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Tim Curry Dead: Celebrities and Costars Pay Tribute
Lesley Ann Warren will always remember Tim Curry fondly.
After the Clue actor died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80, his costar shared insight into the months leading up to his death, recalling what she observed of Curry’s health when they reunited for the classic film’s anniversary screenings in May and June.
“As much time had passed, and the awful challenges, physically, he was going through,” Warren told People in an interview published Aug. 31, “it was as if no time had passed.”
“Honestly, my last couple of personal appearances with him, he was struggling so very much,” she continued. “And it was so difficult for him on so many levels, emotionally, psychologically, in terms of his great talent to not be able to do what he loved to do.”
Warren noted that the Rocky Horror Picture Show actor—who was open about his health challenges in the years following his 2012 stroke—was also not doing well “physically.”
Yet, the 80-year-old—who played Miss Scarlet opposite Curry’s Wadsworth in the 1985 murder mystery—shared that the second to last time she saw her costar at a May 18 screening to celebrate Clue’s 40th anniversary, he was “in his absolute glory.”
“He was just the same Tim,” Warren recalled, “separate from his physical challenges.”
However, during their final encounter nearly a month later at a screening on June 6 in San Francisco, Calif., she noticed Curry’s health had declined.
While Warren noted that the event was “a huge success,” Curry—who used a wheelchair to assist with his lingering mobility issues stemmed from his stroke—“was struggling more than he had been.”
As she added, “It was harder for him.”
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Following news of his passing—which came months after Curry’s string of public appearances to celebrate Clue’s anniversary—Warren remembered her “dear companion in crime” in a heartfelt tribute.
“The brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny, magician of artistry has left us,” she wrote in an Aug. 26 Instagram post. "What an unbelievable joy to have shared a sound stage with him and to engage with such a master talent.”
“I adored him. Bless his wild and inspired soul,” she added. “Love you Tim.”
To see how more stars paid tribute to Curry, keep reading…
The Muppets
As one of Curry's most iconic roles was in Muppet Treasure Island, the cast of beloved characters shared a heartfelt tribute.
“Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry," the group wrote in a statement on social media. "As a performer, he was unparalleled—witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny. We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.”
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Richard O'Brien
"It is with an exceptionally sad heart and misted-up eyes that I share these words with you," O'Brien wrote in a statement shared by his son on Instagram. "Tim Curry was a wonderful man by nature who was also a wonderful performer and undesrtood the difference between such delightful achievements."
O'Brien highlighted Curry's disinterest in fame itself noting, "He never sought attention and never put himself before the roles that he played."
"He was, in short, a good egg and a class act," he continued. "It was both a privilege and delight to have known him and work with him."
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Nell Campbell
“There was so much more to Tim than met the eye… and that includes the fishnets,” Campbell mused of her The Rocky Horror Picture Show costar in a statement on Instagram. “He was a wit, kind, thoughtful, generous, quite shy, bookish, loved you being naughty and joyful company. Had Tim not been cast in the original stage show of Rocky Horror, who knows if the film would have followed. I will miss him tremendously.”
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Patricia Quinn
Quinn, Curry's The Rocky Horror Picture Show costar, wrote in a statement, “I am in shock and utterly saddened and heartbroken by the news of Tim’s passing.”
Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images
Barry Bostwick
Bostwick summed up his feelings with lyrics from The Rocky Horror Picture Show's "Dammit Janet."
'The river was deep but you swam it . The road was long but you ran it,' Bostwick wrote in a Facebook post. "Dammit Tim, I love you..."
20th Century Fox/Michael White Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock
Susan Sarandon
"What a funny, sexy, original he was," Sarandon, who starred in The Rocky Horror Picture Show alongside Curry, wrote in an Instagram post. "But what I loved about him most was his heart. Even wheelchair bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans. Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people. Love you, S."
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
Elaine Hendrix
"And the blows keep coming," Hendrix, Curry's Lover's Knot costar, wrote in an Instagram post. "I worked with Tim Curry in the 90s. He was THE kindest man. I adored him up close and from a far since discovering The Rocky Horror Picture Show while I was in High School. I was a huge fan of him! What a talent. What a gentleman. What an honor. RIP Tim."
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Selma Blair
The Cruel Intentions actress wrote in a comment on Curry's latest Instagram post, "Rest in peace. Kind and wonderful you."
Barry BrecheisenWireImage
Rob Schneider
"Gutted," Schneider, who starred alongside Curry in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, wrote in an Aug. 26 post on X. "The sensational character actor, Tim Curry has left the stage. A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies. I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him."
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Rosie O'Donnell
Alongside a photo of Curry, the comedian wrote in an Aug. 26 Instagram post, "Sweetest man."
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Carol Burnett
"We had such a wonderful time working together on Annie," Burnett wrote in an Instagram post Aug. 26. "Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him."
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Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water director shared the news of Curry's death to X, adding, "Goodnight Sweet Myth..."
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Lesley Ann Warren
"My dear companion in crime, the brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny , magician of artistry has left us," Walter, who costarred in Clue alongside Curry, wrote in an Instagram post Aug. 26. "What an unbelievable joy to have shared a sound stage with him and to engage with such a master talent.
"I adored him. Bless his wild and inspired soul. Love you Tim."
Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Christopher Lloyd
The Back to the Future alum commemorated his Clue costar by sharing a photo of Curry from set along with a broken heart emoji on Instagram.
Hoda Davaine/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Luke Evans
Evans, who played Curry's iconic role of Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Broadway, shared an emotional tribute to Instagram, writing, "He was a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm and that rich vocal tone, he was an inspiration to me and so many more people for the roles he played and the effect he had on so many of us."
Dominik Bindl/FilmMagic
Kevin McHale
The star of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Broadway shared the news to his Instagram Story with a broken heart emoji. Later, he nodded to Curry and Dolly Parton's death coinciding in a post on X, writing, "If you are 80 and an icon, stay safe. This is hell."
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Michael McKean
"My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter," McKean, who costarred in Clue with Curry, wrote in an Aug. 26 post on X. "The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend."
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