The iconic Tim Curry, known for his roles as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and as Pennywise the clown in the 1990 TV movie and horror novel adaptation of “It”, turns 77 today.
Having his breakout role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter on stage in 1975 and soon after reprised on the big screen, Curry was casted countless times as the perfect villain in films like It, Muppet Treasure Island, and even in the more goofy movies like Home Alone 2 and Scary Movie 2.
But his live-action appearances were cut short after he suffered a stroke in 2012. Although he had a seemingly speedy recovery, he was left in a wheelchair as a result of the incident.
Initially reclusive after his stroke, he began making public appearances once again around 2015. That year, he attended the Entertainment Community Fund event, formerly known as the Actors Fund, which is a charitable organization that supports both actors and the people behind the scenes and holds annual events to raise money and show gratitude to the people who work tirelessly in the entertainment industry.
Talking with the LA Magazine in 2015, he shared that he was “looking forward” to the event and noted that the Actors Fund is a “marvelous organization”. He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award at that very event.
In the same interview, despite having physical restrictions, he stated how he relies on his sense of humor to remain optimistic. When asked how important humor was to him, he answered, “Vital. Absolutely vital. It’s not tough to maintain. It is just part of my DNA.”
Half of what has made Curry so coveted for roles and what has emphasized just how talented of a performer he has always been is his incredibly distinct and unique voice. Seeing as though live-action roles may be harder to come by now that he is in a wheelchair, he has turned to voice acting, and is credited in various kid’s TV shows like Ben 10: Omniverse and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Most recently, he voiced Necrofer the Death Bringer in the 2022 animated film Dagon: Troll World Chronicles.
Last year, he also attended the annual Monsterpalooza in Los Angeles, where some lucky fans were able to take some photos alongside the iconic villain-playing actor.
So, it seems Curry is doing the best he can given his circumstances. He’s found a way to keep busy by lending his voice to various animated films and TV shows and is happy to meet with his fans when he can.
A huge happy birthday and best wishes to the “Sweet Transvestite” that has ruled household TV screens every Halloween for nearly 40 years now!
Sources:
https://screenrant.com/what-happened-to-tim-curry-now-updates/
https://www.distractify.com/p/tim-curry-health
