Tim Curry got candid about how he really felt about fame in one of his final interviews, admitting that being a celebrity was never what he loved most about acting.
The beloved actor passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home on Aug. 25 at age 80. Just one year earlier, Curry reflected on his decades-long career and complicated relationship with fame during a 2025 CBS interview with Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz, per People.
Curry admitted that, like many aspiring actors, he was initially drawn to the idea of becoming famous. But once he experienced it for himself, his feelings changed.
“I think that I was, like everybody else, drawn to the idea of fame, probably, although I came to kind of rather despise it,” Curry said.
What Curry actually loved about acting was “the freedom of being somebody else.” He described himself as a “purist” when it came to his work and said he wanted audiences to see the characters he played rather than simply see Tim Curry.
“I wanted to disappear into characters,” he explained. “I didn’t want an audience to say, ‘Oh, thank God, here he is.’”
Tim Curry Admitted He ‘Didn’t Like’ Fame
Curry went on to admit that he “didn’t like” fame very much, in part because he never knew what people expected from him.
“I never really know what they expect [from me],” he said. “You can’t tell.”
Still, Curry became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors over a career that spanned more than five decades.
His early career included a role in the original London production of “Hair” in 1968. He later originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show” before taking the character to the big screen in 1975’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
The movie eventually became a cult classic, with Curry’s performance becoming one of his most iconic roles.
Curry’s lengthy list of credits also included Rooster Hannigan in “Annie,” Wadsworth in “Clue,” Darkness in “Legend” and Long John Silver in “Muppet Treasure Island.” He also appeared in “The Hunt for Red October” and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
Curry famously took on another unforgettable role as Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s “It.” He also built an extensive career as a voice actor and earned three Tony Award nominations and an Emmy nomination.
Tim Curry Was Proud of the Impact ‘Rocky Horror’ Had on Fans
While Curry may not have loved everything that came with being famous, he remained proud of the impact his work had on fans.
During a rare appearance at a 50th anniversary screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in September 2025, Curry spoke about the movie’s lasting message and its connection to the LGBTQ community, according to People.
“It means a lot because I think the message of the film, ‘don’t dream it, be it,’ is very important,” Curry said.
The appearance came more than a decade after Curry suffered a major stroke in 2012 that left him paralyzed on his left side. He continued working primarily through voice acting and occasionally made public appearances in the years that followed.
At the 2025 screening, Curry shared that he still could not walk and continued having problems with his left leg.
Despite those challenges, Curry continued to celebrate the movie and the freedom it represented for its fans.
“One of the things that the movie does, I think, is give anyone permission to behave as badly as they really want, in whatever way and with whom,” Curry said. “And I’m proud of that.”
