Tim Curry, the legendary actor best known for playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at 80. Sources said the actor, who had been plagued with serious health issues for more than a decade, passed away late Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home. Law enforcement sources confirm there is no foul play suspected.
Tim got his start in Hollywood in the late 1960s before catching his big break in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. While initially ignored by critics, the film developed a second life as a cultural event in the “midnight movie” space. Fans may also recognize Tim as the terrifying clown Pennywise from the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s It and his role as Mr. Hector in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Tim’s other credits include Annie, The Hunt for Red October, Muppet Treasure Island, Addams Family Reunion, and Scary Movie 2.
While always an active performer, both in his film roles and onstage as a theater actor, health issues slowed Tim down in recent years. He suffered a massive stroke in 2012, which required brain surgery. Last year, around the time he released his memoir Vagabond, Tim stated he was still unable to walk.
Tim was 80 years old. RIP.
