The film world is in mourning. Tim Curry, legendary British actor known for playing Pennywise in the television version of “It”, the unforgettable Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the eccentric concierge in Home Alone 2, died at 80 years old.
The news was confirmed this Wednesday, August 26, by various international media outlets. Curry died Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles, according to TMZ. Police sources also indicated that no foul play is suspected.
For now, the exact cause of his death has not been reported. The actor had faced significant health problems for more than a decade after suffering a serious stroke in 2012.
Curry achieved cult actor status thanks to Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the extravagant scientist from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a character he first played on stage before bringing it to the big screen in 1975.
But for another generation, his face became associated with something far more terrifying: Pennywise, the killer clown from the miniseries It, based on Stephen King’s novel. His performance became one of the most memorable versions of the character before Bill Skarsgård took on the role decades later.
He also appeared in numerous popular films, including “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”, where he played the suspicious and elegant concierge of the Plaza Hotel who faces Kevin McCallister.
Throughout his extensive career, he also appeared in films such as Clue, Annie, The Hunt for Red October, The Three Musketeers, Muppet Treasure Island, and Scary Movie 2.
After his stroke, Curry considerably reduced his on-screen appearances and focused mainly on voice work. However, he remained connected to the world that had made him a cult figure and went on to participate in a new production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 2016.
With his death, one of those actors capable of defining generations with completely different characters is gone: the monstrous Pennywise, the flamboyant Frank-N-Furter, and the suspicious concierge of “Home Alone 2”.
Tim Curry was 80 years old.