Tim Curry death: Tributes pour in for The Rocky Horror Picture Show and It star

Timothy James Curry was born in Cheshire, England, in 1946.

He was the younger child of Patricia, a school secretary, and James, a Methodist chaplain for the Royal Navy.

His older sister, Judith — a concert pianist — died in 2001.

Actor Rob Schneider, who starred alongside Tim Curry in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, wrote on X that he is “gutted” to hear that “the sensational character actor, Tim Curry has left the stage.”

“A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies,” he said.

“I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him.”

Nell Campbell, who played Campbell — a former lover of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the stage and film production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show — said in a statement that Tim Curry was a “generous” actor to work with, according to People.

“There was so much more to Tim than met the eye… and that includes the fishnets,” Campbell said.

“He was a wit, kind, thoughtful, generous, quite shy, bookish, loved you being naughty and joyful company. Had Tim not been cast in the original stage show of Rocky Horror, who knows if the film would have followed. I will miss him tremendously.”

Tim Curry finished filming horror sequel Stream 2: Sudden Death before his death, director Michael Leavy told TMZ.

Leavy confirmed that Curry’s performance as Lockwood will be in the movie, and that the film will be dedicated to the late actor.

“It’s deeply meaningful to know that audiences will still have the opportunity to celebrate the work Tim brought to this role, and we’re honored to help preserve that performance in Stream 2: Sudden Death,” Leavy said.

A release date for the film has not been announced.

“Remembering Tim Curry, a legendary performer whose singular talent and unforgettable presence made him an icon across generations,” a caption shared on Instagram read.

“Bold and completely one of a kind, he made every role unmistakably his own, from Dr. Frank-N-Furter in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975) to Rooster Hannigan in ANNIE (1982) and Wadsworth in CLUE (1985).

“Last November, we were honored to spend time with him at the Academy Library, celebrating his remarkable career and the lasting impact he’s had on film.”

In an interview in October 2025, Tim Curry told CBS that he was not afraid of death after being left partially paralyzed by a stroke in 2012.

“I try to avoid it, as I think we all do! But I suspect that in the end, I will welcome it,” Curry said at the time.

“I think it may be very comforting to go bye-bye — and I want to earn it!”

Azaria and Curry were co-stars in the original Broadway production of Spamalot.

“Another legend lost. What an honor and joy to have worked alongside Tim Curry in Spamalot back in the day.”

Tim Curry’s Clue co-star Lesley Ann Warren, who played Miss Scarlet in the 1985 comedy, wrote on Instagram: “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,” she wrote. “I adored him. Bless his wild and inspired soul. Love you Tim.”

Curry voiced Nigel Thornberry on the animated Nickelodeon series The Wild Thornberrys from 1998-2004.

In one of the final Instagram posts on his official page, Curry shared a compilation video of his work as the family’s patriarch, who was known for his catchphrase, “Smashing!”

Tilly and Curry worked together on the 2005 family film Bailey’s Billions.

“I loved working with Tim Curry. He was a comedic genius and a brilliant man. Gone too soon,” she wrote in a post on X.

In a follow-up post, she added: “I also worked with Tim Curry on a staged reading of All About Eve for the Actor’s Fund. He played the most cutting incisive Addison DeWitt I’ve ever seen, and brought the house down.

“Later he told me, that night lit a fire under him. He said he went home and swam in the pool at midnight and looked at the stars and wondered what he was doing with his life. Shortly after that I heard he was starring on Broadway in a Tony nominated role in Spamalot.

“A brilliant comedic actor. Gone too soon.”