View source for Tim Curry

{{Short description|British actor (born 1946)}}
{{BLPrefimprove|date=October 2025}}
{{other people}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Tim Curry
| image              = Tim Curry cropped.jpg
| alt                = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption            = Curry at the [[47th Primetime Emmy Awards|47th Emmy Awards]] in 1995
| birth_name         = Timothy James Curry
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1946|04|19}}
| birth_place        = [[Grappenhall]], [[Cheshire]], England
| alma_mater         = [[University of Birmingham]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|singer}}
| years_active       = 1968–present
}}

'''Timothy James Curry''' (born 19 April 1946) is an English actor and singer. He rose to prominence as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the [[Musical film|musical]] film ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'' (1975), reprising the role he had originated in the 1973 [[London]], 1974 [[Los Angeles]], and 1975 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] musical stage productions of ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]''.

Curry's other stage work includes various roles in the original [[West End theatre|West End]] production of ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'', [[Tristan Tzara]] in the 1975 West End and Broadway productions of ''[[Travesties]]'', [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]] in the 1980 Broadway production of ''[[Amadeus (play)|Amadeus]]'', The Pirate King in the 1982 West End production of ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'', Alan Swann in the Broadway version of ''[[My Favorite Year (musical)|My Favorite Year]]'' (1992), and [[King Arthur]] in Broadway and West End productions of ''[[Spamalot]]'' from 2005 to 2007. His theatre accolades include three [[Tony Award]] nominations and two [[Laurence Olivier Award]] nominations.

Curry has received acclaim for his onscreen roles, which include Rooster Hannigan in ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]'' (1982), Darkness in ''[[Legend (1985 film)|Legend]]'' (1985), [[List of Cluedo characters#The Butler|Wadsworth]] in ''[[Clue (film)|Clue]]'' (1985), [[Pennywise]] in the miniseries ''[[It (miniseries)|It]]'' (1990), the Concierge in ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]'' (1992), and [[Long John Silver]] in ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' (1996).

Curry is also a prolific voice actor, with roles in animation including his [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]]-winning performance as [[Captain Hook]] on ''[[Peter Pan & the Pirates]]'' (1990–1991), Sir Nigel Thornberry in ''[[The Wild Thornberrys]]'' (1998–2004), and [[Palpatine|Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious]] in ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' (2012–2014). As a singer, Curry has released three [[Rock music|rock]]-focused studio albums: [[Read My Lips (Tim Curry album)|''Read My Lips'']] (1978), [[Fearless (Tim Curry album)|''Fearless'']] (1979), and [[Simplicity (Tim Curry album)|''Simplicity'']] (1981).

==Early life==
Timothy James Curry was born on 19 April 1946 in [[Grappenhall|Grappenhall, Cheshire]],{{efn|Grappenhall did not become part of the nearby town of [[Warrington]] until 1 April 1974.{{cn|date=October 2025}}}}<ref name=fi>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/35/Tim-Curry.html |title=Tim Curry Biography (1946–) |publisher=Film Reference |access-date=15 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Whittaker |first=Jim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q14SAQAAMAAJ |title=Cosmic Light: The Birth of a Cult Classic |date=1998 |publisher=Acme Books |page=31 |language=en |lccn=98232656 |quote=Timothy James Curry was born in Cheshire, England, on April 19, 1946, the son of a Methodist Navy chaplain who died when Curry was twelve.}}</ref> the son of school secretary Patricia and [[Royal Navy]] chaplain James Curry. The Currys had met in [[Malta]] and married in Egypt.<ref name=":1" /> He had an elder sister, Judith.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=Standard>{{cite news| url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/tim-currys-back-on-the-grail-trail-7174713.html| title=Tim Curry's back on the Grail trail| work=[[Evening Standard]]| date=25 September 2006| access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> Within a year of Curry's birth, the family moved to [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.timcurry.co.uk/biography|title= Biography — Tim Curry|date=2025|accessdate= 21 October 2025}}</ref> During Curry's early childhood, the family moved to a different British seaside town every 18 months or so, eventually settling in [[Plymouth]] when Curry was 11.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last1=Ko |first1=Ling |last2=Wishart |first2=Ellen |last3=Lev |first3=Pip |last4=Godfrey |first4=Chris |date=14 October 2025 |title='Risky is the best way to be': Tim Curry on sexuality, surviving a stroke – and 50 years of stardom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2025/oct/14/risky-is-the-best-way-to-be-tim-curry-sexuality-surviving-stroke-50-years-stardom |newspaper=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

