Actor Tim Curry has died at age 80 at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday night, his manager confirmed.
News of the star's passing spread on Wednesday, prompting widespread tributes across the entertainment industry for the English actor best known for playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in the classic 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
His manager confirmed that no foul play is suspected following more than a decade of serious health issues, which included a near-fatal stroke in 2012. Los Angeles is the center of the American film and television industry in California.
Tributes began pouring in immediately from former co-stars and fellow actors celebrating his decades-long career on stage and screen.
Carol Burnett, who played Miss Hannigan alongside Curry in the 1982 movie musical Annie, remembered her former co-star fondly in an Instagram post. The 93-year-old comedian and actress shared a clip from the picture showing the pair performing their showstopping musical number Easy Street alongside castmate Bernadette Peters, who played Curry's onscreen girlfriend.
"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. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him."
Rosie O'Donnell also paid tribute by posting an old photograph of Curry to her Instagram page, writing simply that he had been the "Sweetest man."
Actress Selma Blair joined the tributes by commenting directly on Curry's final Instagram post. "Rest in peace," Blair wrote, adding, "Kind and wonderful you."
Broadway Revival and Personal Tributes
Welsh actor Luke Evans, who played Frank-N-Furter in the latest Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show until Sunday, shared a moving letter that he had written to Curry three weeks ago. Evans, known for starring in The Hobbit film trilogy, reflected on the profound impact Curry had on every actor who tackled the iconic role.
"Dear Tim, With only three weeks left before I finally hang up the fishnets and heels, I wanted to send you a note," the actor began in his letter.
"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.
"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."
Memories from Screen Collaborators
Actor 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 known as Twitter.
"Gutted. The sensational character actor, Tim Curry has left the stage," Schneider 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," McKean 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."
Actor Ben Stiller, who guest-starred on a 2002 episode of McKean's sitcom Primetime Glick, replied to McKean's tweet with a string of blue heart emojis.
Lesley Ann Warren, another star of Clue, paid emotional tribute to her former castmate. "My dear companion in crime, the brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny magician of artistry has left us," Warren wrote. "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."
Remembrances Across Film and Theatre
Curry, who played Long John Silver in the 1996 film Muppet Treasure Island, received a glowing tribute on the official Instagram page for the children's franchise.
"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 in memoriam messages to both Curry and Dolly Parton: "Rip Dolly Parton. Rip Tim Curry."
Actress Elaine Hendrix, who acted with Curry in the 1996 romantic comedy Lover's Knot alongside Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, shared throwback photographs with him. "And the blows keep coming," Hendrix wrote. "I worked with Tim Curry in the 90s. He was THE kindest man. 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," Ireland wrote. "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."
Comedian 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. 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.
"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...."
Actor 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."
