British actor and singer Tim Curry, celebrated for his roles as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and Pennywise the Dancing Clown in "It," has died at the age of 80. His death was first reported Wednesday by TMZ and Variety.
Curry died Tuesday night in Los Angeles. While a specific cause of death was not immediately available, he had faced ongoing health challenges. In 2012, he suffered a stroke that he stated the previous year significantly impacted his mobility, limiting his ability to walk.
"I still can’t walk, which is why I’m in this silly chair, and that’s very limiting. So I won’t be singing and I won’t be dancing very soon," Curry said during a screening commemorating the 50th anniversary of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in Cheshire, England, in 1946, Curry began his acting career in musical theater, performing in the original 1968 London production of "Hair." It was there he met co-star Richard O’Brien, who later created "The Rocky Horror Show" and its iconic cross-dressing scientist character, Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
Recalling the show's unexpected success, Curry told NPR’s “Fresh Air” in 2005, “It just started in this tiny theater, you know, and it just took off like a sort of rocket.”
The 1975 film adaptation of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," which featured provocative costumes and dance, took considerably longer to find an audience. Curry attributed its eventual cult status to its daring nature. "I think, first of all, they love the movie because it’s daring to pretty much everybody," he said. "It was daring at the time ― less daring now. To them, it’s daring."
Despite an initial poor box office performance, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" has become the longest-running theatrical release in film history.
Curry's career extended to numerous other film and stage roles, earning him three Tony nominations for his performances in "Spamalot," "My Favorite Year," and "Amadeus." He also received an Emmy nomination in 1994 for his work in "Tales from the Crypt."