As a veteran actor, Tim Curry had more than 200 credits to his name across film and television. He has appeared in everything from cult classics like “Clue” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to hit movies like “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” and the acclaimed “It” miniseries. But when asked what his favorite movie that he worked on, Curry gave a somewhat surprising answer.
In an interview with The New York Times, Curry revealed that his answer is “Muppet Treasure Island. The actor simply declared, “It’s my favorite movie.”
The revelation has gained new poignancy following Curry’s death at the age of 80. Particularly after The Muppets paid their own touching tribute to their former co-star and named him an “honorary Muppet.”
Tim Curry Called ‘Muppet Treasure Island’ His Favorite Movie
Curry notably portrayed the evil pirate Long John Silver in the 1996 film. “Muppet Treasure Island” acts as a musical comedy, with Curry as a lead antagonist. Unlike most of his other roles, he acted alongside a cast made up largely of puppets. But it seems like this was something that the actor enjoyed.
“It’s my favorite movie,” Curry told The New York Times, recalling his time spent on the film. “I loved doing it, and I hope it plays forever… [the film] turned out to be the most fun I’ve ever had on a movie set.”
In another interview last year with The Guardian, Curry again references the Muppets. He also went on to say that he would take up the chance to take part in another Muppets project if the opportunity arose. “I would love to work with the Muppets again,” he said.
Curry added, “The great thing is that the Muppeteers themselves, if they have their puppet on their hand, they only talk to you as the character. I love that.”
Interestingly, this is not a recent opinion. As far back as 2006, Curry had told The Guardian that “Muppet Treasure Island” was his favorite time spent on a film set. He cited the fact that he got to meet and work with Miss Piggy as one of the key reasons why he enjoyed it so much.
His 2025 memoir “Vagabond” also contained a passage calling the movie “the most delightful cinematic experience I’ve enjoyed.” He went on to say that he “cannot overstate how much I adored working with the Muppets.”
The Muppets Paid Tribute to Tim Curry Following His Death
The affection between Curry and the Muppets is mutual. Following his death, the Muppets paid an emotional tribute to the actor and even referred to him as an “honorary Muppet.”
“Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry,” the Muppets wrote in a social media tribute.
“As a performer he was unparalleled — witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny,” The Muppets went on to say. “We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.”
