Tim Curry is a once-in-a-lifetime actor who always gave it 100%, no matter the role.
Whether it was movies or television, animated or live action, or even video games, Curry not only brought legitimacy to whatever project he was involved in, but he also elevated whatever he was involved with.
With news of his unfortunate passing, it seems like the perfect opportunity to highlight some of Tim Curry’s best performances, ranked in no particular order.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Where else can you reasonably start?
Curry’s role as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show is not only his best performance, but one of the best performances in movie history. It’s delightful, over-the-top, and showcases Curry’s vast array of talent.
Clue
Part of the reason why Clue works as a movie is Curry’s performance as Wadsworth, Mr Boddy’s butler.
He is the glue that holds everything together in what’s, ultimately, a movie that should not work. Yet it’s Curry’s charisma, timing, and camp that shine through.
The Wild Thornberrys
For many millennials, Nigel Thornberry was their introduction to Tim Curry.
The patriarch of the animated Thornberry family was delightfully British through and through. His trademark catchphrase “Smashing!” has also become a popular part of meme culture.
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Muppet Treasure Island
For us older millennials, Curry’s portrayal as Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island came before Wild Thornberrys.
The Muppets gave Curry a fitting tribute on social media, and for good reason. The only word to describe Curry’s performance here is “perfect.” His comedic timing, penchant for villainy, and iconic singing voice are all on full display here.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
There is no other word to describe Tim Curry in Red Alert 3 than “over-the-top.”
It’s a perfect match for the tone of the game, with one particular line standing out: “I’m escaping to the one place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism: SPACE!“
Dragon Age: Origins
While most associate Curry’s video game credits with Command & Conquer, you can easily argue that his better performance came in Dragon Age: Origins.
You can argue that Curry is at his best when he’s able to ham it, but this is one of the few occasions he was able to meet the moment in a more serious manner. No camp, no theatrics, just pure talent.
The Hunt for Red October
If you’re looking for a similar Tim Curry performance but don’t want to make the investment of an epic fantasy RPG video game, then you should check out The Hunt for Red October.
While this isn’t necessarily his movie, it is one of the best showcases of his versatility as an actor.
It
If Rocky Horror isn’t Curry’s most famous role, then it’s certainly It‘s Pennywise the Clown.
In the eyes of many, despite Bill Skarsgård’s iconic performance in the modern It franchise, Curry is the ultimate Pennywise. The unassuming nature of Curry’s Pennywise, combined with him being, well, an over-the-top (sorry, it’s the perfect phrase for so many of Tim Curry’s performances) goofball, helped those frightening moments deliver a bigger impact.
Annie
Like The Hunt for Red October, Annie isn’t Curry’s movie; it’s Carol Burnett’s. That said, he’s the perfect co-star as Miss Hannigan’s con-artist brother.
Whereas he has to match Connery’s dramatic performance in Red October, he has to match Burnett’s comedic chops here. Unsurprisingly, he succeeds every step of the way.
Legend
Perhaps Curry’s best trait was that he was never afraid to get weird with it. We already touched on that with Rocky Horror, but you can’t ignore the fact that Tim Curry played the literal Lord of Darkness in Ridley Scott’s 1985 film Legend.
While the film failed to resonate with moviegoers on release, that wasn’t Curry’s fault, who was one of the only highlights of the movie.
FernGully: The Last Rainforest
In the middle of the Disney Renaissance of the early 1990s, 20th Century Fox released an animated film about the destruction of the Earth’s rainforests and all the dangers that come with it.
The big-ticket name on the voice cast was Robin Williams, but Curry found a way to make the most of his six minutes of screen time. Yes, it includes a musical number. Yes, said musical number is incredibly catchy.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
This one is for all the millennials.
Yes, Home Alone 2 is a sequel dictated by taking in another big box office and is content to replay the hits, but hey, Curry clearly has fun with the role rather than phoning it in.
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