British actor Tim Curry, celebrated for his performances as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the terrifying clown Pennywise in It, has died at the age of 80, according to Variety.
Curry died on Tuesday night. A cause of death has not been disclosed. The actor had experienced a number of health problems after suffering a stroke in 2012.
Curry became a cult icon through his flamboyant performance as Dr Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 musical comedy horror film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The film became a phenomenon through its hugely popular midnight screenings and remained closely associated with Curry throughout his career.
He went on to build a remarkably varied body of work, playing memorable characters including Wadsworth in Clue and the Lord of Darkness in Legend, both released in 1985.
Curry reached another generation of viewers with his chilling portrayal of Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
His distinctive deep voice also led to an extensive career in voice acting, with credits including FernGully: The Last Rainforest and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Born Timothy James Curry in Grappenhall, England, on April 19, 1946, he was the son of a Royal Navy chaplain and a school secretary. His performing career began early, singing as a soprano in his church choir before developing an interest in acting as a teenager.
After studying literature and performing arts, Curry made an early breakthrough in the London production of the musical Hair in 1968, playing Woof.
“At the time I wasn’t really sure whether I wanted to be an actor or a singer, so I talked my way into Hair and postponed the decision for another year or so,” Curry told The New York Times in 1990.
His career ultimately encompassed theatre, film, television, music and voice acting, with his eccentric and often larger-than-life performances making him one of Britain’s most distinctive screen performers.