We have terrible news to pass along today as the great Tim Curry has passed away at the age of 80, according to a report on Deadline. His passing was confirmed by his longtime manager and close friend, Marcia Hurwitz, who shared that the actor died peacefully. Curry’s health had been fragile for years following a severe stroke in 2012. The stroke, along with the brain surgery he subsequently underwent, left him reliant on a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.
“Throughout his life, he refused to be boxed in or confined to others’ expectations,” the announcement reads. “Across five decades, he moved fluidly between comedy, horror, drama, and music, delighting himself and his legion of fans with his countless dynamic personas…He is, depending on who you ask, the definitive Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the definitive Pennywise, the man who made a butler’s death-scene monologue in Clue an all-time comedic bit, or simply ‘that unforgettable voice’ from a beloved cartoon of someone’s childhood.”
Curry is perhaps best known for his iconic performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but his career extended far beyond the cult classic. For horror fans, Curry’s haunting portrayal of Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It remains unforgettable, with his sinister presence enough to send shivers down the spine.
Curry also appeared in films such as Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Legend, The Hunt for Red October, Annie, Addams Family Reunion, Muppet Treasure Island, and Scary Movie 2.
The staff of Horror News Network send our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Curry.
