Tim Curry, actor famed for ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ dead at 80

Tim Curry, the baritone-voiced British actor who pranced to movie fame as a singing, lingerie-clad “sweet transvestite” in the 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” has died at the age of 80, his manager said on Wednesday.

A cause of death was not immediately given, but Curry had been in ill health for some time.

He died peacefully on Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles, his manager said.

Curry appeared in numerous movies, often as a hammy villain, was nominated three times for a Tony Award for Broadway roles, and performed voice work in many animated films and TV shows.

But his best-known role was Dr.

Frank N.

Furter, which came in his debut film, the outrageous, crowd-pleasing horror-comedy-musical “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” co-starring Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick.

“I’m not much of a man by the light of day.

But by night I’m one hell of a lover.

I’m just a sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania,” Curry sang in one scene as he strutted around with garish eye shadow and lipstick, in a skimpy black outfit complete with black stockings and garter belt.

In a 1975 television interview, Curry noted the risk of having his career defined by such an outlandish role – a prescient worry, as it turned out.

“When I read it, I just thought it was very, very witty and funny,” Curry said, although he confessed to some initial reluctance.

“I mean, I was hesitant in that, if it worked, it might be a difficult thing to shake off.

But, really, I’ve always thought that it (a part) wasn’t worth doing unless you took a risk,” Curry said.