Tributes began flooding in Wednesday for Tim Curry, the beloved stage and screen star whose unforgettable performances made him a cult icon, following news of his death at 80.
Curry, whose career-defining turn as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show earned him generations of devoted fans, died Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles, his manager confirmed.
The actor had faced significant health challenges for more than a decade after suffering a near-fatal stroke in 2012. Authorities do not suspect foul play.
Among those remembering him was Carol Burnett, who starred opposite Curry in the 1982 movie musical Annie, playing the sister of his scheming character.
‘We had such a wonderful time working together on “Annie,” the 93-year-old comedy legend wrote on Instagram. “Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him.”
Burnett also shared a memorable clip from the film, showing her, Curry and co-star Bernadette Peters performing their scene-stealing number “Easy Street.”
Tributes poured in for legendary actor Tim Curry after news spread Wednesday that he had died at 80
Carol Burnett, center, appeared with Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters, left, in the 1982 movie musical Annie
She included a clip from the picture of the pair of them and their castmate Bernadette Peters performing their showstopping number Easy Street
Rosie O’Donnell posted an old picture of Curry to her Instagram page and wrote simply that he had been the ‘Sweetest man.’
Selma Blair leapt into the comments of Curry’s final Instagram post and wrote: ‘Rest in peace. Kind and wonderful you.’
Luke Evans, who played Frank-N-Furter in the latest Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show until Sunday, shared a letter he wrote Curry three weeks ago.
‘Dear Tim, With only three weeks left before I finally hang up the fishnets and heels, I wanted to send you a note,’ the The Hobbit star began.
‘Although we’ve never met, you’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning. Every actor who puts on Frank inevitably walks into a conversation that started with you, and I’ve felt that every single night,’ Evans confessed.
Being compared to you has been one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, even though it’s a comparison no one could ever hope to live up to. There is, and always will be, only one Tim Curry,’ he continued.
‘I’ve never tried to recreate what you did. That would be impossible. I simply hoped to honour the extraordinary character you brought to life, while finding my own way through him,’ Evans explained in his note.
‘As this chapter comes to an end, I just wanted to say thank you. For your fearless performance, for creating something so enduring, and for inspiring generations or actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be.’
He concluded: I hope, wherever you are, you’d approve of one more Frank having the time of his life in those heels. With enormous admiration, Luke x.’
Rob Schneider, one of Curry’s co-stars in his beloved 1992 release Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, shared his condolences on X, formerly Twitter.
‘We had such a wonderful time working together on “Annie,” wrote the 93-year-old funnywoman: ‘Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could’
Rosie O’Donnell posted an old picture of Curry to her Instagram page and wrote simply that he had been the ‘Sweetest man’
Selma Blair leapt into the comments of Curry’s final Instagram post and wrote: ‘Rest in peace,’ adding: ‘Kind and wonderful you’
Curry, best known for playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show (pictured), died at his Los Angeles home Tuesday night, his manager confirmed
Luke Evans, who played Frank-N-Furter in the latest Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show until Sunday, shared a letter he wrote Curry three weeks ago; pictured at the Tonys
‘Gutted. The sensational character actor, Tim Curry has left the stage,’ he wrote. ‘A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies. I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him.’
Michael McKean, who co-starred with Curry in the 1985 crime comedy Clue, expressed relief at the conclusion of his friend’s punishing health decline.
‘My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter,’ he wrote on X. ‘The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.’
Ben Stiller, who guest-starred on a 2002 episode of McKean’s sitcom Primetime Glick, replied to his tweet with a string of blue heart emojis.
Lesley Ann Warren, another star of Clue, wrote: ‘My dear companion in crime, the brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny , magician of artistry has left us. What an unbelievable joy to have shared a sound stage with him and to engage with such a master talent. I adored him. Bless his wild and inspired soul. Love you Tim.’
Curry, who played Long John Silver in the 1996 film Muppet Treasure Island, received a glowing encomium on the children’s franchise’s official Instagram page.
Rob Schneider, one of Curry’s co-stars in his beloved 1992 release Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, shared his condolences on X, formerly Twitter
Michael McKean, who co-starred with Curry in Clue, expressed relief at the conclusion of his friend’s punishing health decline; Curry pictured in Clue with Eileen Brennan
Ben Stiller, who guest-starred on a 2002 episode of McKean’s sitcom Primetime Glick, replied to his tweet with a string of blue heart emojis
Curry, who played Long John Silver in the 1996 film Muppet Treasure Island, received a glowing encomium on the children’s franchise’s official Instagram page
Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr, who played his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton, tweeted in memoriam messages to both Curry and Dolly Parton
‘And the blows keep coming,’ wrote Elaine Hendrix, who acted with Curry in the 1996 romantic comedy Lover’s Knot, also featuring Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s daughter Ireland Baldwin shared her grief over both Parton and Curry in an emotional Instagram post
Eric Idle (left), an original member of Monty Python who wrote the book, music and lyrics of Spamalot, memorialized Curry by posting a throwback photo with him to X
Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro retweeted a post announcing Curry’s death and responded by writing simply: ‘Goodnight Sweet Myth….’
‘Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry,’ the post read. ‘As a performer he was unparalleled – witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny. We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.’
Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr, who played his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton, tweeted: ‘Rip Dolly Parton. Rip Tim Curry.’
‘And the blows keep coming,’ wrote Elaine Hendrix, who acted with Curry in the 1996 romantic comedy Lover’s Knot, also featuring Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey.
‘I worked with Tim Curry in the 90s. He was THE kindest man,’ Hendrix recalled, alongside a pair of throwback snaps with him. ‘I adored him up close and from a far since discovering “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” while I was in High School. I was a huge fan of him! What a talent. What a gentleman. What an honor. RIP Tim.’
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s daughter Ireland Baldwin shared her grief over both Parton and Curry in an emotional Instagram post.
‘Two of my biggest inspirations passed away at 80,’ wrote Ireland. ‘Crazy how their presence as performers led me to believe that they are immortal and couldn’t possibly ever be gone. Fly HIGH above this crazy world.’
Among Curry’s highest-profile stage roles was as King Arthur in Spamalot, the Broadway musical adaptation of the 1975 picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Eric Idle, an original member of Monty Python who wrote the book, music and lyrics of Spamalot, memorialized Curry by posting a throwback photo with him to X.
‘Very sad to see the passing of Tim Curry, our first King Arthur,’ wrote Idle, 83. ‘A fine man, singer, actor, host and gardener. He will be missed.’
Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro retweeted a post announcing Curry’s death and responded by writing simply: ‘Goodnight Sweet Myth….’
Patton Oswalt shared a photo of Curry as Frank-N-Furter along with one of the character’s oft-quoted lines: ‘It’s not easy having a good time.’
