LOS ANGELES, United States — Actors, musicians and entertainment institutions have paid tribute to Tim Curry, the British performer whose roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue and It made him recognisable across generations.
Curry died at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. He was 80.
His longtime manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, confirmed his death. No cause was disclosed.
“Though widely known for his inimitable, flamboyant characters and colorful stage performances, his greatest legacies to those who knew him were his curious, expansive mind and generous, gentle heart, both of which remained open and filled with anticipation until his final breath,” Hurwitz said.
Curry had experienced serious health problems since suffering a stroke in 2012 that left him using a wheelchair. He nevertheless continued performing in voice roles and attending public events.
Co-Stars Recall His Friendship and Talent
Susan Sarandon, who appeared with Curry in the 1975 film adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, remembered his humour and kindness.
“What a funny, sexy, original he was,” Sarandon wrote on Instagram. “But what I loved about him most was his heart. Even wheelchair bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans. Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people. Love you, S.”
View this post on Instagram
Richard O’Brien, who wrote The Rocky Horror Show and acted in the film, described Curry as a “wonderful performer” and “a good egg and class act”.
Other cast members also offered tributes. Patricia Quinn said she was “in shock and utterly saddened and heartbroken”, while Nell Campbell said she would miss Curry “tremendously”. Barry Bostwick wrote: “Dammit Tim, I love you!”
Michael McKean, one of Curry’s co-stars in the 1985 murder mystery comedy Clue, wrote on X: “Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.”
My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter. The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) August 26, 2026
Lesley Ann Warren, who played Miss Scarlet opposite Curry’s Wadsworth in the film, called him a “brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny, magician of artistry”.
“What an unbelievable joy to have shared a sound stage with him and to engage with such a master talent,” Warren wrote.
Carol Burnett, who appeared with Curry in the 1982 musical Annie, remembered his ability to make threatening characters entertaining.
“Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could,” Burnett said. “He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him.”
Kiefer Sutherland, who worked with Curry in the 1993 film The Three Musketeers, said he had cared deeply about the actor.
“Tim Curry was someone I cared deeply about, he was someone I loved working with, and I am so lucky to have these memories,” Sutherland said in a statement reported by Deadline. “Rest in peace, my friend.”
Performers Cite Curry’s Influence
Curry’s best-known performance was Dr Frank-N-Furter, the theatrical alien scientist at the centre of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
He first played the character in the 1973 London stage production before reprising the role in the film.
The movie initially received a limited response but later became a fixture of midnight screenings, with audiences dressing as characters, reciting dialogue and participating in performances.
Luke Evans, who later played Frank-N-Furter on Broadway, credited Curry with encouraging other actors to take creative risks.
“Thank you. For your fearless performance, for creating something so enduring, and for inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be,” Evans wrote on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Dee Snider, the frontman of Twisted Sister, said Curry’s performance as Frank-N-Furter influenced both his life and his stage appearance.
“RIP TIM CURRY. Your performance as Frank N. Furter changed my life (and makeup) for ever,” Snider wrote on X.
Curry’s other prominent roles included Pennywise the clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It, the hotel concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island.
The official Muppets account said few people had earned the designation of an “honorary Muppet” as fully as Curry.
“As a performer he was unparalleled — witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny,” the statement said. “We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.”
Rob Schneider, who worked with Curry in Home Alone 2, described him on X as “sensational”.
“I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work,” Schneider wrote. “He made you better just standing near him.”
Mara Wilson recalled working with Curry when she was seven during an Academy Awards opening number. She said he treated her patiently despite her lack of experience.
“But he was patient with me, and was as funny, fun, and kind as you’d hope him to be,” Wilson wrote on Bluesky.
Jennifer Tilly called Curry a “brilliant comedic actor”, while Jillian Bell said his performance in Clue helped inspire her decision to become an actor.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences described Curry as a “legendary performer” and “an icon across generations”.
Curry’s stage career included appearances in Amadeus, My Favorite Year and Monty Python’s Spamalot.
He received three Tony Award nominations and a Primetime Emmy nomination during a career that extended across theatre, cinema, television, music, animation and video games, according to the Associated Press.
