carsen Holaday“And the blows keep coming,” actor Elaine Hendrix wrote on Instagram. “ worked with Tim Curry in the 90s. He was THE kindest man.”
“I adored him up close and from a far since discovering The Rocky Horror Picture Show while I was in High School. I was a huge fan of him! What a talent. What a gentleman. What an honor. RIP Tim.”
Jennifer Tilly on Tim Curry: 'Gone too soon'
19:10 , Caitlin HornikTilly and Curry worked together on the 2005 family film Bailey's Billions.
“I loved working with Tim Curry. He was a comedic genius and a brilliant man. Gone too soon,” she wrote in a post on X.
I loved working with Tim Curry. He was a comedic genius and a brilliant man. Gone too soon. 😢 https://t.co/hdg67VBtZP
Inside Tim Curry's music career
19:01 , Carsen HoladayAlthough best known for his acting career, Tim Curry was classically trained as a vocal artist in his adolescence, and went on to release three studio albums throughout his life.
His music catalog consisted of Read My Lips (1978), Fearless (1979) and Simplicity (1981), which all showcased his rock and jazz influences.
He toured the albums in North America and Europe.
SAG-AFTRA: Curry was ‘unforgettable’
18:45 , Carsen Holaday“We are saddened by the loss of the iconic Tim Curry,” the screen actors union wrote in a tribute post on social media.
“He became a cultural icon as Dr. Frank-N-Furter & terrified audiences as Pennywise, while earning 3 Tony nominations.”
“His unforgettable performances left an indelible mark on generations of audiences. #SagAftraMember since 1974,” the post said.
'Spamalot' writer honors Tim Curry
18:36 , Carsen HoladayEric Idle, the playwright and screenwriter behind Spamalot, wrote: “Very sad to see the passing of Tim Curry, our first King Arthur.”
“A fine man, singer, actor, host and gardener. He will be missed,” he wrote on X.
Curry played King Arthur in the Broadway production of Spamalot, earning him a 2005 Tony nomination.
Carol Burnett remembers 'dear friend'
18:31 , Carsen HoladayComedy legend Carol Burnett, 93, has shared a tribute to Tim Curry, who played her character Miss Hannigan’s villainous brother in the 1982 movie Annie.
“We had such a wonderful time working together on Annie,” Burnett wrote on Instagram. “Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could.”
“He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him.”
'Home Alone' fans mourn
18:20 , Carsen HoladayFans of the Home Alone franchise are mourning after Tim Curry marks the third actor in the film series to pass away this year.
Catherine O’Hara — the beloved actor who played Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin’s mother, Kate McCallister, in the first two Home Alone movies — died in January at age 71.
Oscar-winning actor Brenda Fricker, who played the Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, died at the age of 81 in July.
Curry was also in Home Alone 2. In the 1992 sequel, he played Plaza front desk receptionist Mr. Hector, who attempts to expose Kevin for staying in the hotel alone.
Richard O’Brien’s son honors Tim Curry
18:15 , Carsen HoladayLinus O’Brien wrote of his father’s chance meeting with Curry in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“We were very fortunate that he bumped into my Dad one day in Earls Court in 1973. It was in that chance meeting that my Dad mentioned to Tim that he had written a musical that was going to go on at the Royal Court Theater Upstairs. He told Tim that he should audition and that Jim Sharman wanted everyone to bring along Rock N' Roll song. Tim came in the next day and sang ‘Tutti Frutti' by Little Richard. He blew everyone's socks off and they all knew that he was Frank N' Furter.”
Tim Curry received multiple award nominations
18:10 , Carsen HoladayCurry was nominated three times for a Tony Award for Best Actor in Amadeus (1981), My Favorite Year (1993), and Spamalot (2005).
In 1991, he won a Daytime Emmy for his voice acting in Peter Pan & the Pirates. He later earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Tales from the Crypt (1994).
Tim Curry was hesitant about taking ‘Rocky Horror’ role
18:05 , Carsen Holaday“I was hesitant in that, if it worked, it might be a difficult image to shake off,” Curry said in a 1975 television interview in England as the London stage production was opening.
“But then, really, I’ve always thought it wasn’t worth doing unless you took a risk, really. So I just took the risk.”
Curry became known for his iconic character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and later reprised the role in the musical film.
Tim Curry's final interview before his death
18:05 , Carsen HoladayIn his final interview before his death, Tim Curry spoke about his illustrious career and his desire to keep his personal life private with CBS in October 2025.
He said he was drawn to acting “by the idea of being someone else” and also the allure of fame.
But Curry said that over the years, he began to despise fame. “I was rather a purist about my work and about acting,” he said. “I wanted to disappear into characters, I didn’t want an audience to say ‘Oh, thank God, here he is.’”
He added that he wanted to be an enigma in Hollywood, especially when it came to his personal life.
“One of the keys to remaining some kind of enigma is to not encourage an identity,” he said. “I’ve tried to protect that and will continue to.”
He ultimately decided to write and release his autobiography, Vagabond: A Memoir, in 2025.