James Curry suffered a stroke when Curry was 11 years of age.<ref name=":2" /> Weeks later, in 1958, James Curry died of [[pneumonia]].<ref name=fi/> The Curry family then moved to [[South London]], where he attended [[boarding school]]. Curry later attended [[Kingswood School]] in [[Bath, Somerset]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Laura|title=Biography|website=timcurry.co.uk|url=http://www.timcurry.co.uk/biography/4546489136|access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004142456/http://www.timcurry.co.uk/biography/4546489136|url-status=dead}}</ref> Curry developed into a talented [[boy soprano]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite news| first=Mervyn| last=Rothstein| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7DE1438F937A15752C0A966958260&sec=&spon=| title=Tim Curry Plunges Ahead into the Past, Part IV| work=[[The New York Times]]| date=24 January 1990}}</ref> Deciding to concentrate on acting, he graduated from the [[University of Birmingham]] with a combined [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] degree in English and drama in 1968.<ref>{{cite book| last=Harding| first=James| date=1 October 1987| title=The Rocky Horror Show Book| location=London| publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson| page=45| isbn=978-0283993886}}</ref>

==Career==
===Acting===
====''Rocky Horror''====
Curry's first full-time role was as part of the original London cast of the musical ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' in 1968, where he met [[Richard O'Brien]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyoneonline.co.uk/tcom/tim_curry.htm |title=Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic: Sky One |date=18 January 2008 |access-date=15 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118092709/http://www.skyoneonline.co.uk/tcom/tim_curry.htm |archive-date=18 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> who went on to write Curry's role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' (1973).<ref name="Guardian 2006-10-20">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2006/oct/20/theatre1 |title=We were all going to join this street theater troupe. Tim got a job in Hair the next day. All he had to do was sing |access-date=26 March 2008 |first=Mark |last=Brown |date=20 October 2006 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref> Curry recalled his first encounter with the project:
{{blockquote|I'd heard about the play because I lived on [[Paddington Street]], off [[Baker Street]], and there was an old gym a few doors away. I saw Richard O'Brien in the street, and he said he'd just been to the gym to see if he could find a muscleman who could sing. I said, "Why do you need him to sing?" [laughs] And he told me that his musical was going to be done, and I should talk to [[Jim Sharman]]. He gave me the script, and I thought, "Boy, if this works, it's going to be a smash."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/146232172/Tim-Curry-intervirew | title=Curry Prefers the Sidelight for Now |publisher=[[Newspaper Enterprise Association]] newspaper syndicate |author-link=Frank Lovece | first=Frank |last=Lovece |date=8 December 1992 |access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref>}}

Originally, Curry rehearsed the character with a German [[Accent (sociolinguistics)|accent]] and [[peroxide]] blond hair, and later, with an American accent. In March 2005, in an interview with [[Terry Gross]] of [[NPR]]'s ''[[Fresh Air]],'' he explained that he decided to play Dr. Frank-N-Furter with an English accent after listening to an English woman say, "Do you have a house in town or a house in the country?," and decided, "Yes, [Dr. Frank-N-Furter] should sound like [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]]."<ref name="Gross">{{cite episode |last=Gross |first=Terry |title=Star of 'Spamalot,' Actor Tim Curry |series=Fresh Air |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4679116 |network=[[NPR]] |date=15 March 2005 |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref>

Curry originally thought the character was merely a laboratory doctor dressed in a white lab coat. However, at the suggestion of director Sharman, the character evolved into the diabolical [[mad scientist]] and [[transvestite]] with an upper-class [[Belgravia]] accent. An immediate hit, a reviewer at the premiere in London in June 1973 wrote that Curry gives a "garishly [[Bowiesque]] performance as the ambisextrous doctor."<ref>{{cite news |title=Rocky Horror Show opens in London – archive, 1973 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jun/23/rocky-horror-show-opens-in-london-archive-1973 |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> This change carried over to the 1975 film adaptation, ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'',<ref name="Film Talk">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5sTIGLo79g | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306122217/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5sTIGLo79g&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2012-03-06 | url-status=dead|title=Mark Caldwell interview with Tim Curry |publisher=Film Talk |date=September 1975 |work=Stoic Productions}}</ref> which made Curry a household name and gave him a [[cult following]]. Curry continued to play the character in London, Los Angeles, and New York City until 1975.

