Rocky Horror Picture Show Fans May Not Realize Just How Awesome Tim Curry Is

Tim Curry is an icon and a treasure.

Elana

• Published in Interesting
• July 9, 2020

You wouldn't dare deny the raw talent of the one and only Tim Curry, would you? Still, the versatile actor with an iconic grin, killer vocal cords, and one hell of an impressive resume is without a doubt totally underrated.

We don't say that lightly, as if it's no big deal, because it's a huge claim to make. Tim Curry, underrated?

Still, even some of his biggest fans may not realize just how many incredible roles the man, the myth, the legend has actually played or just how critically acclaimed said roles are! In fact, did you know that his roll as the devil in Legend is ranked as one of the top five satanic performances of all time?

If you didn't know it, you know it now.

Most of Curry's die-hard fans originated after they saw his role in Rocky Horror Picture Show as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a Sweet Transvestite from the planet Transylvania and a mad scientist.

Curry and Dr. Frank-N-Furter are synonymous at this point in time, but things weren't always quite so smooth.

Originally a theatre production, finding a charismatic and talented man to fill the pump platforms of the Sweet Transvestite was no small task and Curry quite literally owned every aspect of the job. He toured in the role for a year in the US (after the UK) before leaving the theatre production entirely to work on the film.

The rest is history.

Stephen King's It

Did you know that Curry played the iconic clown villain Pennywise in Stephen King's It? The 1990 TV miniseries is surely most notorious because of Curry's performance.

In issue #99 of Fangoria, Curry says, "I personally think that what is the most horrifying is the moment of decision behind somebody's eyes when they decide to kill somebody, rather than a pint of blood and a pound-and-a-half of latex," and that perfectly encapsulated his version of the ultimate killer clown.

Darkness/The Devil in Ridley Scott's Legend

When thinking of who to cast as The Darkness in Legend, Ridley Scott specifically thought about Curry's role in Rocky Horror Picture Show and knew it was Curry he desired to cast in the role. The role went down in cinematic history and it was far from easy to achieve.

In fact, Curry spent hours having prosthetic make-up uncomfortably (even painfully at times) applied to fulfill the roll but has reflected repeatedly that seeing himself in full make-up, ready to film that he realized just how perfectly he embodied the very characterizations of the Devil, one the darkest incarnations in all of human history.

Wadsworth in Clue

Who could have anticipated that a boardgame about murder mystery would be turned into a satirical comedy? At the time, probably not many people (though today they will make a cinematic experience out of literally anything.)

Curry's role as a buffoon of a butler managed to stand out alongside comedic super houses including Eileen Brenna, who he referred to as "one of the funniest people in the world."

Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberry's

As previously eluded to, Curry's iconic roles were certainly not liimted to real-life performances. Curry is also an accomplished and talented voice actor with one of the most iconic rolls being pop culture phenomenon: Nigel Thornberry from Nikelodeon's Wild Thornberry's.

Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers

Curry played an evil royal advisor in 1993's The Three Musketeers doing what he does best: combining humor and evil in one incredible character. In fact, the film itself did not actually do well but Curry's performance was a huge hit with critics at the time.

One critic's noteworthy description of Curry's performance: "Good old Tim Curry chews up the scenery perfectly with his big eyes, red flowing attire and devilish goatee doing his best to try and beat Alan Rickman's dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham."

Hexxus In 'FernGully: The Last Rainforest'

Speaking of incredible voice acting roles, Curry also played Hexxus in Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest. You might remember this movie if you're a 90's kid, and if you are not a 90's kid then you should definitely check out this movie.

Hexxus is a personified caricature of pollution itself and surely no one could nail this role quite like Curry, with his sultry voice belting out an unparalleled and eerie ballad.

Daniel 'Rooster' Hannigan in Annie

Antagonist and con-artist extraordinaire, Curry's role as Daniel 'Rooster' Hannigan in 1982's Annie is quite the Guys and Dolls-esque performance. Annie is a family movie and Curry's descent into greater evil throughout is as iconic as one would expect from the accomplished mega star.

