Actor Tim Curry has died at the age of 80 on Tuesday, four months after making a rare public appearance in Los Angeles.
No foul play is suspected in the death of the British-born star. Representatives for Curry were contacted for comment following the announcement.
In April, four months before his death, Curry was seen during a rare outing in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. The actor, who was left wheelchair-bound after suffering a near-fatal stroke in 2012, visited the Friar Tuck Shoppe next to the popular Robin Hood British Pub.
Accompanied by a caregiver, Curry spent time inside the store, which specializes in British food and traditional treats. Having relocated to Los Angeles in 1988 as his international fame grew, he remained connected to his British roots throughout his life.
During the shopping trip, Curry carried a colorful floral bag from the flagship London department store Harrods to hold his purchases. Despite having heavily-lidded eyes and enduring the long-term physical toll of his stroke, he maintained a dapper appearance in a stylish striped button-up shirt.
Tributes From Co-Stars
News of Curry's passing prompted an outpouring of tributes across the entertainment industry, led by stars including Rosie O'Donnell, Carol Burnett and Selma Blair.
His co-stars from the 1985 mystery comedy film Clue shared emotional memories of working with him. Actor Michael McKean offered insight into Curry's final days while paying tribute to his longtime friend.
"My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter," McKean shared. "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."
Lesley Ann Warren, who also starred alongside Curry in Clue, expressed her grief in a heartfelt message.
"My dear companion in crime, the brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny, magician of artistry has left us," Warren said. "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."
Account of Near-Fatal Stroke
In October 2025, Curry offered a frank account of his 2012 stroke during an interview on the television program CBS Sunday Morning. He revealed that the medical emergency occurred while he was receiving a massage at home.
"It was so strange," Curry recalled during the broadcast. "I was having a massage and the guy who was giving me a massage said, 'I'm worried about you, I think we should call a doctor.' I felt fine, I had no symptoms that I was aware of, but clearly he had noticed some."
The masseur dialed emergency services, bringing paramedics to the house. Paramedics carried Curry down the stairs on a stretcher and transferred him to an ambulance, where he was administered morphine. Curry noted that although he was not in pain, he felt extremely nervous because neither he nor the medical team initially realized he was suffering a stroke.
When doctors at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis, Curry immediately thought of his father, James Curry, who suffered a stroke in 1958 at age 49 and died a few weeks later from pneumonia complications. Curry was approximately 12 years old at the time of his father's death.
"I knew that a lot of people didn't survive a stroke, and that he was an exception, and so I was scared," Curry recalled on the CBS program.
Following the stroke, Curry underwent brain surgery and spent about a month in the hospital undergoing intensive rehabilitation. He had to undergo speech therapy to regain his ability to talk.
"I had to learn how to speak again, that was very weird," Curry shared. "I hated not being able to speak because I speak a lot. I have to be told to shut up a lot. I love words, I love to communicate."
Stage and Screen Career
Curry began his professional acting career in London's West End theatre district. At age 22, he joined the cast of the rock musical Hair, performing in the production for two years from 1968 to 1969.
He achieved global stardom in 1975 when he played Dr Frank-N-Furter in the musical comedy horror film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The role made him an enduring icon, particularly within the LGBTQ community.
Throughout his career, Curry earned critical acclaim on Broadway in New York, receiving three Tony Award nominations. He was nominated in 1981 for playing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus, in 1993 for the musical My Favorite Year, and in 2005 for Eric Idle's musical comedy Spamalot.
His major film credits spanned multiple decades and genres. He starred as a submarine officer in The Hunt for Red October in 1990 and appeared as a concierge in the 1992 comedy Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. He also held prominent roles in The Three Musketeers in 1993, Muppet Treasure Island in 1996, the 2000 big-screen reboot of Charlie's Angels, and the 2001 parody film Scary Movie 2.
