Grace Diviny, Staff Writer
On Tuesday night, August 25th, legendary actor Tim Curry passed away at the age of 80 years old from coronary artery disease.
His death was confirmed by his representative Sean Katz in a statement to USA Today. “Tim Curry, the iconic actor and entertainer globally beloved for his dynamic contributions to the stage and screen, passed away peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on Aug. 25, 2026, confirmed by his longtime manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz,” the statement read. “Though widely known for his inimitable, flamboyant characters and colorful stage performances, his greatest legacies to those who knew him were his curious, expansive mind and generous, gentle heart, both of which remained open and filled with anticipation until his final breath.”
Curry was born on April 19th, 1946 in Grappenhall, a town in the English province of Cheshire. He got his start in acting in the late 60s in London in the musical “Hair,” before pursuing further acting pursuits in the London-Glasglow area.
In 1973, Curry landed his big starring role in musical stage production “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” in which he played the role of mad ‘transvestite’ scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, which would become a film adaptation two years later and be Curry’s debut role in film, where it became a cult classic among many theatre lovers and a staple in the LGBTQ+ community’s representation.
Besides his role as the wacky but lovable scientist, Curry had a prolific range in roles, such as the innocent looking but terrifying Pennywise in the original 1990 “It” miniseries, charming butler Wadsworth in “Clue,” and the greedy villainous Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 adaptation of Annie.
He also voice acted in a variety of shows, with his most prominent role being Nigel Thornberry in Nickelodeon’s “The Wild Thornberrys.” He also starred in other beloved franchises, such as Muppet Treasure Island as pirate Long John Silver and the hotel concierge Mr. Hector in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
The actor had been struggling with his health for over 14 years, having faced a massive stroke during a massage in 2012 that left him partially paralyzed and wheelchair bound. He subsequently retired from making physical acting appearances while still continuing to do voice acting roles over the years.
Tributes poured in for Curry immediately, such as his Annie co-star Carol Burnett who posted a clip of one of their scenes together on Instagram. “We had such a wonderful time working
together on “Annie.” Burnett said in her caption, “Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him.”
Susan Sarandon, Curry’s Rocky Horror Picture Show co-star, also paid tribute on her personal Instagram page “What a funny, sexy, original he was.” Sarandon said in her caption with a photo of her and Curry together. “But what I loved about him most was his heart. Even wheelchair bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans. Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people. Love you, S.”
Curry was an exceptional actor who will be dearly missed by many fans alike, and his legacy will forever be remembered for decades to come.
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