The talented and versatile actor Tim Curry suffered a stroke on Thursday in his Los Angeles home. The 67-year old actor appears to be on the mend, however. “He absolutely can speak and is recovering at this time and in great humor,” agent Marcia Hurwitz says.
Still, the news came as a blow to me when I read it earlier. I love Tim Curry!
And I know everyone has a favorite Tim Curry character. Is it the clown in Stephen King’s IT? What about his roles in cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, or Ridley Scott’s Legend?
More recently, he joined the Star Wars universe in the now-cancelled Clone Wars animated series, lending his wonderful voice to Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious after the passing of the original voice actor Ian Abercrombie.
My favorite Tim Curry role? The delightfully villainous con man Rooster Hannigan in John Huston’s Annie. If you haven’t seen it (and you don’t loathe musicals) you really should watch the film. It’s one of my favorites of all time, and Curry is incredible. And it’s probably one of his more over-looked roles.
I also loved his portrayal of the villainous Cardinal Richelieu in Disney’s The Three Musketeers. He managed to play the role with such glee and menace at the same time. And that’s not all! Why, I can’t neglect to mention he was also in a Muppets movie and a Spielberg television series—Muppet Treasure Island and the short-lived Earth 2, respectively.
In short, he has an incredible acting resume and is a gifted actor. We wish him a speedy and full recovery, so that he may soon return to what he does best—acting.