The hits keep coming this week: Just a day after we lost Dolly Parton, legendary English actor Tim Curry—known for portraying larger-than-life, eccentric characters like Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise inIT—died at age 80 on Wednesday, August 26.
The announcement came on Wednesday morning that the stage and screen star died at his home in Los Angeles, California. As of press time, his official cause of death has not been announced, however the performer had experienced longterm health struggles for the better part of the past decade, following a stroke in 2012.
Curry was truly one of the greats, a versatile and singular actor with unforgettable roles across genre (comedy, horror, musicals) and format (TV, film and live theater). Who could forget his unmistakable laugh or his flair for being the villain?
To celebrate the life and career of the one and only Tim Curry, we’re rounding up 12 of his best TV and film roles that you can check out right now. And in true Rocky fashion, make it a double feature!
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Rest in peace, king.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Curry was best known for portraying Dr. Frank N. Furter, a transvestite mad scientist from outer space about to unveil his greatest creation. It’s a campy cult classic through and through, with annual screenings and theater productions, including a Broadway run, but Curry’s flamboyant portrayal really solidified it as such.
Annie (1982)
Arguably the best film adaptation of the musical, 1982’s Annie stars Aileen Quinn as the precocious redhead, Albert Finney as Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan, and Curry as her con-artist brother, Rooster Hannigan. Curry is deliciously evil as he schemes to pose as Annie’s long-lost parents to claim the reward Daddy Warbucks put up to find them. You don’t know whether to be repulsed by Rooster or be attracted to him—as is usually the case with Curry’s roles.
Clue (1985)
Curry played the Butler, Wadsworth, in this hilarious adaptation of Clue, the board game. In the film, he finds himself stuck in a mansion with six strangers when a blackmailing scheme goes wrong and a killer is on the loose. Curry’s Wadsworth is especially loved for his breathless explanation of the how, who, and why of each of the three endings the film offers up. It is a star-studded film with Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Lee Ving, Martin Mull, Christopher Lloyd, Lesley Ann Warren, Michael McKean and Colleen Camp.
Watch it onYouTubeandParamount+or rent it onFandangoandPrime Video
Legend (1985)
This epic dark fantasy adventure film directed by Ridley Scott stars Tom Cruise (Jack), Mia Sara (Lili), David Bennent (Honeythorn Gum), Alice Playten (Blix), Billy Barty (Screwball)—and an unrecognizable Curry. Jack, a pure being, must stop the Lord of Darkness (Curry), who plots to cover the world with eternal night and kill all the unicorns in the forest. It’s since become a cult classic known for its unique visual style.
Watch it onYouTubeor rent it onPrime Video,FandangoandGoogle Play
It (1990)
In another iconic role, Curry played Pennywise the Dancing Clown/Robert “Bob” Gray in this two-part TV horror-drama miniseries directed by Tommy Lee Wallace about an evil, shape-shifting entity that preys on the children of Derry, Maine, often taking the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The Losers Club (seven kids played by Seth Green, Jonathan Brandis and Emily Perkins and others) vow to destroy the clown. Thirty years later, it returns, and the friends have to reunite to finish him. Curry’s performance made Pennywise a horror icon.
Watch it onHBO Maxor rent it onYouTube,Prime Video,Google PlayandFandango
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Curry plays a well-meaning villain in this classic Christmas film. He’s Mr. Hector, the Plaza Hotel’s concierge who discovers Kevin’s credit card fraud and attempts to have him arrested by very questionable means. While he’s only got a few minutes of screen time, he steals the show whenever he’s on it. His Mr. Hector is both lovable and irritating.
Watch it onDisney+or rent it onYouTube,Google Play,FandangoandPrime Video
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
This beloved animated musical fantasy film follows Crysta, a fairy who accidentally shrinks a human logger named Zak to fairy size. They join forces with Batty Koda to save their home from a destructive, polluting spirit named Hexxus who is unleashed by the loggers. Aside from Robin Williams as Batty Koda, Curry is a real highlight as Hexxus, with his own song that, to this day, is one of the better villain songs out there.
Watch it onYouTube,Tubi,Roku,CWor rent it onFandango,Google PlayandPrime Video
The Three Musketeers (1993)
D’Artagnan (Chris O’Donnell) travels to Paris to become a musketeer, but Cardinal Richelieu (Curry) has disbanded the elite corps to take over the throne. D’Artagnan teams up with remaining loyal musketeers Athos (Kiefer Sutherland), Porthos (Oliver Platt), and Aramis (Charlie Sheen) to save the King of France. Curry really hams it up as the cardinal, making his portrayal one of the most entertaining 1990s movie villains.
Watch it onDisney+or rent it onYouTube,Google Play,Prime VideoandFandango
Tales from the Crypt (1993)
Curry starred in the “Death of Some Salesman” episode—a star-studded season five premiere of Tales from the Crypt—where he played three characters of the same family, Pa Brackett, Ma Brackett and their daughter Winona (the latter two of which he dressed in drag for). The episode is certainly one of the most twisted because it follows a greedy salesman and scam artist who tries to sell fake burial plots to grieving family members in rural communities, such as the Bracketts. It turns out the family is more twisted and evil than he is, which Curry does well. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for portraying all three characters.
Watch it onDisney+or rent it onYouTube,Prime Video,FandangoandGoogle Play
Charlie’s Angels (2000)
Millionaire Charlie assigns the Angels—Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Dylan (Drew Barrymore), and Alex (Lucy Liu)—to find kidnapped tech genius Eric Knox after he invented a voice-recognition system. With their assistant Bosley (Bill Murray), they investigate rival communications tycoon Roger Corwin (Curry) using martial arts, disguises and espionage tactics, but they find out there’s a deeper betrayal that turns them into targets. Curry’s massage scene in particular makes it worth the watch.
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002)
Curry reprised his voice role as Nigel Thornberry in the series’ first film, which follows his daughter Eliza Thornberry as she goes on a quest to save a cheetah cub from ruthless poachers. Curry’s unmistakable voice and affectation is a joy to hear not only in the movie but across the TV show.
Watch onParamount+andRokuor rent it onYouTube,Prime VideoorFandango