Billy Flynn In Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds is a beloved TV series about the FBI unit tasked with catching serial killers across the US. Like many high-profile TV series about solving crime, Criminal Minds doesn't shy away from hiring Blockbuster celebrities to play brief roles as killers (or victims) in episodes.

Curry's character of serial killer turned spree-killer Billy Flynn in season 6 became one of the show's most notorious criminals.

The Concierge In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

In another role where Tim Curry's incredible smile made a profound impact on his performance, he played the Concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The film was a sequel to one of the biggest Christmas movie hits of the era and Curry's performance of a minor role in the film ended up really making the movie that much more worth watching.

Long John Silver In Muppet Treasure Island

Long John Silver is a role that has been played many, many times in many interpretations throughout cinematic history but you absolutely have to appreciate Tim Curry's version in Muppet Treasure Island. That's right, it's a Muppet movie and he nailed it.

Curry's ability to bring animation and humor to an iconic villain is not missing in this role and as usual, his singing is a major highlight.

Darth Sidious In Star Wars: The Clone Wars

In yet another incredible voice acting role, Curry plays Darth Sidious in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Not only is Darth Sidious one of Curry's most notorious roles, but the character is one of the most evil villains in any series, ever.

Curry nabbed the role after Ian Abercrombie, the original voice of Darth Sidious, passed away, and Curry really did a phenomenal job using his voice to bring evil incarnate to an animated villain.

The Professor in Scary Movie 2

Whether Curry is playing a more sinister role or a comedic role, or a little bit of both, he absolutely nails it. The Scary Movie series of films typically spoofed off of box office horror hits of the time and the second instalment was no exception.

Emulating 1999's House on the Haunted Hill, Scary Movie 2 gave us Curry's performance as The Professor, a parallel clearly to the one and only Vincent Price.

Humor and Vincent Price? Clearly absolutely no one else could perfectly balance a character like this than Tim Curry.

1979's Fearless, an album by Tim Curry

The follow up to Read My Lips, released in 1978, Tim Curry's second album Fearless was surely good enough that we should talk about it more. It should come as no surprise that the vocal power house has a total of 3 album releases (including 1981's Simplicity.)

Herkermer Homolka In Congo

1995's Congo was undermined by Anaconda when it came to box office successes of the 90's but if there's one reason to revisit the film today, 25 years later, it's definitely Tim Curry's performance as Herkermer Homolka. As he tends to do, Curry's role immediately gives off those eerie villainous vibes but throughout he provides just the right amount of sass and relief.

The Grand Wizard in The Worst Witch

Tim Curry's version of the film adaptation of the book The Worst Witch seamlessly blends Dracula and David Bowie in a way that absolutely no one else could. If anything, his role here makes us wonder why we never saw him at Hogwarts.

Mr. Jigsaw In Loaded Weapon 1

A parody of every major buddy-cop movie, Loaded Weapon 1 absolutely nailed the casting when they snagged Tim Curry for the role of Mr. Jigsaw. A British man playing a German villain in a spoof-comedy? Iconic.

Drake in The Pebble and the Penguin

The Pebble and the Penguin is a phenomenal animated film that doesn't belong to the Disney universe and of course Tim Curry plays the villain, Penguin Drake. Okay, the film wasn't met with much critical acclaim, but as per usual Tim Curry shines with his voice acting and killer vocal cords.

Marion Finster in Will & Grace

The noteworthy American sitcom gave us many things to talk about but it would be unfair not to talk about Curry's brief appearance as Marion Finster the brother of Lyle Finster (played by John Cleese.) The British brothers wedding episode includes dark humor and an unforgettable performance.

Farley Claymore In The Shadow

You may remember Curry as Gotham's favorite butler but his comic movie debut actually came from The Shadow, in which he played Farley Claymore, the feeble minded, right hand man to the main antagonist in the film. Like many things Curry does, he transformed a seemingly minor role into an unforgettable one... especially with his roaring, evil laughter.

Auntie Whispers In Over The Garden Wall

Fantasy drama and dark comedy Over the Garden Wall features Tim Curry as Auntie Whispers, the caretaker and guardian of demon-possessed Lorena. Because of Curry's incredible ability to portray evil characters, it's his performance that makes the reveal of Whisper's true character that much better.

Elana