'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Icon Tim Curry Dead at 80

Published Aug 26, 2026, 11:41 AM EDT A cinematic obsessive with the filmic palate of a starving raccoon, Rob London will watch pretty much anything once. With a mind like a steel trap, he's an endless fount of movie and TV trivia, borne from a misspent youth of watching monster movies on TV, perusing the sun-faded goods at the local video rental shop, and staining his fingers with ink from the Video Movie Guide. Areas of interest include science fiction, film noir, horror flicks, '70s disaster pictures, Bond movies, '90s action, giant robots, dinosaurs, super heroes, and the exuberantly schlocky output of Cannon Films. He also enjoys both Star Trek and Star Wars when they're good, and maybe even more when they're bad. As a Canadian, he also has a vested interest in Canadian movies and TV shows, especially the cheesier ones dubbed "Canuxploitation." An expert on Marvel Comics, he has also written for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, and is a member of the Marvel Research Team. He can frequently be found pontificating on comic-book continuity or bemoaning the misfortunes of the Toronto Maple Leafs on his Twitter account. Actor Tim Curry, the unforgettably bombastic star of films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, and Muppet Treasure Island, has died. Often cast as a villain, Curry's distinctive voice made him a memorable screen presence. Curry was 80. Born on April 19, 1946, in Cheshire, England, Curry first made his mark on the London stage in the late 1960s. While starring in a production of Hair, he met Richard O'Brien; he would go on to cast Curry as the mad scientist Dr Frank-N-Furter in his hit musical, The Rocky Horror Show. Curry reprised his iconic performance in the 1975 film adaptation of the play, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and was rocketed to stardom. Curry felt the role overshadowed the rest of his career, and preferred not to discuss it, but appreciated that the film, which has enjoyed a decades-long afterlife as a midnight movie, had provided succor to independent theaters. Curry remained a star on the stage for the remainder of his performing career, earning nominations for three Tony Award and two Olivier Awards, but soon found his way into Hollywood. He had showy roles in Ridley Scott's Legend, playing the demonic Darkness under a mountain of prosthetic makeup, and in Jonathan Lynn's Clue, as arch butler Wadsworth. He soon became a mainstay in big-budget films, including The Hunt for Red October, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Muppet Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers, and Congo. He also starred as one of horror's most nightmarish figures, the homicidal clown-like entity Pennywise, in the 1990 TV movie adaptation of Stephen King's It. Even when he wasn't on-screen, Curry's mellifluous voice made him an in-demand voice actor, especially for villainous roles. He starred in animated films like FernGully: The Last Rainforest and Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, and on a bevy of animated series, including Peter Pan and the Pirates (for which he received a Daytime Emmy), Mighty Max, The Wild Thornberrys, Young Justice, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Curry kept his personal life strictly private; he was known to be a dedicated gardener. Curry suffered a serious stroke in 2012, which largely curtailed his performing career. He penned his memoirs, Vagabond, last year. Collider extends our sympathies to Curry's friends and family. Release Date August 15, 1975 Runtime 100 minutes Director Jim Sharman Writers Richard O'Brien, Jim Sharman Franchise(s) The Rocky Horror Picture Show