Tim Curry, 'Rocky Horror' Icon, Dies at 80

English actor Tim Curry, celebrated for his unforgettable performance as the flamboyant Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died aged 80.

Curry first portrayed the eccentric scientist on stage before reprising the role in the 1975 film adaptation of the hit musical. Although the movie was not an immediate box-office success, it gradually developed a devoted following and became one of cinema's most enduring cult classics.

His performance as Frank-N-Furter, the outrageous and charismatic scientist at the centre of the story, became the defining role of Curry's career.

Curry also became known to a new generation of audiences for playing the terrifying Pennywise in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's It. He later appeared as Long John Silver in the 1996 adventure comedy Muppet Treasure Island.

His other film credits included Annie, The Hunt for Red October and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. On Broadway, Curry received three Tony Award nominations during a distinguished stage career.

Born in Warrington, England, in 1946, Curry began his professional acting career after university when he joined the original London production of the groundbreaking rock musical Hair in 1968.

Five years later, fellow Hair cast member Richard O'Brien invited Curry to audition for his new musical. Curry won the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter, the flamboyant, lingerie-clad scientist whose larger-than-life personality would make him an international star.

Curry first performed the character in 1973 at London's Royal Court Theatre, where The Rocky Horror Show quickly attracted a growing audience.

The musical's success eventually led to its transition to the big screen, with Curry joined by Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and O'Brien in the film adaptation.

While The Rocky Horror Picture Show initially struggled at cinemas, midnight screenings and enthusiastic fan participation helped transform it into a cultural phenomenon. It went on to become renowned as the longest-running theatrical film release in history.

Curry's portrayal of Frank-N-Furter remains one of the most distinctive performances in musical and cult-film history, cementing his place as one of Britain's most recognisable character actors.