Tim Curry, the British actor who brought Dr Frank-N-Furter to life in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and later chilled audiences as Pennywise in It, died of coronary artery disease, according to official documents obtained by People magazine from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The confirmation comes more than a week after Curry passed away on 25 August at his home in the Toluca Lake area of Los Angeles, at the age of 80.
Actor Tim Curry Passing: What Do The Official Records Say?
Alongside coronary artery disease, listed as the underlying cause, the health department’s paperwork noted a history of stroke and kidney cancer as other significant conditions that contributed to his death, several outlets reporting on the same documents, including the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, confirmed. Crucially, neither the stroke history nor the cancer was recorded as the cause itself, and the filing stated that no surgeries had been carried out for any of the three conditions in the period before his death.
Actor Tim Curry Passing: Who Confirmed His Death, And How?
Curry’s passing was first confirmed on 26 August by his longtime manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter.
Separately, TMZ reported that law enforcement sources described no foul play in the case, noting that police were called to his residence late on the Tuesday night. KTLA additionally reported that the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed officers had responded to a death investigation at a home in North Hollywood at around 11pm, while the Los Angeles Fire Department said it had been alerted earlier that evening to a medical emergency at the property.
Actor Tim Curry Passing: How Did His 2012 Stroke Affect His Final Years?
Curry’s health had been fragile for well over a decade before his death. He suffered a near-fatal stroke in 2012 after doctors discovered two blood clots on his brain, requiring emergency surgery. The stroke left the left side of his body paralysed, confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and temporarily robbed him of his speech. Although his voice returned the following year following rehabilitation, Curry largely stepped back from on-screen acting afterwards, concentrating instead on voice work for the remainder of his career.
Actor Tim Curry Passing: What Did Tim Curry Say About Facing Mortality?
The actor was notably candid about his declining health in his later years, discussing his recovery in an October 2025 interview with Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz that aired on CBS Sunday Morning. In his 2025 memoir, Vagabond, Curry reflected openly on death itself, writing that he might simply “fade gently from light into dark oblivion”, and suggesting the prospect held little fear for him.
Actor Tim Curry Passing: What Was His Last Screen Role?
Curry’s final credited performance came in the 2024 horror film Stream. He had also completed his scenes for its sequel, Stream 2: Sudden Death, currently in production with Fuzz on the Lens Productions, whose director, Michael Leavy, said the finished film would be dedicated to Curry’s memory.
Actor Tim Curry Passing: What Is Tim Curry Remembered For?
Born Timothy James Curry in Grappenhall, Cheshire, in 1946 and educated at the University of Birmingham, Curry built a decades-long career spanning film, television and theatre, amassing close to 250 acting credits. Beyond Frank-N-Furter and Pennywise, he was widely recognised for playing Rooster Hannigan in Annie, Wadsworth in Clue, the hotel concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island, and King Arthur in the Broadway and West End runs of Monty Python’s Spamalot. His stage work earned him three Tony Award nominations and two Laurence Olivier Award nominations across a career that began in the late 1960s.
Actor Tim Curry Passing: How Have Colleagues And Fans Responded?
Following news of his death, numerous former co-stars and fellow entertainers shared public tributes celebrating Curry’s body of work, the Hollywood Reporter noted, reflecting the affection built up over a career that turned him into a cult favourite on both sides of the Atlantic.
