Tim Curry: A Life in Pictures
New York Times · LC · trust 60/100
Credit... Hulton-Deutsch/Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis, via Getty Images Skip to content Skip to site index
Curry thrived onstage and onscreen in meaty roles that brought him widespread recognition and generations of dedicated fans.
Tim Curry, the stage and film actor, who died on Tuesday at age 80 , was known for selflessly throwing himself into his craft. He embodied a number of memorable characters, from the eccentric Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (and its preceding musical, “The Rocky Horror Show”) to the straight-faced King Arthur in “Spamalot.” He became a favorite for villain roles that demanded him to be conniving or downright cartoonish.
Curry, who was born in Grappenhall, England, knew by age 15 that he wanted to be an actor. “I spent a long time trying to talk myself out of it, because everybody else was trying to,” he told the Washington Post in 1988. He remarked that after his father died, his mother didn’t have much money. “She would have preferred a secure profession for me, and quite rightly, I guess, from her point of view.”
With a clear knack for the stage, Curry was also a notable vocalist. He said that at some point early in his career, he had been offered recording contracts and opportunities to join musical groups. He tried his hand at rock music in the late 1970s, and the second of his three albums, “Fearless,” reached No. 53 on the Billboard chart in 1979.
Over the next several decades, the fiercely private Curry built an enviable career that included hundreds of credits and earned him an Emmy and three Tony nominations.
Here are some photographs from his life and career.
Curry played the garish Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and it became his signature role. The film was based on the London stage musical “The Rocky Horror Show” that debuted in 1973 with Curry as part of the cast. He’s seen here with Richard O’Brien, who co-starred as Riff Raff in both the original theatrical production and film.
O’Brien, Curry and Patricia Quinn in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The film became a cult hit that was best known for its midnight screenings around the world, drawing fans who dressed in costume and sang along.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Read the original at New York Times →
Open in TruthVane →