Tim Curry, the English actor whose unforgettable performances in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue and It turned him into one of cinema’s most enduring cult figures, has died at the age of 80.

Curry died peacefully at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on Tuesday, according to a statement released by his publicist on behalf of his longtime manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz.

The statement remembered Curry not only for his flamboyant characters and distinctive performances, but also for his curiosity, intelligence and kindness.

Authorities responded to a death investigation involving a man in his 80s at a Los Angeles residence Tuesday night. Emergency personnel had also been called to the location earlier that evening for a medical incident. An immediate cause of death was not disclosed.

Curry had experienced serious health problems in later life. In 2012, he suffered a major stroke, after which he continued to face significant health challenges.

Yet his career had already secured his place in entertainment history.

The role that changed everything
Curry became internationally known after portraying Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 1975 film adaptation of the stage musical.

His entrance as the eccentric scientist — dressed in a corset, stockings and high heels — immediately established a character unlike almost anything audiences had seen before.

The movie was initially far from a conventional success. Its popularity grew gradually before midnight screenings transformed it into a cultural phenomenon.

Audiences began attending screenings dressed as the characters, shouting responses to the dialogue and participating in elaborate traditions that developed around the film.

Decades later, The Rocky Horror Picture Show remained a fixture of midnight cinema and a defining part of Curry’s legacy.

The role also inspired generations of performers.

In a tribute to Curry, actor Luke Evans, who later played Frank-N-Furter on Broadway, praised the original performance and described Curry as irreplaceable.

“There will only be one Tim Curry,” Evans wrote.

Even Princess Diana was reportedly a fan of the film and once met Curry, telling him that watching Rocky Horror had been an important part of her education.

Curry, however, never allowed the role to completely define him.

From villains to beloved cult characters
Following the success of Rocky Horror, Curry continued building a remarkably varied career on stage, television and film.

He played the memorable butler Wadsworth in the 1985 mystery comedy Clue, which eventually became another cult classic.

He portrayed the menacing Lord of Darkness in Ridley Scott’s fantasy film Legend, appearing opposite Tom Cruise.

Then came one of his most recognizable roles: Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It.

Curry’s version of Pennywise became one of the most memorable portrayals of the character, relying as much on his voice and unsettling calmness as on the makeup and costume.

He often gravitated toward villains, eccentric characters and morally complicated figures.

Curry once joked that British actors tended to receive two kinds of roles: butlers and villains.

He also understood why such characters were attractive to performers.

“The bad guys are always much better-written than the good guys,” he once said, explaining that villains were often more enjoyable to play.

A career beyond the screen
Curry was not simply a film and television actor.

He remained deeply connected to theater throughout his career, appearing in productions in both London and New York.

His stage credits included Travesties, My Favorite Year and A Christmas Carol.

In 2005, he took on the role of King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot. The musical became a major Broadway success, earning numerous Tony Award nominations and winning Best Musical.

Curry also explored music, releasing several albums and scoring a minor hit with “I Do the Rock” in 1979.

His distinctive voice made him equally effective in animation and audiobook work. He received a Grammy nomination for his readings of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and voiced Darth Sidious in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

A performer who kept his humor
Curry’s health declined significantly after his 2012 stroke, and he increasingly used a wheelchair.

But those close to him often emphasized that his sense of humor never disappeared.

In 2025, he made a surprise appearance at a 50th-anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

The audience gave him multiple standing ovations.

Curry responded with the same irreverent humor that had characterized much of his career, joking about his wheelchair and teasing longtime costar Barry Bostwick.

Bostwick recalled meeting Curry when they first arrived to make the original film and described the warmth Curry showed toward the cast.

For many fans, the moment became a fitting reminder of the man behind the larger-than-life characters.

A legacy that will endure
Tim Curry’s career stretched across more than five decades and countless forms of entertainment.

He could be outrageous, frightening, funny, theatrical and unexpectedly tender — sometimes within the same performance.

Frank-N-Furter made him a cult icon. Wadsworth made him part of another generation’s favorite comedy. Pennywise introduced his work to an entirely different audience.

But perhaps his greatest achievement was refusing to remain confined to a single role.

Curry continued acting, performing and entertaining audiences long after the character that made him famous had become a cultural institution.

He leaves behind a body of work that continues to be rediscovered by new generations.

For the millions who grew up watching him, Tim Curry was never simply the actor behind Frank-N-Furter, Wadsworth or Pennywise.

He was one of those rare performers whose voice, expressions and presence could make even the strangest character unforgettable.

And that is a legacy unlikely to fade.