Tim Curry has sadly returned to the universe and the rest of us are left to muddle through life in his absence. He became a queer icon with Rocky Horror. He entranced us with this physical comedy and sly charm in 80s classics like Clue. He captivated a generation of goths with his gorgeous portrayal of Darkness in Legend and Pennywise from IT, and made us fall in love with the idea of being a pirate in Muppet Treasure Island.
All of this to say, Tim Curry was not an actor defined by a singular role, or even two. For many film fans, especially those of a certain age, Tim Curry’s presence was a beacon letting us know that we were all going to have a great time together. That was part of his gift. We trusted him and trusted his performances, and they never let us down. I think partly because Curry was so clearly having the most fun on screen, whether playing lovable weirdos or salacious villains. It’s a contagious form of joy that shot through the camera and straight into our hearts. And he could sing!
For me, the infatuation was instant. I was obsessed with Annie as a kid, and then Legend, and then The Worst Witch. Instead of having a big party for my Sweet Sixteen, I chose a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. And it was in that movie theater that I found my people, because we had all found a voice that spoke to us. And it was always Tim.
I am just grateful that we have decades of his work to revisit whenever we need that little bit of the wink and magic that only Tim Curry could provide. Rest well Mr. Curry. You certainly left your mark. I love making special boxes and shrine art, so naturally I had to make a tribute box for Tim Curry with some of his most famous lines from Rocky Horror, and I think it turned out pretty great. Will be hanging it up by my desk this week as a visual reminder to just keep going, keep creating, and keep remembering how much more fabulous my life has been because of Tim Curry’s movies.
In case you need an excuse, here’s my short Criterion-style collection of Tim Curry’s must-see performances:
Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Worst Witch
Legend
Clue
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest
Muppet Treasure Island
IT
Three Musketeers
Home Alone 2
Annie
Allison Goldstein 