In an interview with NPR, Curry called ''Rocky Horror'' a "[[rite of passage]]", and added that the film is "a guaranteed weekend party to which you can go with or without a date and probably find one if you don't have one, and it's also a chance for people to try on a few roles for size, you know? Figure out, help them maybe figure out their own sexuality".<ref name=Gross />

In 2016, Curry played the Criminologist in the [[The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again|television film remake]] of ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/08/tim-curry-endorses-foxs-rocky-horror.html | title=Tim Curry Is Perfectly Happy Fox's Rocky Horror Remake Is Doing the Time Warp Again (Again) |publisher=[[vulture.com]] | first=Jackson | last=McHenry | date=9 August 2016 |access-date= 9 August 2016}}</ref> In 2025, Curry was an invited guest speaker at the Academy Museum to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Anna |title=Tim Curry gives health update after 2012 stroke |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/09/30/tim-curry-stroke-rocky-horror-picture-show/86434237007/ |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Theatre====
[[File:Tim Curry 01.jpg|thumb|upright|Curry in New York City in 2005]]
Shortly after the end of ''Rocky Horror''{{'}}s run on Broadway, Curry returned to the stage with [[Tom Stoppard]]'s ''[[Travesties]]'', which ran in London and New York from 1975 to 1976. ''Travesties'' was a Broadway hit. It won two [[Tony Award]]s (Best Performance by an Actor for [[John Wood (English actor)|John Wood]] and Best Comedy), as well as the [[New York Drama Critics Circle Award]] (Best Play), and Curry's performance as the famous [[dadaist]] [[Tristan Tzara]] received good reviews.<ref name=interview>{{cite magazine |title=NEW AGAIN: TIM CURRY |magazine=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]] |date=25 February 2015 |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/new-again-tim-curry}}</ref>

In 1980, Curry formed part of the original cast in the Broadway show ''[[Amadeus (play)|Amadeus]]'', playing the title character, [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]]. Curry was nominated for his first [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play#1980-1989|Tony Award]] ([[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play]]) for this role but lost out to his co-star [[Ian McKellen]], who played [[Antonio Salieri]]. In 1982, Curry took the part of the Pirate King in the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane]] production of [[Joe Papp]]'s version of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' opposite [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]] and [[Pamela Stephenson]], earning enthusiastic reviews.<ref>''[[Theatre Record]]'', 19 May 1982 to 2 June 1982, p. 278</ref>

[[File:Spamalotlondon.jpg|left|upright|thumb|''Spamalot'' playing at the [[Palace Theatre, London|Palace Theatre]] in London where Curry reprised his role as King Arthur]]
In the mid-1980s, Curry performed in ''[[The Rivals]]'' and in several plays with the [[Royal National Theatre]] of Great Britain, including ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'', ''[[Dalliance]]'' and ''[[Love For Love]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[London Theatre Record]]|date=March 12, 1986|page=30|title=National Theatre, Threepenny Opera}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=William Demastes|title=The Cambridge Introduction to Tom Stoppard|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2012|page=21}}</ref> From 1987 to 1988, he did the national tour of ''[[Me and My Girl]]'' in the lead role of Bill Snibson, a role originated on Broadway by [[Robert Lindsay (actor)|Robert Lindsay]].<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/me-and-my-girl-514352 "''Me and My Girl'' Tour"], Internet Broadway Database, retrieved August 23, 2018</ref> In 1989, Curry returned once again to the New York stage in ''[[The Art of Success]]'',<ref name=ibdb>[http://iobdb.com/Production/1237 "The Art of Success"] at [[Internet Off-Broadway Database]]</ref> and in 1992 played Alan Swann in the Broadway version of ''[[My Favorite Year (musical)|My Favorite Year]]'', earning him his second Tony Award nomination, this time for [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.timcurry.co.uk/biography|title=Biography|website=Tim Curry|language=en-US|access-date=16 June 2019}}</ref> In 2001, Curry appeared as [[Ebenezer Scrooge|Scrooge]] in a [[A Christmas Carol (musical)|musical version]] of the [[Charles Dickens]] novella ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' that played at [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{cite web|title=A Christmas Carol Synopsis and Production|url=http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000245|work=A Christmas Carol (Broadway)at Music Theatre International (MTI)| date=16 September 2015 |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref>

In 2004, Curry began his role of [[King Arthur]] in ''[[Spamalot]]'' in Chicago. Directed by [[Mike Nichols]], written by [[Monty Python]] member [[Eric Idle]] and based on ''[[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]]'', the show successfully moved to Broadway in February 2005. It sold more than $1&nbsp;million worth of tickets in its first 24 hours.<ref name=parade>{{cite magazine |title=In Step With: Tim Curry |magazine=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]] |date=29 May 2005 |url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_05-29-2005/in_step_with_0}}</ref> His performance brought him a third Tony nomination, again for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/05/10/spamalot-leads-tony-nominations-with-14/|title=“Spamalot” leads Tony nominations with 14|website=The Denver Post|date=10 May 2005}}</ref> Curry reprised this role at the [[Palace Theatre, London|Palace Theatre]] in the West End, where ''Spamalot'' opened on 16 October 2006. His final performance came on 6 January 2007.{{cn|date=October 2025}} Curry was nominated for a [[Laurence Olivier Award]] for his work in ''Spamalot'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/96214/spamalot-tops-list-of-londons-2007-olivier-award-nominations/|title=Spamalot Tops List of London's 2007 Olivier Award Nominations|website=Broadway.com|date=17 January 2007}}</ref> and he also won the [[Theatregoers' Choice Award]] (receiving 39% of the votes cast by over 12,000 theatregoers) as Best Actor in a Musical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.whatsonstage.com/archive/2007-results/|title=2007 Results|website=WhatsOnStage Awards|access-date=5 February 2018|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701065328/http://awards.whatsonstage.com/archive/2007-results/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

