The Rocky Horror Picture Show star, Tim Curry, passed away at the age of 80 on the 25th of August, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of bringing queer communities together.
The death of Tim Curry has hit hard within the queer community due to the performer’s contribution to the cult classic The Rocky Horror Show (Rocky Horror). In his 2025 memoir Vagabond, Curry wrote about his death, not as a sad occasion but as “baffling” or “a comfort”.
“I am not frightened of death. People often baulk when I say that, but I do not believe that a heaven or a hell awaits me, or anything in between, though I would be curious to visit either. I gather they would be populated with plenty of fellow vagabonds,”
he wrote.
Born on the 19th of April, 1946, in Cheshire, England, Curry started his acting career in a London production of the musical Hai in 1968. He went on to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of After Haggart (1970), spent a season at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre, working in various West End shows, some small-scale television and appeared in several productions at the Royal Court Theatre, all before his infamous role of Dr Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror. O’Brien originally had Jonathan Karmer in mind for the role, “but Tim came in to audition,n and poor Jonathan never had a chance.” Tim Curry is also known for roles such as the clown Pennywise in the 1990 film It, Wadsworth in the 1985 film Clue and Darkness in the 1985 film Legend, bringing the roles to life with his training in drama and English at Birmingham University.
Originally produced at the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs, Rocky Horror was incredibly successful, progressing to large venues before taking to Los Angeles and being adapted into the film version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1974). When in theatres, Rocky Horror remained a safe place for members of the queer community where they came together, dressed as the characters, shouted call backs to the performance and overall felt the sense of togetherness the show provided. The characters that pushed and challenged the gender binaries, the themes of transgender identities, the portrayal of queer sexualities and desires all contributed towards self-expression and exploration. When the film version was released, it originally struggled to find its audience, but after midnight screenings in the Waverly Theatre in New York City on the 1st of April, 1976, the film finally found its people. Viewers would return week after week, dressed up with props in hand to fully participate in the film.
Luke Evans, a Welsh actor who played the role of Frank-N-Furter on Broadway in 2026, wrote a letter to Curry three weeks before his passing. Evans shared the message via Instagram, stating,
“Being compared to you has been one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, even though it’s a comparison no one could ever live up to. There is, and always will be, only one Tim Curry.”
In the rest of the letter, Evans thanks Curry for his fearless performance, which has inspired generations of actors.
His loss felt in the heart of the queer community, Tim Curry will be remembered for his bold and theatrical performances that both captivated and brought audiences together, leaving behind a legacy to rival the greatest
