Tim Curry dead at 80: Susan Sarandon leads tributes to Rocky Horror icon
Synopsis
Tim Curry — the man who made Frank-N-Furter and Pennywise household names — died at 80 in Los Angeles on 25 August. Susan Sarandon's Instagram tribute revealed a detail mainstream obituaries glossed over: even wheelchair-bound, Curry never stopped being generous with fans. That, as much as his cult-icon status, is the measure of the man.
Key Takeaways
Tim Curry died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on 25 August , aged 80 .
He was best known for playing Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise in the 1990 TV adaptation of Stephen King's It .
Susan Sarandon paid tribute on Instagram , calling him a ‘funny, sexy, original’ and praising his generosity with fans even after becoming wheelchair-bound.
Curry received three Tony Award nominations on Broadway and appeared in films including Annie , The Hunt for Red October , and Home Alone 2 .
No formal memorial arrangements had been announced as of this report.
Veteran actor Tim Curry, best known for his iconic portrayal of Frank-N-Furter in the cult musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on 25 August at the age of 80. Actress Susan Sarandon, who starred alongside him in the film, was among the first to publicly mourn his passing, calling him a “funny, sexy, original” talent.
Sarandon's Tribute
Sarandon took to Instagram to share a series of throwback photographs from her years with Curry. In her caption, she wrote: “What a funny, sexy, original he was. But what I loved about him most was his heart. Even wheelchair bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans. Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people. Love you, S.” The post drew an outpouring of responses from fans and fellow artists, reflecting the depth of affection Curry commanded across generations.
A Career That Defined Cult Cinema
Curry's range as a performer extended far beyond Rocky Horror. He terrified a generation as the fearsome clown Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's It — a role that cemented his status as one of Hollywood's most distinctive character actors. His credits also included Annie, The Hunt for Red October, Home Alone 2, and Scary Movie 2. On stage, he earned three Tony Award nominations on Broadway, underscoring a theatrical pedigree that underpinned his screen work.
Health Challenges in Later Years
Curry had been wheelchair-bound in his later years following a stroke, yet, as Sarandon noted, he remained warm and accessible to fans throughout. His continued generosity under difficult personal circumstances drew particular praise from those who knew him and those who simply admired him from afar.
Susan Sarandon: A Parallel Legacy
Sarandon herself carries a career spanning more than five decades. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking, having previously received four Oscar nominations for Atlantic City, Thelma and Louise, Lorenzo's Oil, and The Client. Her accolades also include a British Academy Film Award and an Actor Award, alongside nominations for seven Emmy Awards, ten Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. It was, notably, The Rocky Horror Picture Show that first brought her widespread recognition — the same film that made Curry a legend.
What Comes Next
No formal memorial arrangements have been announced as of this report. Tributes from across the entertainment world are expected to continue in the coming days. Curry leaves behind a body of work that spans theatre, television, and film, and a fanbase that has kept Rocky Horror screenings alive as a global cultural ritual for nearly 50 years.
Point of View
But the more instructive detail is in Sarandon's tribute: a man who remained kind and accessible to fans while wheelchair-bound. Hollywood produces stars; it rarely produces that. His three Tony nominations also tend to get buried under the Rocky Horror mythology — a reminder that Curry was a trained stage performer first, a pop-culture phenomenon second. Obituaries that reduce him to Pennywise and Frank-N-Furter will miss the fuller picture of a genuinely versatile career.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Tim Curry die?
Tim Curry died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on 25 August at the age of 80. No specific cause of death has been publicly confirmed as of this report.
What is Tim Curry best known for?
Tim Curry is best known for playing the flamboyant Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 cult musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the terrifying clown Pennywise in the 1990 TV adaptation of Stephen King's It. He also earned three Tony Award nominations for his Broadway work.
What did Susan Sarandon say about Tim Curry?
Susan Sarandon posted a tribute on Instagram, writing: ‘What a funny, sexy, original he was. But what I loved about him most was his heart. Even wheelchair bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans.’ She and Curry co-starred in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Was Tim Curry in any other notable films besides Rocky Horror?
Yes. Curry appeared in Annie, The Hunt for Red October, Home Alone 2, and Scary Movie 2, among others. He was also a decorated stage actor with three Tony Award nominations on Broadway.
Why was Tim Curry wheelchair-bound?
Tim Curry suffered a stroke in 2012, after which he used a wheelchair. Despite the health challenges, he reportedly remained warm and generous with fans in his later years, as noted by Susan Sarandon in her tribute.