From May to August 2011, Curry was scheduled to portray the Player in a [[Trevor Nunn]] stage production of Tom Stoppard's ''[[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead]]'' at the [[Chichester Festival Theatre]] and then in [[London]]. Curry withdrew from the production on 27 May, citing ill health but later admitting that he was fired for being unable to memorize his lines.<ref name=cft>{{cite web |title=Curry Withdraws from Haymarket Production |date=31 May 2011 |url=http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/latest-news/article/item116066/curry-withdraws-from-haymarket-production/| last=Amer| first=Matthew| access-date=8 October 2015| publisher=[[Society of London Theatre#Official London Theatre website and Official London Theatre Guide|Official London Theatre]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212510/http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/latest-news/article/item116066/curry-withdraws-from-haymarket-production/|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins-Hughes |first=Laura |date=2025-10-13 |title=Tim Curry's Memoir "Vagabond" Recalls an Exciting Career Interrupted by Illness |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/books/review/tim-curry-memoir-vagabond.html |access-date=2025-10-14 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref> From 26 to 29 April 2012, he appeared in [[Eric Idle]]'s play ''[[What About Dick?]]'' at the [[Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles, California)|Orpheum Theatre]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web| title=What About Dick?, With Russell Brand, Eddie Izzard, Jane Leeves, Tracey Ullman, Offered April 26–29 in L.A.|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/what-about-dick-with-russell-brand-eddie-izzard-jane-leeves-tracey-ullman-offered-april-26-29-in-la-com-192945|publisher=[[Playbill]]|date=26 April 2012|accessdate=9 December 2020}}</ref> Curry had originally appeared at a script reading for the play back in 2007 when it was still a work in progress.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/Eric_Idle_Workshops_What_About_Dick_with_Izzard_Curry_20071012 |title=Eric Idle Workshops 'What About Dick?' with Izzard, Curry |website=Broadway World |date=12 October 2007 |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref>

Curry's career in theatre was honoured on 7&nbsp;June 2015 at the [[Actors Fund]]'s 19th annual Tony Awards Viewing Party, where he was awarded an Artistic Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2015/06/08/after-stroke-tim-curry-surfaces-for-lifetime-achievement-awards-tonys/28692591/ |title=Tim Curry makes a rare public appearance |website= USA Today |date=8 June 2015 |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>

====Film====
After ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'' (1975), Curry began to appear in many films, acting in supporting roles, such as Robert Graves in the [[horror film]] ''[[The Shout]]'' (1978), as Johnny LaGuardia in ''[[Times Square (1980 film)|Times Square]]'' (1980), as Daniel Francis "Rooster" Hannigan in [[John Huston]]'s 1982 film version of ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]'', and as Jeremy Hancock in the political film ''[[The Ploughman's Lunch]]'' (1983). In 1985, Curry starred in the [[fantasy film]] ''[[Legend (1985 film)|Legend]]'' as The Lord of Darkness. Director [[Ridley Scott]] cast Curry in the film after watching him in ''Rocky Horror'', thinking he was ideal to play the role of Darkness. It took five and a half hours to apply the makeup needed for Darkness onto Curry and at the end of the day, he would spend an hour in a bath in order to liquefy the soluble spirit gum. The same year, Curry appeared in the [[Comedy film|comedy]] [[mystery film]] ''[[Clue (film)|Clue]]'' as Wadsworth the butler.

Starting in the 1990s, Curry began to appear more frequently in Hollywood film productions, including comedic roles such as Dr. Thornton Poole in ''[[Oscar (1991 film)|Oscar]]'' (1991), Mr. Hector, the suspicious Plaza Hotel concierge in ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]'' (1992), Jigsaw in ''[[Loaded Weapon 1]]'' (1993), and as [[Long John Silver]] in ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' (1996). Curry also appeared in action films, such as the [[Thriller film|thriller]] ''[[The Hunt for Red October (film)|The Hunt for Red October]]'' (1990) as Dr. Yevgeniy Petrov, the 1993 adaptation of ''[[The Three Musketeers (1993 film)|The Three Musketeers]]'' as [[Cardinal Richelieu]], the [[superhero film]] ''[[The Shadow (1994 film)|The Shadow]]'' (1994) as Farley Claymore, and the action adventure ''[[Congo (film)|Congo]]'' (1995) as Herkermer Homolka. He also starred in the 1998 direct-to-video film ''[[Addams Family Reunion]]'' playing [[Gomez Addams]].

