Another sorrowful bit of news, as the world lost Tim Curry this past week. May he truly rest in peace.
Mr. Curry was well known for a myriad of roles on the big screen for nearly sixty years.
His breakout role came as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the musical “The Rocky Horror Show” (1973), which was later adapted into the 1975 film that gained a cult-like following. His work as Mozart in “Amadeus” snagged a Tony nomination, while his performance as the Pirate King in Drury Lane’s 1982 staging of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” secured a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
His commanding stage presence made him seem almost constitutionally incapable of being ordinary. Even amid formidable ensembles, Curry possessed that rare performative alchemy whereby one’s gaze seemed irresistibly drawn toward him. Cinema provided an even broader canvas for his eccentric magnificence. His imposing presence in Ridley Scott’s Legend was stellar, along with his role in Clue as Wadsworth. He notably appeared as Plaza Hotel concierge Mr. Hector in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, heavy Jigsaw in the “Lethal Weapon” spoof Loaded Weapon 1, Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island, Russian terrorist Major Vladakov in the film version of McHale’s Navy, and Gomez Addams in the direct-to-video Addams Family Reunion.
Curry became unforgettable as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It. His performance was menacing and, at the same time, caught folks off guard, setting the template for the 2017 version.
Curry released solo albums including Read My Lips, Fearless, and Simplicity, revealing another dimension of an artist seemingly constitutionally opposed to creative confinement.
Despite some health issues in the early 2010s, Curry was honored with the Actors Fund Lifetime Achievement Award and partook in some smaller roles until his tragic passing on August 25th this year.
A massively popular figure with many roles to choose from, Curry leaves behind a grand legacy in the world of cinema and the arts.
