It has been reported that Tim Curry, the actor best known for his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, has died at the age of 80.
TMZ was the first to report the news, with sources telling the publication that Curry died late Tuesday (25 August) at his home in Los Angeles. No cause of death has been immediately given at this time, but Curry’s manager did subsequently confirm the news of his death to CBS News.
Curry was born in Cheshire in 1946, to parents Patricia and James Curry. He was the youngest child, with his older sister Judith going on to become a pianist, before dying in 2001.
After getting a degree in Drama and English from the University of Birmingham in 1968, Curry embarked on a stage career, with his first major role being in the original cast of the West End production of Hair later that year.
It was through this role that Curry met Richard O’Brien, who went on to cast him in his own musical, The Rocky Horror Show, as the character Dr Frank-N-Furter, a cross-dressing mad scientist.
The musical opened in London in 1973, and Curry performed the role onstage in both New York and Los Angeles, before reprising the character for the film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in 1975.
Following that breakout role, Curry went on to have a successful career both on stage and on screen. Some of his most notable theatre credits included roles in both Amadeus and Spamalot.
Curry’s film roles included parts in Annie, Legend, The Hunt for Red October, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Muppet Treasure Island, Addams Family Reunion and Charlie’s Angels.
Meanwhile, on TV, Curry was best-known for playing Pennywise the Dancing Clown in ABC’s two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s It. He also appeared in episodes of many series, such as Will & Grace and Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
Across his career, he also had a number of prominent voice roles, in animated films and series including FernGully: The Last Rainforest, The Rugrats Movie, The Wild Thornberrys Movie and Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.
Curry suffered a stroke in 2012, and received brain surgery. His short-term memory was affected, and he was also left with mobility issues.
In 2025, he published a memoir titled Vagabond, which covered his childhood, university years and his acting career.
