Tim Curry, born April 19, 1946, is one of the most unique and captivating actors of his generation. He is best known for his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a cult classic that has remained a sensation for decades. He is also known for playing Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 miniseries It. His memorable films include Clue, Annie, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Legend, and Muppet Treasure Island.
Tim Curry was born in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. His mother, Patricia, was a school secretary, and his father, James, was a Navy chaplain. Sadly, his father passed away when Tim was only 12 years old. Curry attended Kingswood School in Bath, where he displayed a talent for singing and drama, and he graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1968.
Curry achieved fame playing the transvestite mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the musical The Rocky Horror Show. The show debuted on stage in 1973, and Curry’s unpredictable, glamorous performance helped turn it into a cult favorite. He reprised his role in the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has enjoyed a large, loyal following for decades and is regarded as the ultimate midnight movie.
Rocky Horror helped solidify Curry as an electrifying star with a style all his own: theatrical, high-energy, campy, and often charmingly villainous. He gave memorable performances in films like Clue, Legend, Annie, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Muppet Treasure Island.
Besides Rocky Horror, Curry is perhaps best known for playing Pennywise, the shapeshifting, child-murdering clown in the 1990 miniseries It, based on Stephen King's novel. His performance is often considered one of the best and scariest horror villain portrayals.
While best known for his roles on screen, Tim Curry has also had a very successful career on stage. He played Mozart in the original Broadway production of Amadeus, the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, and King Arthur in the Monty Python musical Spamalot. Curry has also found success as a voice actor, lending his talents to video games, audiobooks, and animated series like The Wild Thornberrys and Gargoyles.
Curry suffered a major stroke in July 2012, which affected his mobility and led him to use a wheelchair. Since then, he has mostly focused on voice acting roles, appearing in shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Over the Garden Wall. He has also continued to make occasional appearances at fan conventions and played the narrator in the 2016 TV special The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again.
