Veteran actor Tim Curry has died at the age of 80.
The Rocky Horror star passed away at his home in Los Angeles, according to reports from the American news outlet TMZ.
Sources told TMZ that Curry died late on Tuesday night. Law enforcement sources said police attended his home at 11.23pm, and no foul play was suspected.
Curry was born in Cheshire, England, on April 19, 1946. He became one of Britain’s best-known actors, singers and voice artists during a career lasting more than five decades.
He began working in the West End musical Hair in 1968 and 1969. His breakthrough came as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, first performed in the West End in 1973.
Curry later played the role in the Broadway production and in the 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The film became a cult favourite and remains a regular feature at midnight screenings.
His performance as the flamboyant scientist made him an international star. For many fans, it remains his most recognisable role and one of the best-known performances in musical film.
Curry also appeared in several major stage productions. His roles included Mozart in Amadeus, the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance and King Arthur in Spamalot.
Those performances brought him multiple Olivier and Tony nominations.
On film, he played Rooster Hannigan in Annie in 1982, Darkness in Legend in 1985 and Wadsworth the butler in Clue, also released in 1985.
He played Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It. Other film roles included the concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island.
Curry’s voice was also familiar to television and film audiences. He voiced Captain Hook in Peter Pan & the Pirates, Hexxus in FernGully and Sir Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys.
He also provided the voice of Palpatine in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. His work on A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning earned him a Grammy nomination in 2002.
Alongside acting, Curry released three rock albums: Read My Lips in 1978, Fearless in 1979 and Simplicity in 1981.
His health was affected by a major stroke in July 2012. The stroke left him wheelchair-bound, but he continued to speak publicly and take part in entertainment events.
In late 2025, he published his memoir, Vagabond. He also appeared at a 50th anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where he reflected on his career and recovery from the stroke.
Reports of his death were published on August 26, 2026. TMZ said he had faced serious health issues for more than a decade.
Curry’s work reached audiences across theatre, cinema, television, animation and music. His performances were often marked by distinctive character work, from the theatrical Dr Frank-N-Furter to the frightening Pennywise and the controlled Wadsworth.
His career also connected British theatre with Hollywood film and American television. He moved between musicals, drama, comedy, fantasy and children’s entertainment without being limited to one type of role.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show continued to introduce his work to new generations, while his performances in It and Clue remained familiar to television and film viewers.
