Actor Tim Curry, best known for his comedic and often villainous roles, has died at 80. TMZ was first to report the news, saying he passed late Tuesday night, 14 years after suffering a paralyzing stroke.
He was best known for iconic roles like Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and Pennywise in “It,” but also starred in classic films like “Annie” and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
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A long career on stage and on screen
Curry was a versatile actor, starring both on-screen and on stage. Born April 19, 1946, Curry got his start in London in the West End production of “Hair” in 1968.
His work continued on stage from there, eventually leading him to become the first to play Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show.”
“I was 28 when I did Rocky Horror, and I was very young and very naive,” Curry said.
He went on to recreate the role in Los Angeles and Broadway productions of the show, before eventually starring in the on-screen version, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” in 1975.
His career continued in New York and London, with on stage roles in “Travesties”, “Amadeus”, “The Pirates of Penzance”, “The Rivals”, “Love for Love”, “Dalliance”, “The Threepenny Opera”, “The Art of Success” and “My Favorite Year”.
Offstage, Curry played the sinister clown Pennywise in the 1990 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s “It.”
He also appeared in films including “Clue”, “Legend”, “The Hunt for Red October”, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” and “Muppet Treasure Island.”
His voice career
In addition to acting on stage and on screen, Curry also had an extensive signing and voice acting career.
He brought his distinctive voice to several animated films, including “The Wild Thornberrys,” “The Powerpuff Girls,” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Like his career on stage and on screen, he was known for his versatility, moving between horror, drama and musical theater, among other things.
“I like playing characters that are very different from me,” Curry said.
A stroke in 2012
In 2012, Curry suffered a major stroke that left him in a wheelchair, but he continued working in entertainment and making public appearances. He even became an advocate for stroke recovery.
“I’m still here, I’m still kicking,” Curry said after his stroke.
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