Actor Tim Curry, best remembered for his iconic rule in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", has died at the age of 80, Sky News reported.
His long-time manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, said the actor died at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday; no cause of death was made public. Hurwitz and representative Sean Katz said in a joint statement, "Though widely known for his inimitable, flamboyant characters and colourful stage performances, his greatest legacies to those who knew him were his curious, expansive mind and generous, gentle heart, both of which remained open and filled with anticipation until his final breath."
In the 1975 cult classic, Curry brought to life the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter. Stephen King's "It" saw the actor step into the role of Pennywise the clown for the 1990 TV adaptation. Beyond horror-comedy, Curry's screen credits stretched across "Home Alone 2", "The Hunt for Red October", "Muppet Treasure Island", and "Scary Movie 2."
His sense of humor and skill with voices earned him three Tony nominations, for "Spamalot", "My Favorite Year" and "Amadeus", along with an Emmy nomination in 1994.
Curry's first acting job came in the London production of "Hair", following his 1968 graduation from Birmingham University. Before landing the role that would define his career, Curry auditioned for "The Rocky Horror Show" after appearances with the Royal Shakespeare Company in "After Haggarty" and a string of West End productions; he originated the role of Frank-N-Furter on stage well before the 1975 film brought it to a global audience, where it remains beloved by fans to this day.
Since a near-fatal stroke in July 2012 left him reliant on a wheelchair, Curry's public appearances had grown rare, Hurwitz's account indicates.
