Actor Tim Curry has died at the age of 80, his representative confirmed to PEOPLE. TMZ was first to report the news.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that officers responded to a call for service at 11:20 p.m. on Aug. 25 and conducted a death investigation involving a man in his 80s at a home in North Hollywood.
Born in the U.K. on April 19, 1946, Curry became known for his remarkable range as an actor, particularly his memorable comedic and often villainous performances. His most iconic role came in 1975, when he portrayed Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a character he also brought to the stage.
Curry began his professional career in London’s West End. In 1968, after attending Birmingham University, he appeared in the original London production of Hair. According to his official biography, Curry exaggerated his experience when auditioning for the production, telling producers he had professional experience and an Equity card. Once they discovered the truth, however, they were impressed enough by his talent and presence to help him obtain union membership.
Throughout his career, Curry repeatedly returned to the stage, performing for audiences in both London and New York. In 2004, he took on the role of King Arthur in the Broadway production of Spamalot. His theater career earned him three Tony Award nominations and two Laurence Olivier Award nominations.
On screen, Curry continued to take on a wide variety of unforgettable characters. He played Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 film Annie alongside Carol Burnett and Bernadette Peters, Wadsworth the butler in the 1985 cult classic Clue, and Long John Silver in 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island.
Curry and Burnett later reunited in 2020 to reflect on their memorable Annie characters. Speaking about Rooster, Curry described him as a hustler and said the character had been a great deal of fun to play. He also praised Burnett, calling her a legend and one of the funniest women alive.
Curry was equally successful on television. One of his most famous television performances came as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It, a role that became one of the most recognizable horror performances of its era.
He was also an accomplished voice actor. Curry won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991 for his work on Peter Pan and the Pirates and lent his distinctive voice to numerous animated productions and audiobooks. He also released three albums: Read My Lips in 1978, Fearless in 1979 and Simplicity in 1981.
In 2012, Curry suffered a major stroke that left him using a wheelchair. Following the stroke, he largely stepped back from on-screen acting while continuing to work on voice projects.
Still, Curry occasionally returned to the world that had made him famous. In 2016, he appeared in The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again, playing the narrator and criminologist. Reflecting on his return, Curry said the project was very close to his heart. Laverne Cox, who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the remake, also remembered Curry as incredibly supportive, encouraging and funny.
In 2015, Curry received a lifetime achievement honor at the Actors Fund Tony Awards Viewing Party, where he also reunited with his former Annie costar Aileen Quinn. Quinn recalled the emotional reunion and emphasized Curry’s kindness away from the spotlight.
Years after his stroke, Curry continued to make occasional public appearances. In September 2025, he provided a rare update on his health during a 50th anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. He explained that he was still unable to walk and continued to experience problems with his left leg.
Curry also recalled the frightening circumstances surrounding his 2012 stroke. He said he had been receiving a massage when the person helping him became concerned and insisted on calling an ambulance, even though Curry himself did not initially realize anything was wrong.
In October 2025, Curry made another rare public appearance at a 50th anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where he appeared alongside longtime costar Barry Bostwick.
Addressing the audience before the screening, Curry maintained the sharp sense of humor that fans had always loved. When fans shouted that they loved him, he responded warmly, telling them that he loved them even more.
That same year, Curry released his memoir, Vagabond, which explored his childhood, university years and his decades-long career across film, television and theater.
Looking back on the process of writing the memoir, Curry told PEOPLE that he had enjoyed revisiting his favorite memories from throughout his life and expressed excitement about finally sharing them with readers.
Tim Curry leaves behind a remarkable legacy spanning nearly six decades. From Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Pennywise to Rooster Hannigan and Wadsworth, his performances became part of popular culture and earned him generations of devoted fans.