Tim Curry once revealed he was "not scared" of dying, years after the stroke that left him unable to walk.
The actor and singer, best known for his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, died at his Los Angeles home on August 25, 2026, aged 80.
He suffered a major stroke in July 2012 while receiving a massage, which left him wheelchair-bound and with limited mobility.
Tim Curry reflected on his health struggles
In a CBS Sunday Morning interview in 2025, he reflected openly on his health struggles and thoughts on mortality.
Mr Curry said: "I don’t fear death.
"I try to avoid it.
"I think we all do, but I suspect that in the end, I will welcome it.
"I think it may be very comforting to go bye-bye, and I want to earn it."
He admitted being frightened by the stroke, especially since the same condition had claimed his father’s life.
Mr Curry said: "I was scared ...
"I had to learn how to speak again.
"That was very weird.
"I hated not being able to speak.
"[And] my face kind of went sideways."
He later explained during an event at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles that his massage therapist was the first to notice something was wrong.
Mr Curry said: "I was having a massage at the time and I didn’t even actually notice anything, but the guy who was doing the massage said, ‘I’m worried about you, I want to call an ambulance.’
"And he did, and I said, ‘That’s so silly.’"
The stroke required brain surgery and left him with short-term memory problems and ongoing difficulty moving his left arm and leg.
By September 2025, Mr Curry said he was still unable to walk.
Despite his health struggles, he continued to engage with fans and the entertainment industry.
In October 2020, he reprised his iconic role as Dr Frank-N-Furter in a live table reading of The Rocky Horror Picture Show to raise funds for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
Mr Curry published his memoir, Vagabond, in October 2025.
The title, he explained, was inspired by how actors were historically viewed as wanderers and outcasts.
What was your favourite memory of Tim Curry? Let us know in the comments.
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