In the early 2000s, Curry's big screen appearances lessened, but he did portray Roger Corwin in the [[Charlie's Angels (2000 film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Charlie's Angels]]'' (2000), Professor Oldman in the [[parody film]] ''[[Scary Movie 2]]'' (2001), and Thurman Rice in the [[biographical film]] ''[[Kinsey (film)|Kinsey]]'' (2004). His last major role in a feature film was as [[Alexander Monro (tertius)|Alexander Monro]] in the British [[black comedy]] ''[[Burke & Hare (2010 film)|Burke & Hare]]'' (2010).

In 2024, he had a cameo appearance in the horror film ''[[Stream (film)|Stream]]'', providing the voice of the mask character "Lockwood".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/tim-curry-new-horror-movie-stream-1236111766/|title=Tim Curry Returns to the Big Screen in Horror Movie 'Stream' (EXCLUSIVE)|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=William|last=Earl|date=August 21, 2024|access-date=August 21, 2024|archive-date=August 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821164807/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/tim-curry-new-horror-movie-stream-1236111766/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Television====
Curry started his career with small roles in television series, such as Eugene in ''[[Napoleon and Love]]'' (1974), and guest roles in ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'' and the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Play for Today]]'' including as Glen in [[Dennis Potter]]'s ''Schmoedipus'' (1974).<ref>{{cite news |title=Play for Today: Schmoedipus |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032kjfh |access-date=23 November 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> He played [[William Shakespeare]] in the [[John Mortimer]]-scripted six part mini-series ''[[Will Shakespeare (TV series)|Will Shakespeare]]'' (1978). Broadcast on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] in the UK and distributed internationally by [[ITC Entertainment|ITC]], it traces the bard's life from 1590 until his death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1140675/index.html |title=Will Shakespeare (1978) |access-date=23 November 2024 |author=Michael Brooke |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> Curry had further roles in British television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including the lead in [[Stephen Frears]]' 1975 adaptation of ''[[Three Men in a Boat (1975 film)|Three Men in a Boat]]'', playing [[Bill Sikes]] in ''[[Oliver Twist (1982 TV film)|Oliver Twist]]'' (1982), playing aspiring actor-singer Larry Gormley in ''[[Blue Money (1985 film)|Blue Money]]'' (1985), and starring as the Grand Wizard in the children's [[Halloween]] film ''[[The Worst Witch (film)|The Worst Witch]]'' (1986).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Sophie |date=30 October 2015 |title='The Worst Witch': An Appreciation of the Best/Worst Halloween Movie in 30 Years |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/10/the-worst-witch-a-halloween-appreciation/413251/ |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en}}</ref>

Curry then moved to the United States, and appeared in American television production: he appeared in the "Dead Dog Records" storyline of the television series [[crime drama]] ''[[Wiseguy (TV series)|Wiseguy]]'' (1989) as Winston Newquay, and was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]] for portraying all three members of a deranged family in ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'' (1993). He also had recurring roles on the short-lived [[science fiction]] television series ''[[Earth 2 (TV series)|Earth 2]]'' (1994) and the sitcom ''[[Rude Awakening (TV series)|Rude Awakening]]'' (1999–2000). Although Curry has appeared in numerous television series throughout his career, he has only had lead roles in two live-action series: ''[[Over the Top (TV series)|Over the Top]]'' (1997), a [[sitcom]] that he also produced, and the revival series of ''[[Family Affair (2002 TV series)|Family Affair]]'' (2002–2003). Both were cancelled after one season. Around this time, Curry also made a single episode appearance on the live-action comedy-detective series ''[[Psych]]'' (2007) as Nigel St. Nigel, a Simon Cowell esque judge on a singing competition show being targeted. He returned to working on British television in the late 2000s, with the miniseries adaptation of ''[[Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic]]'' (2008), a guest appearance on the long-running ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'' (2008) and the miniseries ''[[Return to Cranford]]'' (2009). His final episodic television role was in 2010 on ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', portraying unsub Billy Flynn in two episodes.

