Tim Curry's Cause of Death Revealed a Week After His Death at 80
Tim Curry's cause of death has been revealed a week after the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" star died at his Los Angeles-area home on August 25 at age 80.
According to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health documents obtained by PEOPLE, Curry died of coronary artery disease, with kidney cancer and a history of stroke listed as contributing factors. No surgical interventions were performed for any of the three conditions, and law enforcement sources said no foul play was suspected. Curry passed away at his Toluca Lake home at 11:18 p.m., with the LAPD confirming officers responded to a death investigation call that evening.
A Health Battle That Began in 2012
Curry suffered a severe stroke in 2012 that left him unable to walk and dependent on a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The stroke prompted him to scale back his on-camera acting work, though he continued taking voiceover roles and made occasional public appearances, including a rare outing at a North Hollywood pub in April 2026, just days after celebrating his 80th birthday.
Despite his declining health, Curry stayed professionally active in his final months, completing all of his scenes for the horror film "STREAM 2: Sudden Death" before his death. His memoir, "Vagabond: A Memoir," was released in October 2025, with Curry himself narrating the audiobook edition. At a screening for the book that September, Curry reflected on the moment a massage therapist first noticed something was wrong in 2012, recalling that she told him, "I'm worried about you, I want to call an ambulance," a warning he admitted he thought was "so silly" at the time.
A Career Defined by Range and Charisma
Curry first brought Dr. Frank-N-Furter to life on stage in "The Rocky Horror Show" before reprising the role in the iconic 1975 film adaptation, a performance that made him a cult icon and has endured across generations of fans. He went on to terrify audiences as Pennywise the clown in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's "It," a role frequently cited as one of horror television's most memorable villains.
His range extended well beyond horror, with standout turns as the scheming butler Wadsworth in "Clue," Rooster Hannigan in "Annie," Long John Silver in "Muppet Treasure Island," and memorable appearances in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" and Fox's 2016 remake of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," where he played the Narrator.
Television audiences also knew him from guest spots on "Monk," "Will & Grace," and "Criminal Minds," and he earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for a 1993 appearance on "Tales From the Crypt." Curry's stage career was equally decorated, with three Tony Award nominations and two Laurence Olivier Award nominations, and roots dating back to originating a role in London's 1968 production of "Hair." He never married and had no children.
Remembered by Friends and Collaborators
Tributes poured in from the entertainment world following Curry's death, with fellow actor Michael McKean sharing that his final conversation with Curry centered on "life and love and laughter," he said. Co-stars and fans alike remembered him as a performer whose versatility carried him from Broadway to blockbuster comedies to cult horror classics over a career spanning more than five decades.
Curry's willingness to keep working and connecting with fans even after his stroke, culminating in his final on-set performance and a birthday appearance just months before his death, left an impression on those who knew him best. His body of work, from "Rocky Horror" to "It" to "Clue," continues to introduce him to new generations of viewers discovering his films for the first time.
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