Tim Curry, the English actor who became a massively popular cult figure thanks to his performances in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Clue” and the TV miniseries “It,” has died at the age of 80.

An immediate cause of death was unclear. In 2012, Curry suffered a major stroke and had been dealing with health problems in the years since.

A classic character actor, Curry often portrayed supercilious Brits, crafty villains and befuddled sidekicks. His ability to play villains earned him a number of fans, including Meredith Vieira, who interviewed him on “The View” in 1997.

“If you were the devil, I would pay to go to hell,” she told him.

Curry, pictured here in 1974, wears a shirt decorated with photos of Britain’s Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips, who were married the year before. Curry graduated college in 1968 with a degree in theater. His professional breakthrough came in 1973 with a starring role in the musical “The Rocky Horror Show.”
Curry, pictured here in 1974, wears a shirt decorated with photos of Britain’s Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips, who were married the year before. Curry graduated college in 1968 with a degree in theater. His professional breakthrough came in 1973 with a starring role in the musical “The Rocky Horror Show.”
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Curry, bottom, appears with Nell Campbell, Patrick Quinn and Richard O'Brien in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a 1975 film adaptation of the musical. He played Dr. Frank N. Furter, the “sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania.”
Curry, bottom, appears with Nell Campbell, Patrick Quinn and Richard O'Brien in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a 1975 film adaptation of the musical. He played Dr. Frank N. Furter, the “sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania.”
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Curry appears on stage for the play “Travesties,” which ran in London’s West End as well as Broadway from 1975 to 1976.
Curry appears on stage for the play “Travesties,” which ran in London’s West End as well as Broadway from 1975 to 1976.
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Curry poses for a portrait in 1975.
Curry poses for a portrait in 1975.
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Curry plays the legendary playwright William Shakespeare in a six-episode TV drama in 1978.
Curry plays the legendary playwright William Shakespeare in a six-episode TV drama in 1978.
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Curry was also a singer who released three studio albums. Here, he performs in Atlanta as part of the tour for his album “Read My Lips” in 1978.
Curry was also a singer who released three studio albums. Here, he performs in Atlanta as part of the tour for his album “Read My Lips” in 1978.
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Curry plays Prince Charles opposite Christine Ebersole’s Princess Diana during an episode of “Saturday Night Live” that he hosted in 1981.
Curry plays Prince Charles opposite Christine Ebersole’s Princess Diana during an episode of “Saturday Night Live” that he hosted in 1981.
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Curry appears on the set of the movie “Annie” with Ray Stark and Bernadette Peters in 1982.
Curry appears on the set of the movie “Annie” with Ray Stark and Bernadette Peters in 1982.
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Curry stars in the television movie “Blue Money” in 1985.
Curry stars in the television movie “Blue Money” in 1985.
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Curry, second from right, was part of the cast of the 1985 comedy film “Clue,” which was based on the popular board game and became a cult classic.
Curry, second from right, was part of the cast of the 1985 comedy film “Clue,” which was based on the popular board game and became a cult classic.
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Curry performs in “The Threepenny Opera” at London’s Royal National Theatre in 1986.
Curry performs in “The Threepenny Opera” at London’s Royal National Theatre in 1986.
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Curry is seen in a publicity photo for the television movie “The Worst Witch” in 1986.
Curry is seen in a publicity photo for the television movie “The Worst Witch” in 1986.
ITV/Shutterstock
Curry plays the Lord of Darkness in the 1986 fantasy film “Legend.”
Curry plays the Lord of Darkness in the 1986 fantasy film “Legend.”
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Curry stars as Pennywise, a demonic clown, in the 1990 miniseries “It,” which was adapted from the Stephen King novel.
Curry stars as Pennywise, a demonic clown, in the 1990 miniseries “It,” which was adapted from the Stephen King novel.
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Curry appears in the 1993 film “The Three Musketeers.”
Curry appears in the 1993 film “The Three Musketeers.”
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Curry attends the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 1994.
Curry attends the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 1994.
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Curry plays Long John Silver in 1996’s “Muppet Treasure Island.”
Curry plays Long John Silver in 1996’s “Muppet Treasure Island.”
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Curry appears with Cameron Diaz in the 2000 film “Charlie’s Angels.”
Curry appears with Cameron Diaz in the 2000 film “Charlie’s Angels.”
Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection
Curry plays around with Jake the monkey during the premiere of “The Wild Thornberrys Movie” in 2002. Curry voiced Nigel Thornberry in the animated film.
Curry plays around with Jake the monkey during the premiere of “The Wild Thornberrys Movie” in 2002. Curry voiced Nigel Thornberry in the animated film.
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Curry and Marc Shaiman appear at the annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2005.
Curry and Marc Shaiman appear at the annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2005.
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From left, David Hyde Pierce, Curry and Hank Azaria pose with their caricatures at the legendary Broadway restaurant Sardi’s in 2005. The three were starring together in “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”
From left, David Hyde Pierce, Curry and Hank Azaria pose with their caricatures at the legendary Broadway restaurant Sardi’s in 2005. The three were starring together in “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”
Hiroko Masuike/AP
Curry sings the opening-night curtain call for “Spamalot.”
Curry sings the opening-night curtain call for “Spamalot.”
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Curry attends an awards show at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2005.
Curry attends an awards show at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2005.
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Curry appears on stage at a charity performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in Los Angeles in 2010.
Curry appears on stage at a charity performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in Los Angeles in 2010.
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Curry plays the narrator in the 2016 television film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again.”
Curry plays the narrator in the 2016 television film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again.”
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Curry blows a kiss to fans at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle in 2021.
Curry blows a kiss to fans at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle in 2021.
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