Curry, a three-time Tony nominee, leaves behind a career spanning more than five decades, marked by a rare ability to blend menace, charisma, and camp. Born in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England, in 1946, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before finding early success on stage. His breakout role came in 1973 when he originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the London stage production of The Rocky Horror Show, later reprising it in the 1975 film adaptation that became a midnight movie phenomenon.
Beyond Rocky Horror, Curry delivered a string of memorable performances. He played the sinister clown Pennywise in the 1990 television miniseries It, a role that terrified a generation of viewers. He also appeared in comedies such as Clue (1985) as the flamboyant butler Wadsworth, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) as the hotel concierge Mr. Hector. On television, he voiced characters in productions including The Wild Thornberrys and King of the Hill.
Curry suffered a major stroke in 2012 that left him using a wheelchair, but he continued to work in voice acting and made occasional public appearances. In recent years, he received a lifetime achievement award from the British Film Institute and was celebrated for his contributions to both film and LGBTQ+ culture, with Dr. Frank-N-Furter widely regarded as a groundbreaking queer character.
Tributes began pouring in shortly after the announcement. The Rocky Horror Picture Show's official social media account wrote: 'The master of the midnight transformation has taken his final bow. We are forever grateful for the joy and mischief he brought to the world.' Stephen King, whose novel It was adapted into the miniseries starring Curry, called him 'a brilliant, terrifying, and utterly unique talent.'
Curry is survived by his sister and a wide circle of friends. No cause of death was immediately released, but representatives said he died peacefully at his home in London.