Let’s Do The Time Warp Again: A Tribute to Acting Icon Tim Curry
Let’s Do The Time Warp Again: A Tribute to Acting Icon Tim Curry
By Emily Smith — September 15 2026
On August 25th, 2026, iconic British actor Tim Curry passed away.
His death followed shortly after the loss of Dolly Parton, another beloved creative in the industry. As fans of his work worldwide mourn his passing, Square takes a moment to reflect on the impact of his career on the evolution of film, theater and self expression.
Tim Curry’s most famous role began on the stage rather than the big screen. As the originator of Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror on the West End and on Broadway, Curry initially called the film adaptation a failure. In an interview quoted by People magazine, Curry said that, “It died a death. It was a failure. And I was crushed.” Despite this, the film went on to become a cult classic that is still shown in theaters to this day.
Rocky Horror Picture Show was revolutionary for its time, with Curry perfectly encapsulating the flamboyant and gender-norm defying mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Dressed to the nines in drag, Curry wore a dazzling black corset paired with fishnet tights and pearls. His iconic outfit as the captivating extraterrestrial from Transsexual, Transylvania is largely admired and was described by the New York Times as defying the traditionally defined “barrier to masculinity” and embodying a “gender that refused to stay fixed.”
The film is not just admired for its addictive showtunes and flashy costumes, but for the impact it has had on the Queer community. In the same article, the New York Times quotes Curry claiming that Dr. Frank-N-Furter gave audiences an outlet to “figure out their own sexuality.” He continues, saying he has “certainly had some very interesting and moving mail from people who have said … thanks for helping me figure out who I was.”
A versatile actor, Curry was renowned for a plethora of on-screen roles. Horror fans may know and love him as Pennywise, the leading killer clown of Stephen King's “It” miniseries. Curry was no stranger to the hours of makeup that went into this role. Beneath layers of white face paint and a custom headpiece, the actor became nearly unrecognizable as the terrorizer of Derry.
His filmography is host to a wide variety of genres, including murder mystery Clue. The New York Times credits his role as the scheming butler as a “comedy masterclass,” and the film has continued to be a must-watch during the Halloween season.
Known for his charming voice and ability to embody comedic characters, Curry also played one of the villains of musical-movie Annie, taking the screen as Rooster alongside industry legends Bernadette Peters and Carol Burnett. The Easy-Street singing trio gave one of the most iconic and entertaining theater performances of all time, and Carol Burnett paid tribute on her Instagram.
Whether on screen as swashbuckling pirate Long John Silver in the Muppets Treasure Island or on stage as King Arthur in Spamalot, the legacy left by Tim Curry will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
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