‘So I was scared’: Tim Curry’s Last Words Resurface as the World Mourns His Passing

Legendary actor Tim Curry, known for his iconic roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Clue, has died at the age of 80. According to The New York Times, Curry’s death was confirmed by his long-time manager and agent. TMZ reported that police had responded to his home on August 25, 2026, sometime after 11 p.m. (no foul play was suspected).

Curry had suffered a severe stroke in 2012. His father had died from a stroke in 1958. According to Page Six, Curry said at the time, “I knew that a lot of people didn’t survive a stroke, and that he was an exception. So I was scared.”

In 2025, he reportedly shared that he was still dealing with the aftereffects when he said, “I’ve been recovering for quite a long time.” He still struggled with mobility issues caused by the stroke, which led him to use a wheelchair, and had allegedly been dealing with other health problems in recent years.

However, in his last interview with CBS Sunday Morning in 2025, he explained that he didn’t “fear death.”

An Amazing Legacy Left Behind

Though he is probably known best for playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror (a role for which many believe he was perfectly cast), Curry had a film career that spanned five decades. He played the manipulative Rooster in 1982’s Annie and Gomez Adams in the 1998 Addams Family Reunion. He even appeared on television shows, most notably an unforgettable episode of Criminal Minds, where he played a killer who kidnaps a young girl to be his sidekick.

While he had a distinct knack for comedy, as fans of his performance in Clue are well aware, he was capable of a wide range of roles. Outside of Rocky Horror, he may be best known for playing Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 miniseries It. He terrified leagues of children (and some adults) with that role.

As for his most remembered turn in Rocky Horror, he was initially hesitant about taking it. He purportedly said in an interview on English television in 1975, “I was hesitant in that, if it worked, it might be a difficult image to shake off. But then, really, I’ve always thought it wasn’t worth doing unless you took a risk, really. So I just took the risk.”

Stars Are Already Paying Tribute to Tim Curry

Tributes have already started pouring in for the late star. Michael McKean, his co-star from Clue, posted to X, “My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter. The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.”

On Instagram, the official Muppets account shared a tribute to his performance in 1986’s Muppet Treasure Island: “Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry. As a performer he was unparalleled – witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny. We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.”

Meanwhile, actor Jillian Bell wrote in the comments section on a post by Variety on Instagram that, “He’s the reason I became an actor. This one hits way too hard. What an amazing career he had— one that gave us iconic characters to look up to, to fear, to laugh with, to sing with… He will live on through every role.”

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