I won’t mince words, the news of Tim Curry’s demise certainly struck me with all the force of an ice pick (yes, that is a “Rocky Horror” reference).
I didn’t grow up in the early ’90s when Mr. Curry was putting the fear of God into young spectators as the OG Pennywise in the TV adaptation of Stephen King’s “It” or as the animated villain Hexxus in eco-fantasy “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.” My first introduction to his body of work was via an equally creepy character, the perverted professor Oldman in “Scary Movie 2.”
The Versatility of Tim Curry
It was only much later that I discovered his range as an actor through his debut and the beloved cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975). His performance as the sweet transvestite Dr Frank N Furter instantly made me a fan. A seasoned thespian, Curry originated the role in the stage musical, and much like the aforementioned professor Oldman, this character too shared a penchant for luring unsuspecting victims into a mansion for ahem, scientific purposes.
In the hands of any other actor, Dr Frank N Furter would just have been an unpleasant caricature. However, Curry carried this role off with immense grace, resulting in audiences viewing the mad but lonely Dr Frank N Furter via an empathetic and pitying lens rather than with malice. He lent ample sweetness, sadness and of course, sensuality to the role. In Curry’s own words, this iconic role followed him around like a shadow, even appearing in the music video for his song “Paradise Garage” (a man of many talents, he also moonlighted as a rockstar in the ’70s, with chartbusters such as “I Do the Rock”). Yet he still wholeheartedly embraced the fame and queer icon status, and continued to partake in fan meets and table reads where he reprised the role, the last of which was held virtually during the lockdown.
A Master of Comedy
Apart from his trademark voice and magnetic screen presence, Curry was also gifted with an impeccable comic timing. It’s hard not to double over with laughter watching him deliver fast-paced and witty dialogue as the wise cracking butler Wadsworth in “Clue” or fall prey to the shenanigans of a mischievous kid in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
Even in works that were misfires with critics and audiences alike, such as the poorly-timed “Addams Family Reunion,” he left an impression. His take on the goofy Gomez Addams even managed to fill the large shoes left behind by predecessor, the late Raul Julia. And while “Annie” to me is personally a dated and overhyped concept, there’s no denying that Curry’s portrayal of the cunning yet charming antagonist Rooster—as well as his chemistry with co-stars Carol Burnett and Bernadette Peters—are a saving grace. Thanks to the poorly received “Congo” in which he played Herkermer Homolka, and the Spooktober staple “The Worst Witch,” Curry also became fodder for countless memes, an honour in itself.
Working Amidst Illness
The veteran actor was also best known for guest starring in popular TV shows such as “Criminal Minds,” “Psych,” as well as an underrated stint as a broke musician in “The Tracey Ullman Show.” Despite a stroke leaving him wheelchair bound in his later years, he showed no signs of slowing down. He appeared as the Narrator/Criminologist, when his most celebrated work “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was revived once more for the small screen in 2016.
While Curry’s passing is devastating, I am also at peace knowing he is no longer shackled by earthly physical suffering. I can only hope now that he is well on his way to the one place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism… neither heaven nor hell… but SPACE.
