See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy REBECCA DAVISON, DEPUTY HEAD OF SHOWBIZ Published: 15:59 BST, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 16:23 BST, 27 August 2026
Rocky Horror Picture Show writer Richard O'Brien has paid tribute to the movie's lead, Tim Curry, following his death aged 80. Richard's son Linus shared the words on Instagram, as his father branded Tim 'a good egg and a class act who never sought attention.' Tim, best known for playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic, died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, with his manager confirming the news a day later. A cause of death was not given, but Curry had been suffering with serious health issues for more than a decade after suffering a stroke in 2012, which left him unable to walk.Richard, 84, who also hosted British game show The Crystal Maze, from 1990 to 1993, wrote: 'It is with an exceptionally sad heart and misted-up eyes that I share these words with you. Rocky Horror Show writer Richard O'Brien has paid tribute to Tim Curry following his death aged 80 as he called him a 'good egg and a class act who never sought attention' Richard's son Linus shared the words on Instagram'Tim Curry was a wonderful man by nature who was also a wonderful performer and understood the difference between such delightful achievements. 'He never sought attention and never put himself before the roles that he played. 'He was, in short, a good egg and class act. It was both a privilege and delight to have known him and worked with him. Rest in peace dear Tim. Richard.' Richard wrote wrote the musical stage show The Rocky Horror Show in 1973, which has remained in continuous production. He also co-wrote the screenplay along with director Jim Sharman for the film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which was released in 1975.Despite his wish to avoid being typecast, Curry's sensational portrayal of the mad 'transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania' inevitably defined his career.A hedonist in heels and fishnets, the deviant doctor was hell-bent on creating the perfect man for his own indulgence - and railed against the dull all-American teen couple, Janet and Brad. Tim was best known for playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture ShowCurry, pictured in 2016 attending the red carpet premiere of The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do The Time Warp Again at The Roxy in West Hollywood, California Richard, pictured during a media preview of The Rocky Horror Show at The Civic, Auckland on February 27, He played the role for two years - first on stage and then in the film version, released in 1975. Curry went on to play the sinister clown Pennywise in the original 1990 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel It. And in 1992 joined the cast of Home Alone 2 - playing Mr Hector, a stuffy and suspicious concierge at the Plaza Hotel in New York nd as Miss Hannigan's con artist brother Rooster in Annie.Between 2004 and 2007, he portrayed King Arthur in the Monty Python musical Spamalot on stage in Chicago, Broadway and the West End.
