4 Movie Roles That Made Tim Curry a Legend
Tim Curry, best known for playing eccentric characters and villains in various movies, has died. The actor died at home in Toluca Lake, California, after a period of poor health. As tributes pour in for the late actor, fans are revisiting the on-screen moments that made him a true legend. Let’s take a look back at four roles that defined his decades-long career.
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975)
No role defined Curry’s career quite like Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the performer at the center of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Tim Curry first appeared in the role on stage in the 1973 London production of the musical.
The 1975 film adaptation flopped on its initial theatrical release but found new life through midnight screenings, eventually becoming one of the most enduring cult classics in movie history. Audience-participation showings still run in theaters worldwide five decades later. It is considered the role that catapulted Curry to fame, and he used that momentum to secure roles in many more films.
‘Clue’ (1985)
Tim Curry spent the decade between The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Clue appearing in various productions, but Clue remains one of fans’ most beloved roles. In the movie, he played Wadsworth, the frantic butler at the center of the murder mystery inspired by the board game of the same name.
In the movie, Wadsworth guides a cast of suspects through the film’s twisty, multiple-ending plot to find the murderer. Much like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue was not an instant classic, underperforming at the box office and receiving mixed reviews from critics.
The movie found its footing later, among a passionate niche audience, who worked hard to cement the movie firmly in the cult classic category. Curry himself acknowledged in his memoir just how deeply the film resonated with fans, writing fondly of “that middle-aged mother who organizes ‘Clue’ watching parties and refuses entry to anybody out of costume.”
‘It’ (1990)
In 1990, Tim Curry took his acting career in a much darker direction, taking on the role of Pennywise in the 1990 horror classic, It. The TV adaptation of Stephen King’s unsettling novel set an entire generation of younger viewers to bed with the lights on. Curry was praised for his iconic and deeply sinister portrayal of the killer clown.
While there have been other versions of It released, including the 2017 movie adaptation with Bill Skarsgård in the role of Pennywise, Curry is considered the superior Pennywise. His performance is frequently mentioned alongside genre-defining turns by actors like Anthony Perkins in Psycho and Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, placing Curry’s Pennywise among the most iconic villain performances in film and television history.
‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’ (1992)
While Tim Curry proved his range in It, he returned in 1992 with a far less horrifying movie role. He took on the part of the Plaza Hotel’s concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Curry, once again, relied on his physical comedy skills and his expressive face to become a recognizable icon to an entirely new generation of young viewers.
Curry actually dished on his time working on the film during an interview with The Guardian shortly before his death. He recalled staying at the Plaza during filming. He cheekily told the outlet that Ivana Trump knocked on his door to ask him how he liked the room, but he had nothing nice to say because he “loathed” the decor.
In the hours after his death, fans have taken to streaming platforms to revisit as many of Curry’s iconic roles as they can. Clue, in particular, saw a massive spike in activity on Paramount+. Films like Home Alone 2 spike each year around the holidays, too, allowing fans to remain close to Curry and his iconic roles, even following his death.
