Whether he was terrifying audiences, making them laugh, or delivering a performance so iconic that it became part of pop culture, Tim Curry had a rare ability to completely transform himself for every role. From The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Home Alone 2 and beyond, here are five fun facts about Tim Curry’s most iconic film roles that you may not know.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
In regards to his titular role in Rocky Horror, Curry once explained, “He says he’s a transvestite transexual, whatever that means. I don’t play him as a transexual.” He went on to say, “But he’s a fairly complex guy. He just takes anything he can get. He’s not fussy, really. Though I think he’s something of a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am.”
Princess Diana “actually requested to meet me because she was such a Rocky Horror fan,” he said.
It
He may have played the killer clown of all clowns, but Curry actually hated clowns in real life. In his memoir, Vagabond, he noted that playing a killer clown made him feel very uncomfortable
Annie
Curry said he wanted to do the 1982 film Annie because it was “one of the last great big blockbuster Hollywood musicals.” Though, he joked that it ultimately proved that “particular animal extinct.”
Home Alone 2
Curry also spoke about fans recognizing him in public, noting that kids at airports would look shocked and nudge their mothers. “All they know is I was mean to Kevin [McCallister],” he said.
Muppet Treasure Island
In an Instagram post this week, Curry was referred to as an honorary muppet. He played Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island.
Bonus facts!
Before Mark Hamill, Curry was the voice of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series.
And while he first played Frank-n-Furter in Rocky Horror on stage, that’s not actually his biggest theater role. He originated the role of King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot. It earned him his third Tony nomination in 2005. The others were for Amadeus (1981) and My Favorite Year (1993).
