English actor Tim Curry, best known for playing the outlandish Frank-N-Furter in the film musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at the age of 80.
Curry first played the role on stage before the film version, which was released in 1975 and has remained a cult favourite.
The actor also played fearsome clown Pennywise in the 1990 TV version of Stephen King’s It, and was Long John Silver in 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island.
His other films included Annie, The Hunt for Red October, Home Alone 2, Scary Movie 2 and he was nominated for three Tony Awards on Broadway.
Born in Warrington in 1946, Curry’s first acting job after university was in the original London production of groundbreaking rock musical Hair in 1968.
In 1973, a fellow cast member, Richard O’Brien, asked Curry to audition for his new musical, and cast him in the role of the flamboyant lingerie-clad “sweet transvestite” Dr Frank-N-Furter.
Curry first put his stamp on the character of the riotous scientist on stage in the upstairs theatre at London’s Royal Court in 1973.
The show’s popularity snowballed and resulted in a big-screen adaptation, which also starred Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and O’Brien.
It was not an immediate hit at cinemas but became a fan favourite and holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in film history.
Welsh actor Luke Evans, who played the role in a Broadway revival, called Curry “a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm”.
In a letter he recently wrote to Curry, Evans thanked him for his fearlessness and for “creating something so enduring and for inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be”.
“Being compared to you has been one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, even though it’s a comparison no one could ever hope to live up to,” he wrote in the letter.
The official Rocky Horror Picture Show on Broadway account similarly thanked the late actor for “giving the world a little more freedom, a little more fearlessness, and through the tears in our eyes, the courage to BE IT” – a nod to Curry’s delivery of the famous line from the musical, “Don’t dream it, be it.”
Curry’s varied career also saw him appear on screen in the 1982 musical film Annie as Miss Hannigan’s con-artist brother, the 1985 murder mystery Clue, Fantasy Legend alongside Tom Cruise also in 1985, and 1995 gorilla thriller Congo.
On stage, he received his first Tony nomination for playing Mozart in the original Broadway production of Amadeus in 1981.
Further Tony nominations came his way for My Favorite Year in 1993, then in 2005 for playing King Arthur in Monty Python musical Spamalot.
His performance in the 2008 video game Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 found him fame with a new generation of fans online.
As Soviet Premier Anatoly Cherdenko, Curry’s bombastic delivery of one line, and his apparent efforts to stifle a giggle as he said it became a legendary meme online: “I’m going to escape, to the one place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism… space!”
One clip of the moment has more than 10 million views on YouTube and has been endlessly shared across social media.
‘Countless dynamic personas’
A statement from Curry’s representatives following his death said: “Across five decades, he moved fluidly between comedy, horror, drama, and music, delighting himself and his legion of fans with his countless dynamic personas.”
They added: “Few actors can claim to have left as many distinct fingerprints on pop culture – and though he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2012, he continued adding to his achievements as an artist and, most recently, a writer.
“Though widely known for his inimitable, flamboyant characters and colourful 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.”
American comedy icon Carol Burnett, who shared a clip of Curry’s turn as her smarmy brother in Annie alongside Bernadette Peters, wrote on social media that “nobody could play lovable villains better than he could”.
US actor Rob Schneider, who played the bell boy to Curry’s uppity hotel clerk in Home Alone 2, said that he was “gutted” by Curry’s death.
“The sensational character actor, Tim Curry has left the stage,” Schneider wrote. “A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies. I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him.”
‘A singular talent’
Curry had a major stroke in 2012 and had to use a wheelchair. He concentrated on voice acting and continued to appear at film conventions.
His Clue co-star and Better Call Saul actor Michael McKean said on social that his last conversation with 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,” he wrote.
Curry published his memoir, titled Vagabond, last year.
Grand Central Publishing said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tim Curry, a singular talent whose extraordinary career left an indelible mark on generations of audiences.
“We are honoured to have published his work and grateful for the stories, imagination, and joy he shared with readers.
“Our hearts are with his loved ones and countless fans around the world.”
His longtime manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz confirmed he “passed away peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles on August 25”.
The Los Angeles Police Department told BBC News officers had responded to a death investigation for an 80-year-old man at 23:23 local time on Tuesday.
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spam, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital
