Actor Tim Curry, known for his iconic role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," has died at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by his longtime manager, Marcia Hurwitz, who stated he passed away peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on August 25.
Curry's portrayal of the "sweet transvestite from Transylvania" in the 1975 musical horror-comedy became a defining performance of his career. Susan Sarandon, who played Janet Weiss, the heroine opposite Curry's Frank-N-Furter, remembered him as "funny, sexy, original." She added that even after experiencing a major stroke in 2012, which left him using a wheelchair, "he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans."
Nell Campbell, who starred as Columbia, shared a sentiment of deep loss. "I feel like the head of our family has just died because he was the head of the Rocky Horror family," the Australian actress told the BBC. "Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people."
Beyond "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," Curry had a versatile career spanning theater and film. Welsh actor Luke Evans, who portrayed Frank-N-Furter in a Broadway revival, called Curry "a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm." Evans also thanked Curry for his fearlessness and for "creating something so enduring, and for inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be."
The official "Rocky Horror Picture Show on Broadway" account echoed this sentiment, thanking Curry for "giving the world a little more freedom, a little more fearlessness, and through the tears in our eyes, the courage to BE IT," referencing Curry's memorable delivery of the line "Don't dream it, be it."
Richard O'Brien, the writer and composer who co-wrote the musical and film, remembered Curry as "a wonderful man by nature who was also a wonderful performer." O'Brien added, "He never sought attention and never put himself before the roles that he played. He was, in short, a good egg and class act."