Tim Curry, the beloved actor and entertainer celebrated for his legendary roles as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of "It," has died. He was 80 years old.
Curry passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026, at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. His representative, Sean Katz, confirmed the news. A statement from his longtime manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, described Curry as an icon globally beloved for his dynamic contributions to both stage and screen.
The statement added that while Curry was widely recognized for his inimitable, flamboyant characters and colorful stage performances, those who knew him closely would remember him most for his curious, expansive mind and his generous, gentle heart, both of which remained open and filled with anticipation until his final breath.
In recent years, Curry had been dealing with significant health struggles. Following a stroke in 2012, he faced ongoing mobility challenges, which he spoke about openly with fans during a 2025 event at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. During that appearance, he explained that he still could not walk and found being in a wheelchair very limiting, noting that he would not be singing or dancing anytime soon due to persistent problems with his left leg.
Curry secured an enduring place in cinema history with his performance as the flamboyant, fishnet-wearing "sweet transvestite" Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Starring alongside Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick, the film was a B-movie parody of Frankenstein featuring classic songs like "The Time Warp" and "Science Fiction/Double Feature." Over more than five decades, the musical has remained a midnight movie staple, carrying a message that celebrates queerness, personal liberation, and individuality. In an interview last fall, Curry reflected on the film's enduring legacy, stating that it gave many people permission to be themselves and to live by the movie's core motto: "Don't dream it, be it." Curry remarked that he would like to be remembered for that message, calling it good advice.
Over a career that spanned more than fifty years, Curry also endeared himself to family audiences. He played the patriarch Gomez Addams in 1998's "Addams Family Reunion," the pirate Captain Long John Silver in "Muppet Treasure Island," and a suspicious Plaza Hotel concierge in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."
On stage and in musical cinema, Curry consistently shone. He played the conniving Rooster opposite Carol Burnett's Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film adaptation of "Annie," and he later earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of King Arthur in the Broadway production of Monty Python's "Spamalot."
Curry demonstrated remarkable dramatic and comedic range in films as diverse as "The Hunt for Red October," "Kinsey," and Ridley Scott's fantasy film "Legend." Comedy fans particularly loved him as the butler Wadsworth, who acted as the straight man in the 1985 ensemble mystery comedy "Clue" alongside Madeline Kahn and Christopher Lloyd.
Reflecting on his career, Curry shared that his favorite film experiences were "Clue" and "Oscar," a 1991 screwball comedy starring Sylvester Stallone. In "Oscar," Curry played Dr. Thornton Poole, a dialectician who falls for the daughter of an ex-mobster, played by Marisa Tomei. Curry noted that this character was the closest to his actual self, stating that he did not have to invent a personality for the role. Curry never married and had no children.