One of Curry's best-known television roles is as [[Pennywise|Pennywise the Clown]] in the [[Horror fiction|horror]] miniseries ''[[Stephen King's It]]'' (1990). Aside from one ''[[Fangoria]]'' interview in 1990, Curry never publicly acknowledged his involvement in ''It'' until an interview with [[Moviefone]] in 2015, where he called the role of Pennywise "a wonderful part".

====Voice acting====
Curry has appeared in many animated television series and films, starting with the performance of the [[Serpents in the Bible#Eden|Serpent]] in ''[[The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible]]'' (1988). Curry won a [[Daytime Emmy Award]] for his performance as [[Captain Hook]] in the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] animated series ''[[Peter Pan and the Pirates]]'' (1990–1991). His longest-running animated role was as Nigel Thornberry in ''[[The Wild Thornberrys]]'' (1998–2004), which ran for five seasons on [[Nickelodeon]]. Curry became the voice of [[Palpatine|Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious]] in ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' upon the death of [[Ian Abercrombie]]. On television, he voiced Auntie Whispers on the [[Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy]]-winning miniseries ''[[Over the Garden Wall]]'' (2014).

Curry has also done voice acting in a number of animated films. For his work in ''[[Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas]]'' (1997), he received an [[Annie Award]] nomination.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.8/3.8pages/3.8awards.html "ASIFA-Hollywood's Annie Noms"]. AWM. Retrieved 3 November 2025</ref>

Curry's performance as Premier Anatoly Cherdenko in [[live-action]] [[cut scenes]] in the video game ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3]]'' (2008) have gone [[Viral phenomenon|viral]] as [[meme]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/an-oral-history-of-tim-currys-escape-to-the-one-place-uncorrupted-by-capitalism/ |title=An Oral History of Tim Curry's Escape to the One Place Uncorrupted by Capitalism |date=August 18, 2022 |last=Fyfe |first=Duncan |website=[[Vice Media]] |access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>

Curry's audiobook work includes his [[Grammy Award|Grammy]]-nominated narration of [[Lemony Snicket]]'s ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'', [[Geraldine McCaughrean]]'s ''[[Peter Pan in Scarlet]]'', [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' and the ''[[Old Kingdom (book series)|Abhorsen]]'' trilogy. Curry has done voice over for various advertisements for products and companies such as [[Smirnoff]], [[Cravendale]] and [[Paramount Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/347659/video-tim-curry-announces-paramount-networks-killer-classics-month-line-up/|title= Video: Tim Curry Announces Paramount Network's Killer Classics Month Line Up |date= 3 October 2020 |publisher=Dread Central |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref>

===Music===
Aside from his performances on various soundtrack records, Curry has had some success as a solo musical artist. Curry received classical vocal training as a boy. He has mentioned that his musical influences included jazz vocalists such as [[Billie Holiday]] and [[Louis Armstrong]], and he idolised [[The Beatles]] and [[The Rolling Stones]] as a teenager. In 1978, [[A&M Records]] released Curry's debut solo album ''[[Read My Lips (Tim Curry album)|Read My Lips]]''.<ref name="Larkin80"/> The album featured an eclectic range of songs (mostly [[cover version|covers]]) performed in diverse genres. Highlights of the album are a [[reggae]] version of the Beatles' song "[[I Will]]", a rendition of "Wake Nicodemus" featuring the Pipes and Drums of the [[48th Highlanders of Canada]], and a bar-room ballad, "Alan", composed by [[Canadian]] singer-songwriter Tony Kosinec. In 1979, he scored a minor hit single with "I Do the Rock". The following year, Curry released his second and most successful album ''[[Fearless (Tim Curry album)|Fearless]]''.<ref name="Larkin80"/> The [[Gramophone record|LP]] was more rock-oriented than ''Read My Lips'' and mostly featured original songs rather than cover versions. The album included Curry's only US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] charting song: "I Do the Rock".

Curry's third album, ''[[Simplicity (Tim Curry album)|Simplicity]]'', was released in 1981, again by A&M Records.<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|page=140}}</ref> This record, which did not sell as well as the previous offerings, combined both original songs and cover versions. Still, it was the only Curry recording to hit the charts in Canada, reaching No. 45 on the album chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0387.pdf| title=RPM Top 50 Albums – September 26, 1981}}</ref> The writing, production, and musician roster for Curry's solo albums included an impressive list of collaborators, including [[Bob Ezrin]], [[Dick Wagner]], and [[David Sanborn]].

