How Tim Curry Walked Into an Audition — and Became Frank-N-Furter

Tim Curry was nothing short of cinematic dynamite.

Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien and Clue writer-director Jonathan Lynn recalled how the extraordinary actor, who died Wednesday at 80, transformed the mad, cross-dressing scientist Frank-N-Furter — and butler-with-a-secret Wadsworth — into performances for the ages.

Curry’s entrance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show remains one of the great movie-star reveals. After descending in a metal cage elevator, Riff Raff removes his cape, revealing Frank-N-Furter in a corset, fishnets and pearls.

Before Curry sings a note, the film belongs to him.

Richard O’Brien, who created The Rocky Horror Show and played Riff Raff in its stage and screen incarnations, was not present for the moment Curry became Frank-N-Furter.