Tim Curry, Star of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' and 'It,' Dies at 80

British acting legend Tim Curry has passed away at the age of 80, his agent confirmed Tuesday. Curry died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles. The cause of death has not yet been publicly disclosed.

For many Taiwanese film fans, Curry's name is synonymous with the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," a perennial favorite at the Golden Horse Fantastic Film Festival. Horror enthusiasts remember his unsettling portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's "It," a role that terrified a generation long before the recent remake.

Curry's most defining role was arguably Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Donning heavy makeup, stockings, and high heels, he delivered a performance of extreme flamboyance and seductive charisma. Though not an immediate box office hit, the film gained legendary status through midnight screenings and word-of-mouth, becoming a definitive cult movie.

Reflecting on the character's cultural impact in a past interview, Curry noted that Dr. Frank-N-Furter gave many young people the courage to embrace their uniqueness. The film evolved into an important symbol within LGBTQ+ culture, with continuous re-screenings worldwide and interactive showings in Taiwan drawing devoted audiences year after year.

His turn as Stephen King's Pennywise, with bright red hair, white face paint, and a deceptively cheerful smile, lured children into a world of horror. This version remains a benchmark against which fans compare Bill Skarsgård's later portrayal. Curry's face, which conveyed increasing fear the more he smiled, became the basis for countless internet memes in the digital age, giving the character a life that arguably extended beyond the film itself.

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