In 1989, A&M released ''The Best of Tim Curry'' on CD and cassette, featuring songs from his albums (including a live version of "Alan") and a previously unreleased song, a live cover version of [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[Simple Twist of Fate]]". Curry toured [[North America]] and some European countries with his band between 1978 and 1980. In 1990, Curry performed as the Prosecutor in [[Roger Waters]]' production of ''[[The Wall – Live in Berlin]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Smith, Rob|url=http://www.looper.com/118540/tim-curry-left-spotlight/|work=[[Looper (website)|Looper]]|title=Why Tim Curry left the spotlight|date=18 April 2018}}</ref> Although Curry's first album was released in 1978, he had previously recorded a nine-track album for [[Lou Adler]]'s [[Ode Records]] in 1976. However, the album remained unreleased in its entirety until February 2010, when it was made available as a legal download entitled ''...From the Vaults'' (though four tracks from these sessions had been released on a 1990 ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show|Rocky Horror]]'' box set). The album, produced by Lou Adler, included Curry's rendition of [[the Supremes]]' hit "[[Baby Love]]".

==Personal life==
[[File:Tim Curry - Rocky Horror 50th.jpg|thumb|Curry in 2025]]
Curry has never married and does not have children.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/858902/tim-curry-private-life-since-stroke-latest-updates/|title=Inside Tim Curry's private life at 79 since suffering from a stroke amid latest update|date=30 September 2025|website=HELLO!}}</ref> He does not consider his relationship history to be a public matter.<ref name=":2" />

A keen [[horticulturalist]], Curry has developed and restored gardens across many of his past residences and some other residences in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]. On where his interest in gardening came from, he commented: "I think if you're English, a [[trowel]] appears in your hand when you're 30 like a prosthetic device".<ref>{{cite news |title=TV giants collaborate on movie |url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=prre19971221-01.1.32&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=Press-Republican |page=32 |date=21 December 1997}}</ref> He told the UK edition of ''[[House & Garden (magazine)#UK edition|House & Garden]]'' magazine about designing [[Freddie Mercury]]'s garden: "Freddie came back from a tour and said, 'The garden, dear, it's dead.' I said, 'What? Did you water it?' And Freddie said, 'Water it, dear?{{' "}}<ref name="Guardian 2006-10-20"/>

Curry's mother, Patricia Curry, died in 1999 at age 80.<ref name=":2" /> Curry's sister, Judith, was a concert pianist; she died of a [[brain tumour]] in 2001.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=Standard /><ref name=":2" />

A former smoker, Curry has stated that he has used hashish and cocaine. He has also spent time in alcohol rehabilitation, but does not consider himself an alcoholic.<ref name=":2" />

In 2012, Curry had a major stroke in the midst of receiving a massage.<ref name=":0" /> The stroke required brain surgery.<ref name=":2" /> Curry has used a wheelchair since the [[stroke]].<ref name=THR>{{cite magazine| first=Seth| last= Abramovitch| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tim-curry-recovering-stroke-558335| title=Tim Curry Recovering From Stroke| magazine=The Hollywood Reporter| date=24 May 2013| access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> He continues to experience mobility issues, particularly in his left arm and leg. The stroke has also affected his short-term memory.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> In September 2025, Curry stated that he is still unable to walk.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-30 |title=Tim Curry Shares He "Still Can't Walk" After Stroke |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1423212/tim-curry-cant-walk-after-stroke |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=E! Online}}</ref> 

In October 2020, Curry reprised his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in a live table reading of ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' in support of the [[Democratic Party of Wisconsin]] to raise funds for [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Joe Biden's presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tim-curry-reprises-dr-frank-n-furter-role-in-rocky-horror-political-fundraiser |title=Tim Curry Reprises Dr. Frank-N-Furter Role in 'Rocky Horror' Political Fundraiser |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=1 November 2020| access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>

Curry's memoir, ''Vagabond'', was released on 14 October 2025 by [[Grand Central Publishing]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tim-curry/vagabond/9780306835841/ |title=Vagabond |date=2025-02-11 |isbn=978-0-306-83584-1 |language=en-US}}</ref> When asked by a fan about the origin of the title, Curry responded, "It comes from in the 17th and 18th centuries actors were regarded as vagabonds, and sort of criminals – and because I've always moved around so much."<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&t=162&v=T6uACUQ0g1w |title=My GalaxyCon chat with Tim Curry |date=2023-08-15 |last=Will Davies |access-date=2025-02-28 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

Regarding his religious beliefs, Curry was strongly influenced by [[Methodism]] and his father's faith. He wrote in ''Vagabond'' that he did not anticipate an afterlife but was "curious" to see if one existed.<ref name=":2" />

As of 2025, Curry resides in Los Angeles.<ref name="auto"/>

==Filmography==
{{Main|List of Tim Curry performances}}

==Discography==
'''Albums'''
* [[Read My Lips (Tim Curry album)|''Read My Lips'']] (1978)
* [[Fearless (Tim Curry album)|''Fearless'']] (1979)
* [[Simplicity (Tim Curry album)|''Simplicity'']] (1981)
* ''The Best of Tim Curry'' (1985; [[compilation album]])
* ''From the Vaults'' (recorded 1976, released 2010)

