Actor and Video Game Icon Tim Curry Dies at 80

English actor Tim Curry, known for his performances as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the butler Wadsworth in Clue, and Pennywise the Clown in the original miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It, has died at the age of 80.

TMZ first reported that Curry died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles. The actor suffered a major stroke in 2012 that limited his mobility and memory, but he continued working through special appearances and voice roles. Among those projects, he voiced Chancellor Palpatine and Darth Sidious in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Curry began his professional acting career on the stage. He originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in theatrical productions of The Rocky Horror Show in London and on Broadway before reprising the character in the 1975 film adaptation. The film developed a massive cult following over the decades and ultimately earned more than $170 million worldwide.

During the 1980s, Curry established himself in major Hollywood productions. He played Rooster Hannigan in the musical Annie, stepped into heavy prosthetic makeup as Darkness in Ridley Scott’s fantasy film Legend, and led the ensemble mystery comedy Clue. His film resume expanded in the following years with roles in The Hunt for Red October, The Shadow, Muppet Treasure Island, and Congo.

Electronic Arts players also celebrated Curry for his performance as Russian Premier Cherdenko in the real-time strategy game Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Fans frequently cite his dramatic line delivery from the game, where his character declares an escape to space to avoid capitalism.

Audiences can still find Curry’s work across multiple platforms. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 is available on Steam, while Clue is available to stream for free with ads on YouTube.

Source: Polygon