Richard O’Brien has paid a heartfelt Tim Curry death tribute, calling the actor ‘a wonderful man by nature’ following confirmation that Curry passed away on Tuesday, 25 August, in Los Angeles, aged 80. O’Brien wrote The Rocky Horror Show, in which Curry originated the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter, and later co-wrote and starred in the 1975 film adaptation alongside him.
O’Brien’s son Linus shared his father’s words on Instagram. ‘It is with an exceptionally sad heart and misted-up eyes that I share these words with you,’ O’Brien wrote. ‘Tim Curry was a wonderful man by nature who was a wonderful performer and understood the difference between such delightful achievements. He never sought attention and never put himself before the roles that he played. He was, in short, a good egg and class act. It was both a privilege and delight to have known him and worked with him. Rest in peace dear Tim.’
A career that stretched from stage to screen
Curry’s career was as varied as it was long. He got his break in Hair on the West End before going on to appear in Amadeus and Spamalot, earning the first of three Tony Award nominations for the former. On screen, he played clown Pennywise in the 1990 It miniseries, based on the Stephen King novel, and took memorable roles in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Annie, Muppet Treasure Island and Clue.
Television audiences knew him from Will & Grace, Oliver Twist and The Wild Thornberrys, where he famously voiced Sir Nigel Thornberry. He also voiced Darth Sidious in Star Wars: The Clone Wars between 2012 and 2014.
Curry’s attachment to the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter ran deep. Speaking to NPR in 2005 about what the character meant to fans, he recalled: ‘It’s a chance for people to try on a few roles for size, maybe help them figure out their own sexuality. I’ve certainly had some very interesting and moving mail from people who’ve said, “Thanks for helping me figure out who I was,” and that’s very nice.’
Tim Curry death tributes pour in from across the industry
The Tim Curry death tribute from O’Brien was among many to arrive in the hours after the news broke. Stephen King, who wrote the source novel for It, posted on Threads: ‘Tim Curry, the original Pennywise. RIP.’ Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Stephanie Beatriz shared a series of crying emojis on Instagram, while Clue co-star Michael McKean 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. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.’ Musician Mark Portnoy also posted on Instagram: ‘Damn RIP Tim Curry[.] Of course he had a tremendous career (& challenging life), but he’ll always be Dr Frank N Furter to me!’
Those words about a ‘challenging life’ carry real weight. Curry suffered a major stroke at his home in Los Angeles in July 2012, according to News8000, and had been using a wheelchair since, though he was able to continue with voice work in the years that followed. Officials have now detailed his cause of death, with WSB-TV reporting that his health battles included both his stroke and cancer.
His death was confirmed to CBS, with TMZ reporting that he passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 80.
Curry’s passing was confirmed to CBS following the news being reported by TMZ. O’Brien’s tribute, shared by his son Linus, offered perhaps the simplest and most complete summary of what those who worked with Curry felt: that behind one of the most flamboyant characters in cult cinema was, by all accounts, a quietly generous and considered man.
Curry earned three Tony Award nominations across his stage career and left a body of work spanning six decades, from the West End to Hollywood and into animation. His voice alone carried several of his most beloved performances in his later years, a testament to a talent that did not require a stage to fill a room.
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