Tim Curry, the famous British actor known for playing unusual and memorable villains, has died aged 80.
According to Sky News, Curry died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, his longtime manager and friend, Marcia Hurwitz, confirmed. His cause of death was not disclosed.
The actor had used a wheelchair since suffering a serious stroke in 2012.
Curry became famous for playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The movie later became a cult classic and remains popular at midnight screenings around the world.
He first played the character in the 1973 London stage production before taking the role to Broadway and later to film.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show was considered ahead of its time for its open representation of LGBTQ+ characters. It also produced famous songs and lines, including “The Time Warp” and “Dammit, Janet!”
Curry was also widely loved for his role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, in which he played the arrogant concierge at New York's Plaza Hotel.
His other notable roles included Wadsworth the butler in Clue, Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's It, and appearances in The Three Musketeers, Annie and Congo.
On stage, Curry built a successful career and earned three Tony Award nominations for his performances in Amadeus, My Favorite Year and Spamalot. In Spamalot, he played King Arthur. He also received an Emmy nomination in 1994.
Known for his deep voice, expressive face and sharp humour, Curry said he enjoyed playing the stranger sides of human behaviour because they were more interesting.
He often played villains and joked that Hollywood liked casting British actors as bad characters because they brought style to the roles.
Born in Cheshire, England, Curry was the son of a Navy chaplain and a school secretary. His father died when he was 12.
Because his family moved frequently, Curry learned to use humour to fit into new schools and make friends.
According to the BBC, he studied drama at the University of Birmingham before beginning his theatre career in London.
He later worked with major theatre groups, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court Theatre.
In his later years, Curry focused on voice acting, appearing in shows such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Wild Thornberrys and Jimmy Neutron.
Curry remained a much-loved performer whose wild, funny and unforgettable characters left a lasting mark on film, television and theatre.