Rest in peace, Tim Curry: 20 facts from his legendary life & career
Tim Curry passed away at age 80 on August 25. He died peacefully in his North Hollywood, though no official cause of death was given at the time of publication. The news comes shortly after the announcement of another high-profile death of Curry’s peer, Dolly Parton, who also passed at age 80.
To celebrate Curry’s life and legacy, take a look at these 20 facts from his life and career.
1. He lied to get his first acting gig
Curry lied and said he had previous professional experience and a union card so he could be hired for Hair, which was his first professional acting gig in London, 1968. The producers kept him on anyway because of his talent.
2. He landed Rocky Horror at a gym (kind of)
Curry met Rocky Horror Picture Show writer Ricard O’Brien at a gym. Although they had met before, this encounter led Curry to audition for, and ultimately get cast in, the now-iconic cult classic.
3. He had royal fans
Princess Diana was a huge fan of Rocky Horror and asked to meet him backstage in Vienna in 1986.
4. He went through an 8-hour makeup routine for Legend
Curry had to sit through an eight-hour makeup routine for his role as Lord of Darkness in the 1985 movie Legend. They later got the routine down to five hours.
5. He got a Tony nomination for playing Mozart
Curry’s first Tony Award nomination was for playing Wolfgang Mozart in the 1981 Broadway play Amadeus.
6. The Pennywise actor disliked clowns
The It actor had previously stated that he disliked clowns, though this turned into an urban legend and escalated into a full-on phobia in rumors. There were even rumors that his contract stated that there couldn’t be any reflective surfaces near him while he was in clown garb.
7. He has three rock albums
Curry has three rock albums, released in the ‘70s and ‘80s: Read My Lips, Fearless and Simplicity.
8. He won a Daytime Emmy for a voice acting role
Curry took home a Daytime Emmy Award in 2001 for his role as Colonel Nigel Thornberry in the animated series s The Wild Thornberrys.
9. His role as King Arthur in Spamalot earned him a Tony nomination
In 2005, Curry was nominated for a Tony for his role as King Arthur in Spamalot, both on Broadway and the West End.
10. He suffered a stroke in 2012
Curry’s July 2012 stroke limited his onscreen roles. However, he continued to voice act and made a brief return to the screen in the 2024 independent horror film Stream.
11. His resume is longer than a CVS receipt
Curry boasted over 240 acting credits across film, TV, theatre and even video games.
12. His personal life was just that – personal
He refused to talk about his personal life in public, notably never discussing any romantic interests or answering questions about his sexual orientation.
13. He was a big Scooby Doo fan … but not of Scrabby Doo.
Curry’s love for Scooby Doo landed him the role of Ben Ravencroft in Scooby Doo and the Witch’s Ghost. Initially, he was offered the role of Mondavarious in 2002 but turned it down after learning the film featured Scrappy Doo.
14. He received the Artistic Achievement Award from the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly known as The Actors Fund)
Curry made a rare red carpet appearance in 2015 after receiving the organization’s lifetime achievement award during its 19th annual Tony Awards Viewing Party in L.A.
15. He was considered for several Disney animated films
In a different universe, Curry may have been the voice behind Scar in The Lion King and Jafar in Aladdin. He was considered for both these roles, which were ultimately given to other actors.
16. He was given the key to New Orleans
After a concert in New Orleans in 1979, Curry was granted honorary citizenship to the city as well as a key to the city by then-mayor Ernest Morial.
17. He wasn’t a fan of his role in The Hunt for Red October … but was a huge fan of the residuals
Curry has said that his role as Dr. Yevgeniy Petrov was probably one of the least memorable ones he had done. However, since the movie is played on TV so often, he did say he appreciates the residuals he has received from it.
18. He won “The Most Beautiful Baby in Hong Kong” award
The son of a Royal Navy chaplain, Curry’s family moved to Hong Kong shortly after he was born. There, his mother had his photo taken by a photographer, who submitted the photo into the competition. His cherubic features won him the award, he later said of the win.
19. He was an avid gardener
Curry and his Hollywood Hills garden were featured in the book Great Private Gardens of the World. Colin Farrell, who lived at a home Curry had originally owned, gave him props for creating the back garden in the home and making it beautiful.
20. He had a surprising favorite role
Despite playing legendary roles in Rocky Horror and It, Curry has said that his favorite role was actually as Long John Silver in Muppets Treasure Island. “There’s a conspicuous lack of ego among the Muppets,” he said of the whole experience.
Related:
- Rest in peace, Dolly Parton: 20 reasons why everyone loves her
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Why it became a cult phenomenon
Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article!
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.co.
