Actor Tim Curry dies at 80

Tim Curry, the British actor best known for his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," has died at age 80. He passed away Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to Curry's residence at 10:42 p.m. local time on a medical call. Police arrived at the 10500 block of La Maida Street in North Hollywood at 11:23 p.m. and found a deceased male on the scene. No foul play is suspected, and the cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Born April 19, 1946, in Cheshire, England, Curry began his professional career in 1968 in a West End production of the musical "Hair," where he met Richard O'Brien. O'Brien later wrote the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter for Curry in the stage musical "The Rocky Horror Show." Curry originated the role on stage before reprising it in the 1975 film version, which starred alongside Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. The film initially received little critical attention but later developed a devoted following as a midnight movie phenomenon.

Curry's other notable film roles included the terrifying clown Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's "It," Mr. Hector in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," Rooster Hannigan in "Annie," Gomez Addams in "The Addams Family Reunion," and appearances in "The Hunt for Red October," "Legend," and "Clue." He also provided voice work for animated productions including "Scooby Doo," "Rugrats," and "Mucha Lucha."

On stage, Curry performed in numerous productions, including King Arthur in "Spamalot," Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in "Amadeus." He received multiple Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award nominations throughout his career, and won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for children's material.

Curry's public appearances became limited after he suffered a stroke in 2012 that required brain surgery and left him unable to walk. He used a wheelchair in his later years. Despite these health challenges, he made a final public appearance on November 3, 2025, at the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour at Town Hall in New York City, where he was reunited with co-stars Patricia Quinn, Barry Bostwick, and Nell Campbell for a meet and greet.

In a 2025 interview, Curry reflected on his condition following the stroke, stating he still could not walk. He had struggled with serious health issues for more than a decade before his death.