Tim Curry, the iconic actor renowned for his striking roles on stage and screen, first discovered his passion for acting during his school years in Bath. It was here that he participated in school plays, laying the foundation for a remarkable career that would captivate audiences worldwide.
The news of Curry’s passing was announced today; he died at his home in Los Angeles. While the cause of death has not been officially confirmed, it follows a major stroke he suffered in 2012, which resulted in paralysis on the left side of his body.
Curry’s connections to the South West of England run deep. After the death of his father, James Curry-a Bristol University Master of Arts graduate in 1956-Tim received a scholarship to attend Kingswood School in Bath. It was during this time that he began to hone his acting skills and develop his distinctive singing voice. Following several moves around various British seaside towns, the family settled in Plymouth, Devon, when Curry was just 11.
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Reflecting on his time in Plymouth, Curry once told PlymouthLive, “The sea is terribly important to me. The British sea anyway. The colder the better.” He fondly recalled how he and his late mother regularly stayed “at a fancy hotel on Plymouth Hoe.”
Curry’s professional career took off at the age of 22 when he was cast in an adaptation of the musical Hair on London’s West End, after studying at Birmingham University. His breakthrough came in 1973 with his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He originally portrayed the “sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania” on stage in London, before reprising the role on Broadway and in the film adaptation starring alongside Susan Sarandon, Meat Loaf, and Barry Bostwick.
The film has since become a cult classic, celebrated particularly within the LGBTQ+ community for its bold representation and memorable musical numbers such as “The Time Warp.”
In 1992, Curry appeared in the Home Alone sequel as Mr Hector, the personal concierge at the upscale New York Plaza Hotel, acting opposite Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister. The film prominently featured a cameo from US President Donald Trump, whom Curry described as having “the most explosive confidence that I’d ever encountered,” adding that he was “entirely sure of himself” during filming.
Known for his wit and vocal versatility, Curry also portrayed several villainous characters throughout his career. Notably, he brought to life Pennywise, the sinister clown from Stephen King’s It. In the 1982 musical film Annie, he played Daniel Francis “Rooster” Hannigan-the con-artist brother of Miss Hannigan-who schemes to impersonate Annie’s parents to claim a reward.
Curry’s stage work was equally distinguished. He was the original King Arthur in both the Broadway and West End productions of Monty Python’s Spamalot. In 1985, he starred in William Congreve’s Love For Love at the National Theatre, a performance attended by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The Princess famously remarked that The Rocky Horror Picture Show “completed my education.”
He also lent his voice to several children’s television series, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Wild Thornberrys, and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.
In October 2024, Curry spoke candidly on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about the challenges he faced after his stroke. He revealed, “The whole of my left side was paralysed, I can’t walk yet, and I find that very difficult and limiting. It’s horrible, I hate the idea of being an invalid, that’s for sure.”
The following year, in October 2025, Curry published his memoir, Vagabond, sharing insights into his extraordinary life and career.