Tim Curry has died. His death was reported by TMZ on Wednesday, August 26. He was 80, and he passed away in his Los Angeles home. Curry was a brilliant actor, with one of his most memorable performances in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but he was also resilient and funny.
Tim Curry Bravely Discussed His Health Issues
Before Curry’s death, he had struggled with several health issues. The actor had a stroke in 2012 at age 67. It left him paralyzed on his left side, but he still had control of his speech and maintained his sense of humor.
In a rare interview with The Guardian in October 2025, Curry discussed his life, including his career, and he expressed gratitude. “I’m very aware that I’m lucky,” he said. “I’m astonished actually at how ambitious I’ve been. I didn’t think of myself as ambitious at all.” He also joked about his health, saying, “The day before I had the stroke, I smoked three packs of Marlboro Reds. I won’t be doing that again!”
In a September 2025 appearance honoring the 50th anniversary of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Los Angeles’ Academy Museum, Curry discussed his health. He detailed what his stroke had prevented, and what he was still able to enjoy. “I was having a massage at the time, and I didn’t even actually notice anything, but the guy who was doing the massage said, ‘I’m worried about you, I want to call an ambulance.’ And he did, and I said, ‘That’s so silly,’” Curry said, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
He continued, “I still can’t walk, which is why I’m in this silly chair, and that’s very limiting. So I won’t be singing, and I won’t be dancing very soon. I still have real problems with my left leg.”
Tim Curry Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance
In 2016, Curry made a rare red carpet appearance after his stroke to attend the Fox reboot, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again.” He appeared on the red carpet, a moment his fans welcomed. He made another memorable public appearance in October 2025, speaking onstage at the Celebrating the Music of The Rocky Horror Picture Show event, held at the Grammy Museum L.A. in Los Angeles, California.
Curry stressed the importance of not losing his sense of humor in an interview with Los Angeles magazine in June 2015, saying it was “absolutely vital” to his recovery. “It’s not tough to maintain. It is just part of my DNA.” He also updated readers on his health, saying, “I’m doing well.”
After his stroke, Curry continued to work, penning his memoir, “Vagabond.” The book was released in October 2025, and he felt it was an honest reflection on his life. “I tried to be as absolutely truthful as possible,” he told The Guardian. “I couldn’t see the point of doing it otherwise, really. It gave me energy, I must say. That was great. It was partly, I think, the energy of a new playground.”
