WARRINGTON-born Hollywood legend Tim Curry, the actor whose extraordinary career took him from the stages of London’s West End to some of cinema and television’s most memorable characters, has died aged 80.
Curry, who was a former pupil at Lymm High School, died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, according to reports. Authorities attended the property following a medical emergency, with no foul play suspected. The cause of death has not yet been publicly disclosed.
For Warrington, his death marks the passing of one of the town’s most internationally recognised acting stars.
Curry was born in Grappenhall on April 19, 1946, when the village was still outside Warrington’s boundaries. Grappenhall subsequently became part of the Warrington borough in 1974.
His route to international fame began on the stage.
After studying drama and English at the University of Birmingham, Curry joined the original West End production of Hair in 1968.
It was through the London theatre scene that he met writer Richard O’Brien – a meeting which would transform both their careers.
In 1973, Curry originated the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, creating a character which would become one of the most iconic performances in musical theatre and cinema.
He reprised the role for the 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Frank-N-Furter subsequently became a cult cultural phenomenon.
But Curry was far more than Rocky Horror.
His career included major stage performances in Amadeus, The Pirates of Penzance, Travesties and Spamalot, for which he played King Arthur on Broadway and in London’s West End. He received multiple Tony and Olivier Award nominations during his theatrical career.
On the big screen, he became particularly renowned for playing flamboyant and often sinister characters.
His credits included The Lord of Darkness in Legend, Rooster in Annie, Wadsworth in Clue, Captain Hook in Muppet Treasure Island and roles in The Hunt for Red October, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and Scary Movie 2.
For an entire generation of television viewers, however, Curry was the terrifying face of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
His performance became one of the defining portrayals of the character and helped cement his reputation as an actor capable of switching effortlessly between comedy, horror and drama.
Curry was also an acclaimed voice actor, winning a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on Peter Pan and the Pirates and providing voices for numerous animated productions.
Curry’s later career was profoundly affected by a stroke he suffered in 2012, which left him partially paralysed and using a wheelchair.
He subsequently concentrated largely on voice work and made relatively few public appearances, although he continued to work and returned to the screen in later years.
In 2025, Curry published his memoir Vagabond, reflecting on his life, career and the enormous challenges he faced following his stroke.
He also spoke candidly in one of his final interviews about mortality and his attitude towards death, saying he did not fear it and had come to regard it as potentially “very comforting”.
A remarkable Warrington connection
Although Curry left the area as a child and went on to build his career in London and America, his Warrington roots remained an important part of his story.
He was born in Grappenhall, making his extraordinary journey from Cheshire to Hollywood one of the town’s most remarkable entertainment success stories.
From the West End stage to Rocky Horror, from Pennywise to Captain Hook, Curry created characters that remain instantly recognisable decades later.
Tim Curry leaves behind a remarkable legacy – and Warrington can proudly claim the birthplace of one of Britain’s most distinctive and unforgettable actors.
