Tim Curry, the actor and singer best known for playing Dr Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at the age of 80. He died peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on Tuesday, his longtime manager Marcia Hurwitz told Variety.
The cause of death has not been revealed. Curry had been dealing with several health problems since suffering a serious stroke in 2012.
He first played Dr Frank N Furter on stage in London in 1973 and later reprised the role in the 1975 film. While the movie did not make a big impact when it was first released, it gradually gained a devoted following and became a cult classic.
Curry later took on a wide range of roles, often playing eccentric or villainous characters. His film credits included Clue, Annie, Legend, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Three Musketeers and Charlie’s Angels.
The actor was also a respected theatre performer. He received three Tony Award nominations during his career, including for Amadeus, My Favorite Year and Monty Python’s Spamalot.
Curry also lent his distinctive voice to several animated projects. He won a Daytime Emmy in 1991 for his voice performance in Peter Pan & the Pirates.
His career slowed after he suffered a stroke in 2012, but he continued to take on selected projects. He returned to films in 2024 with the horror movie Stream. Curry also explored music, releasing albums and performing with his own band.
Still, it was his fearless performance as Dr Frank N Furter that made him a lasting pop culture icon and introduced his work to generations of fans.