'''Soundtracks and cast recordings'''
* ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' (Original London cast) (1973)
* ''The Rocky Horror Show'' (Original [[Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood)|Roxy]] cast) (1974)
* ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show (soundtrack)|The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Annie (1982 film)#Soundtrack|Annie]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Ferngully: The Last Rainforest#Music|Ferngully: The Last Rainforest]]'' (1992)
* ''[[My Favorite Year (musical)#Songs|My Favorite Year]]'' (Original [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] cast) (1993)
* ''[[The Pebble and the Penguin (soundtrack)|The Pebble and the Penguin]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Muppet Treasure Island#Music|Muppet Treasure Island]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas#Music|Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Spamalot#Musical numbers|Spamalot]]'' (Original Broadway cast) (2005)
* ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (soundtrack)|The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again]]'' (2016)

'''Others'''
* [[Spy (Carly Simon album)|Carly Simon – ''Spy'']] (1979) – Backing vocals for "[[Vengeance (Carly Simon song)|Vengeance]]" and "Pure Sin"
* [[The Wall – Live in Berlin|Roger Waters – ''The Wall: Live in Berlin'']] (1990) – Live recording of "[[The Trial (song)|The Trial]]"
* ''[[Little Tramp]]'' (1992) – Concept album for musical
* ''Disney's Music From the Park'' (1996) – "[[The Ballad of Davy Crockett]]"

==Awards and nominations==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Award
! Category
! Result
|-
| 1975
| ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]''
| rowspan="2"|[[Drama Desk Award]]
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1981
| rowspan=2|''[[Amadeus (play)|Amadeus]]''
| rowspan="2" | [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play|Best Actor in a Play]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|1982
| rowspan=2|''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]''
| [[Royal Variety Performance|Royal Variety Club Award]]
| Stage Actor of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Laurence Olivier Award]]
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Peter Pan and the Pirates]]''
| [[Daytime Emmy Award]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming|Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series]]
| {{win}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1993
| ''[[My Favorite Year (musical)|My Favorite Year]]''
| [[Tony Award]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| ''[[Passed Away (film)|Passed Away]]''
| [[American Comedy Award]]
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1994
| rowspan=2|''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]''
| [[Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1995
| [[CableACE Award]]
| Best Actor in a Dramatic Series
| {{nom}}
|-
| ''[[Mighty Max (TV series)|Mighty Max]]''
| [[Daytime Emmy Award]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer In An Animated Program|Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Congo (film)|Congo]]''
| [[Razzie Award]]
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor|Worst Supporting Actor]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas]]''
| [[Annie Award]]
| [[Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production|Voice Acting in a Feature Production]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2002
| ''[[The Bad Beginning]]''
| [[Grammy Award]]
| [[Best Spoken Word Album for Children]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|2005
| rowspan=4|''[[Spamalot]]''
| [[Outer Critics Circle Award]]
| Outstanding Actor in a Musical
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|2007
| [[Laurence Olivier Award]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[WhatsOnStage Award]]
| {{win}}
|-
| rowspan=2|2010
| ''[[Brütal Legend]]''
| rowspan=2|NAVGTR Award
| Supporting Performance in a Comedy
| {{nom}}
|-
| ''[[Dragon Age: Origins]]''
| Supporting Performance in a Drama
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2015
| {{n/a}}
| [[Actors Fund of America|Actors Fund of America Artistic Achievement Award]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{included|Awarded}}
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IOBDB name}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160419230012/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f1de72f Tim Curry] at the [[British Film Institute]]{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert – if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}}
* {{AllMusic}}
* {{Anime News Network|people|21531}}
* {{Screenonline name|861193}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes person}}
* {{Emmys person|tim-curry}}
* {{Discogs artist}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-new|show}}
{{s-ttl| title=Actor playing [[King Arthur]] in ''[[Spamalot]]'' (Broadway)
| years=17 March 2005 (Opening) –<br>19 December 2005}}
{{s-aft| after=[[Simon Russell Beale]]<br>21 December 2005 –<br>26 April 2006}}
|-
{{S-new|show}}
{{s-ttl| title=Actor playing [[King Arthur]] in ''[[Spamalot]]'' (West End)
| years=30 September 2006 (Opened 16 October 2006) –<br>6 January 2007}}
{{s-aft| after=[[Simon Russell Beale]]<br>24 January 2007 –<br>July 2007}}
{{S-end}}

{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curry, Tim}}
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