Tim Curry Reflects on Health Post-Stroke at 50th Anniversary of Rocky Horror
Tim Curry has shared insights into his health journey 13 years after suffering a severe stroke. During a special event celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on September 26, the 79-year-old actor, now reliant on a wheelchair, offered fans a glimpse into his life since the incident.
While speaking at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, Curry candidly remarked, “I’m in this stupid chair because I can’t walk yet. It’s very restrictive.” He added with a hint of frustration, “So I won’t sing and won’t dance anytime soon. I still have a real problem with my left foot.”
Curry, known for portraying Dr. Frank N. Furter in the cult classic film released in 1975, had his stroke in 2012, though the news didn’t surface until 2013. At that time, his agents reassured the public, stating that “Tim is fine. He can absolutely speak, and he’s recovering with great humor.”
Reflecting on the moment he recognized something was wrong, Curry recalled, “I was doing massages at the time, and I didn’t actually notice anything, but the person I was doing a massage for said, ‘I’m worried about you, I want to call an ambulance.’ And he did, and I thought, ‘It’s so ridiculous.’
Before his stroke, Curry had a prolific career, starring in notable projects like the 1990 miniseries IT, among others. Yet, his role in Rocky Horror remains the most influential. “I’m very excited about this and I’m extremely honored to be with the Academy; this has been part of me for 50 years,” he said, alongside co-stars Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn, and Nell Campbell.
In a recent interview, Curry expressed initial concern post-release of Rocky Horror, wondering if it marked the end of his career. “I died. It was a failure,” he admitted, and shared how it felt “crushing” at the time. However, as he navigates health challenges, Curry has shifted his focus more toward voice acting, contributing to animated series like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Over the Garden Wall in recent years.
