Tim Curry, the actor best known for his roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the miniseries It, passed away at age 80. He died on August 25 at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. His death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which listed coronary artery disease as the underlying cause.
The documents also noted a history of stroke and kidney cancer as contributing factors, though they were not listed as the main cause, according to The Hollywood Reporter. A major stroke in 2012 left Curry paralyzed on the left side of his face and wheelchair bound for the rest of his life, according to a report from Billboard. He had been reflecting on that stroke during a 2025 interview with Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz.
Curry said he had not realized he was having a stroke at the time, as he felt fine and had no symptoms. He described the experience as frightening, especially since his father had died from a stroke when Curry was ten years old. Following the stroke, Curry underwent brain surgery and rehabilitation to relearn how to speak.
He recalled the difficulty of not being able to speak and how strange it was to have to relearn basic communication. Curry’s career spanned more than five decades, with appearances in films such as Annie, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Monty Python’s Spamalot. His work also included roles in Muppet Treasure Island and Legend, among many others.
Following his death, many of his colleagues and fans paid tribute to his long and impactful career. His final book, Vagabond: A Memoir, was published by Grand Central Publishing and helped confirm the details of his passing. The actor’s legacy lives on through his memorable performances across film, television and stage.
IMAGE: 1994 Emmy Awards
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Scanned from the original 35MM film negative.. Photo: Alan Light / Wikimedia, taken 2011-10-29, CC BY 2.0