Actor Tim Curry has died at the age of 80 at his home in Los Angeles, his manager confirmed on Wednesday.
The beloved English performer passed away on Tuesday, August 25, becoming the third major cast member from the 1992 movie Home Alone 2: Lost in New York to die this year.
A cause of death was not immediately provided. Curry had experienced serious health struggles for over a decade after suffering a stroke in 2012, which left him unable to walk.
Curry famously starred as Plaza Hotel concierge Mr. Hector in the blockbuster Christmas sequel. Beyond his comedy role in the holiday classic, the actor gained international acclaim as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, along with memorable performances in Clue, Annie, and the horror movie It.
Deaths of Home Alone 2 cast members
Curry's passing follows the deaths of two other prominent stars from the film within the past eight months. Catherine O'Hara, who played movie matriarch Kate McCallister, died tragically at the age of 71 in January. Brenda Fricker, an Irish Oscar-winning actress who portrayed the iconic Pigeon Lady, died at 81 on July 16.
The string of losses has led fans to reflect on other late cast members from the franchise. John Heard, who played Kevin McCallister's father Peter in the movies, died at the age of 71 in July 2017.
Following news of Curry's death, social media users flocked to X to express their grief and comment on the cluster of losses among the cast. One viral post featuring screenshots of Curry, O'Hara, and Fricker read: "That Home Alone 2 rewatch at Christmas is REALLY gonna hit huh."
Hundreds of other fans shared similar reactions online, with several describing the pattern as a "Home Alone curse." Another user wrote: "Three people in Home Alone 2 have already died this year. I hope no one else in Home Alone 2 dies."
Responding to a post about the annual holiday tradition of viewing the film, one fan commented: "Don't even know if I have the stomach to watch it anymore." Another added: "It really sucks that over time you will see more and more people that are not alive anymore when rewatching this movie."
Donald Trump cameo and social media posts
The online discussion also touched on President Donald Trump, who makes a brief cameo appearance in the Plaza Hotel scenes of the 1992 film. Some social media users made sinister posts suggesting the wrong cast members had passed away.
One individual shared a screenshot of Trump's appearance in the movie alongside the caption: "The rest of the people who appeared in that movie BEWARE." Another X user joined in making thinly veiled references to the cameo, tweeting: "They're calling it the 'The Curse of Home Alone 2,'"
Celebrity tributes to Tim Curry
Fellow actors and entertainers led heartbroken tributes to Curry on Wednesday following the announcement of his death. Among those paying tribute were Carol Burnett, Rosie O'Donnell, and Selma Blair.
Comedian Carol Burnett, 93, remembered her co-star fondly on Instagram. Burnett played the sister of Curry's character in the 1982 movie musical Annie. "We had such a wonderful time working together on 'Annie,'" Burnett wrote. "Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him."
Burnett shared a video clip from Annie showing herself, Curry, and castmate Bernadette Peters performing their show-stopping musical number "Easy Street."
Rosie O'Donnell shared an old photograph of Curry to her Instagram page, writing simply that he had been the "sweetest man." Meanwhile, actress Selma Blair left a message on Curry's final Instagram post, writing: "Rest in peace. Kind and wonderful you."
