Tim Curry Remembered By 'Rocky Horror Show' Playwright Richard O'Brien & The Broadway Revival
Deadline
β’Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:51:00 +0000
π° What Happened
Tim Curry, the actor best known for Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at the age of 80. The current Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show joined playwright Richard O'Brien in paying tribute to Curry. O'Brien, who cast his friend Curry in Frank-N-Furter and played Riff Raff himself, posted a heartfelt statement through his son. He described Curry as a wonderful man and performer who never sought attention.
π The Backstory
Tim Curry's performance as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975 made him a style icon, famed for his high heels and garters. The role turned a campy stage-to-screen musical into a generation-defining cult hit. O'Brien and Curry worked together from the original stage production in the 1970s. His death prompted a wave of tributes across Hollywood and Broadway, and his legacy is tied to a stage musical that has run for decades.
π― Why It Matters
Curry's passing closes a chapter on one of the most enduring cult performances in cinema, with Rocky Horror having shaped how camp and gender fluidity enter mainstream culture. The tributes from the playwright and the Broadway revival connect his legacy to a living, ongoing theatrical tradition. He was also known beyond Rocky Horror for a long and varied career in film, theater and animation. The events anchor a broader moment of reflection on the actors who created such role-defining characters.
Tim Curry, the actor best known for Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at the age of 80. The current Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show joined playwright Richard O'Brien in paying tribute to Curry. O'Brien, who cast his friend Curry in Frank-N-Furter and played Riff Raff himself, posted a heartfelt statement through his son. He described Curry as a wonderful man and performer who never sought attention.
Tim Curry's performance as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975 made him a style icon, famed for his high heels and garters. The role turned a campy stage-to-screen musical into a generation-defining cult hit. O'Brien and Curry worked together from the original stage production in the 1970s. His death prompted a wave of tributes across Hollywood and Broadway, and his legacy is tied to a stage musical that has run for decades.
Curry's passing closes a chapter on one of the most enduring cult performances in cinema, with Rocky Horror having shaped how camp and gender fluidity enter mainstream culture. The tributes from the playwright and the Broadway revival connect his legacy to a living, ongoing theatrical tradition. He was also known beyond Rocky Horror for a long and varied career in film, theater and animation. The events anchor a broader moment of reflection on the actors who created such role-defining characters.