Hollywood honors Tim Curry
18:02 , Carsen HoladayTributes from actors, directors and fans alike are pouring in honoring Tim Curry after his death Tuesday at age 80.
“Goodnight Sweet Myth,” director Guillermo Del Toro wrote with a picture of Curry on X.
Actor Selma Blair commented on Curry’s final Instagram post: “Rest in peace. Kind and wonderful you.”
Glee star Kevin McHale wrote on X, “If you are 80 and an icon, stay safe. This is hell.”
'Clue' co-star pays tribute
17:55 , Carsen HoladayActor and comedian Michael McKean, who starred alongside Curry in 1985 comedy Clue, wrote on X: “My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter.”
“The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing,” he continued. “Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.”
My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter. The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) August 26, 2026
The Muppets issue statement remembering 'honorary member' Tim Curry
17:49 , Carsen HoladayThe Muppets released a statement remembering Curry, who played Long John Silver in the 1996 film Muppet Treasure Island.
“Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry,” the message said. “As a performer, he was unparalleled – witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny.”
“We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.”
Broadway's Dr Frank-N-Furter shares heartfelt letter
17:43 , Carsen HoladayLuke Evans, the actor who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the current Broadway production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has shared a message about the death of Tim Curry, who originated the iconic role.
Evans remembered Curry as “a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm and that rich vocal tone.”
“He was an inspiration to me and so many more people for the roles he played and the effect he had on so many of us,” he wrote. “There will only be one Tim Curry.”
“All the rest of us will just have to do our best to emulate some of the magic of that role that I’ve just spent 7 months playing.”
He then shared the letter he sent to Curry before ending his time in the role with his last performance Sunday, August 23.
“Although we’ve never met, you’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning,” he wrote to the late actor, ading, “Every actor who puts on Frank inevitably walks into a conversation that started with you, and I’ve felt that every single night.”
He went on to thank the actor “for your fearless performance, for creating something so enduring, and for inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be.”
Stephen King pays tribute
17:30 , Carsen HoladayAuthor Stephen King has paid tribute to Tim Curry, who played Pennywise the Clown in his 1990 TV miniseries It.
“Tim Curry, the original Pennywise. RIP,” King wrote on Threads.
How Tim Curry helped 'complete' Princess Diana's education
17:08 , Carsen HoladayCurry revealed last year that he spoke with Diana, Princess of Wales, after she had requested to meet the cast of his play Love For Love.
As he later recalled to NPR, she asked him, “You were in the Rocky Horror Show, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was, but I’m sure that you haven’t seen it,” he responded.
Diana then laughed and said: “Oh, yes, it quite completed my education.”
Curry later said of the interaction: “She was a very funny girl and a very beautiful one, and a very wicked smile came with that sentence.”
Read more here:
Tim Curry reveals which film of his Diana said ‘completed her education’
Tim Curry’s versatile roles across stage and screen
17:01 , Carsen HoladayCurry soared to fame in the 1970s as the flamboyant star of the campy horror movie stage show The Rocky Horror Show, and its screen version that became a cult movie.
The versatile actor garnered an Emmy and Tony Awards, as well as Olivier Awards nods for his variety of roles.
His career was defined by playing the wicked Dr. Frank N. Furter in the musical comedy, and he had later success playing the evil hotel concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
He began his career in the original UK production of the hit hippie musical Hair.
Following Rocky Horror, Curry became one of theatre’s most in-demand actors, appearing in plays such as Tom Stoppard’s Travesties and the original Broadway production of Mozart drama Amadeus in 1981.
Curry had a particular talent for portraying villains with his distinctive smirk, playing “Rooster” Hannigan in the 1982 film adaptation of Annie, and the nefarious Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island.
He earned his third Tony nod for the production of the Monty Python musical Spamalot in 2004. After he faced a stroke, which him to use a wheelchair, in 2012, Curry turned his attention to voice acting roles across TV, film and video games.
Legendary roles
16:58 , Carsen HoladayAfter getting his start in theater, Tim Curry became known in film and TV for his charismatic roles.
Some of his most iconic performances include the terrifying clown Pennywise in Stephen King’s It miniseries, the suspicious butler in Clue and the mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Actor started out in London theater
16:49 , Carsen HoladayThe British-born performer started his acting career in London theater, where he appeared in the original West End cast of the musical Hair in 1968.
The production is where he met Richard O’Brien, who went on to create Curry’s iconic role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1973.
Tim Curry faced health struggles in recent years
16:45 , Carsen HoladayTim Curry faced several health struggles in recent years.
In July 2012, he suffered a major stroke and required the use of a wheelchair from then on.
After this, he pivoted to voice acting across TV, film and video games.
Tim Curry has died aged 80
16:37 , Carsen HoladayThe inimitable Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and The Rocky Horror Picture Show actor has died aged 80, TMZ has reported.
The outlet reported that the English actor died Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home.
He had been dealing with serious health issues for more than a decade after suffering a stroke in 2012. He has required the use of a wheelchair since.
The actor, who grew up in Plymouth, England, was famed for his extensive work on stage, and roles in films such as Clue and Muppet Treasure Island.
