Tim Curry, Legendary Star of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and ‘Annie,’ Dies at 80

The performer's death was confirmed earlier this week, following what authorities described as a medical emergency at his residence. His decades-long career spanned stage, screen, and voice acting, earning him a devoted following across generations.

Tim Curry, the beloved star of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Clue" and "Annie," has died. The actor passed away late Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at his Los Angeles home following more than a decade of serious health issues.

According to TMZ, law enforcement responded to a call for service at a North Hollywood residence at around 11:20 p.m. for a man in his 80s, later identified as Curry. A death investigation was completed, and no foul play was suspected.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said crews had been called earlier in the night over a medical emergency, and the subject was pronounced dead at the scene.

Born in the United Kingdom in April 1946, Curry broke into the TV and film industry in the late 1960s and early '70s, landing several walk-on roles in British television, including "Ace of Wands," "ITV Saturday Night Theatre," "Armchair Theatre" and "Napoleon and Love."

In 1975, he shot to global fame with his iconic portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult-classic comedy-horror film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," a role he originated on stage in Richard O'Brien's original play, "The Rocky Horror Show."

His passion for acting began on stage in the West End, where he starred in the original London production of "Hair" in 1968 after attending Birmingham University. But according to the actor, he stretched the truth about his own background to land the part.

"When asked if he had professional experience and an Equity card, Tim lied about both," his website reads. "By the time the producers found out the truth, they were sufficiently impressed with his talent and presence to sponsor him for his union membership."

He returned to the stage again and again throughout his career, performing for audiences in both London and New York. Over his lifetime, he earned three Tony Award nominations and two Laurence Olivier Award nominations for his work in theater.

Alongside his stage career, Curry continued landing onscreen roles, including 1985's "Clue," another of his films that went on to achieve cult-classic status. He also famously starred as Rooster Hannigan in 1982's "Annie" and as Long John Silver in 1996's "Muppet Treasure Island."

Curry appeared widely on television as well, including his turn as the villainous Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King's "It," a 1990 miniseries adaptation of the classic horror novel that would later be reimagined as a movie franchise starring Bill Skarsgård.

He was also a prolific voice actor, winning a Daytime Emmy in 1991 for his work on "Peter Pan and the Pirates." Curry's voice work also includes dozens of audiobooks, and he released three musical albums: 1978's "Read My Lips," 1979's "Fearless" and 1981's "Simplicity."

In 2012, Curry suffered a major stroke and had used a wheelchair ever since. The health scare forced the actor, who never married and had no children, to largely step back from acting and focus instead on voiceover projects.

More than a decade after his near-fatal stroke, in September 2025, Curry offered an update on his health.

"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. I still have real problems with my left leg," he said at a 50th anniversary screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the Los Angeles Academy Museum.

"I was having a massage at the time and I didn't even actually notice anything, but the guy who was doing the massage said, 'I'm worried about you, I want to call an ambulance.' And he did, and I said, 'That's so silly,'" he recalled of how the stroke was caught.

The following month, he also published a memoir titled "Vagabond," chronicling his military-brat childhood and boarding school years, his time at university, and the decades he spent alternating between television, film and stage work.

His last onscreen appearance came in the 2024 slasher horror film "Stream." He was set to reprise his role in the sequel, "Stream 2," which is currently in pre-production. Curry had also lent his voice one final time to the character Necrofer the Death Bringer in "Dagon: Troll World Chronicles."