The world recently lost one of its most treasured performers in the great Tim Curry. Curry died on Aug. 25, 2026 of coronary artery disease, after years of health problems following a stroke in 2012. The beloved actor and singer, who is remembered for countless roles in TV and film, will be sorely missed.
Legend of the stage and screen, Curry was gifted with a variety of talents. It seems there was almost no role he couldn't tackle, and with over 240 credits to his name, his versatility was unmatched. Curry played villains, heroes, and comic relief with a unique flair. While earlier generations may know him best for roles such as 1982's Rooster in Annie, later fans will likely remember him for his delightful portrayal as Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island. And, of course, he will always hold a place in our hearts as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
While he has done nearly every type of genre there is, Curry's fantasy and sci-fi roles are some of his best, and it seemed fitting to offer a tribute to some of his best work in those genres. So without further ado (and in no particular ranking order), here are his best sci-fi and fantasy performances.
- Darkness in Legend (1985)
- Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- Hexxus in FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
- Pennywise in IT (1990)
- Dr. Anton Servarius in Gargoyles (1995-96)
- The Grand Wizard in The Worst Witch (1986)
- Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys (1998-2004)
- Honorable mentions
Darkness in Legend (1985)
This cult classic fantasy film is one of my personal favorites. Directed by Ridley Scott, Legend is a fairy tale for adults filled with enchanting magic, dark themes, and romance. Curry plays Darkness, a devilish villain who inspires awe and terror as he plots to rid all that is light and good in the world. With unicorns, fairies, goblins, a princess, and a handsome hero, Legend has everything lovers of the fantasy genre crave.
Although Curry’s face might be hidden beneath enormous horns and layers of red makeup, his performance absolutely shines through and through. Darkness is the very embodiment of evil, and Curry managed to convey this with both his majestic presence and a terrifying mien. This character scared the crap out of me as a kid — and he still does today, albeit it with a sense of reverence and appreciation.
Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
For most Curry fans, his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show stands out above the rest. This “sweet transvestite” from transsexual Transylvania is an icon of sexual and gender expression from the top of his corset to the tips of his stiletto heels. He might be a mad scientist, a murderer, and an alien bent on world domination, but with all that charm and charisma, he’s impossible not to love.
Curry’s performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter has echoed across multiple generations, especially among musical theater aficionados, cult film enthusiasts, and the LGBTQ community. Although the role has been portrayed by many talented actors over the decades, Curry set a high standard on both stage and screen that is nearly impossible to match.
Hexxus in FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
The animated Bill Kroyer film FernGully: The Last Rainforest from 1992 highlighted environmental concerns while enchanting younger viewers with a magical forest of fairies. In a secret rainforest called FernGully, a young fairy named Crysta meets a human boy, Zak, and accidentally shrinks him with her clumsy magic. As they search for a way to change him back, Zak discovers the beauty and magic of nature, and the importance of preserving it.
Curry is the voice of Hexxus, a spirit of destruction who was trapped inside of a tree for many years, until an industrial foresting company unwittingly cuts down the tree and sets him free. Curry is deliciously wicked as Hexxus, and the song “Toxic Love” which he sings is almost as iconic as “Sweet Transvestite” from Rocky Horror.
Pennywise in IT (1990)
Before Bill Skarsgård took on the mantle of Pennywise, Curry haunted our nightmares as the killer clown in the 1990 IT TV mini series. The two-part series introduced Stephen King’s shapeshifting boggart who terrorized the children of Derry, Maine, with part one covering the adventures of the Losers Club, and part two following them into adulthood.
While the 1990 version of Pennywise might seem hokey to today’s modern horror fans, Curry’s larger-than-life portrayal inspired a deathly fear of clowns in an entire generation. Even with Sideshow Bob hair and a big red nose, Curry’s sinister voice and uncanny laughter made Pennywise the clown a legendary monster of horror.
Dr. Anton Servarius in Gargoyles (1995-96)
A unique and original ‘90s animated series, Gargoyles has been celebrated for its dark, dramatic themes and intelligent storytelling. The critically acclaimed series featured some of the best voice actors in the business, including Keith David, Jim Cummings, and Frank Welker. While most will likely remember Star Trek veteran Jonathan Frakes as the corrupt David Xanatos, some may have forgotten Curry’s recurring role as the mad scientist, Dr. Anton Sevarius.
First appearing in season 2 episode 2 of Gargoyles, Sevarius was hired by Xanatos to create a new breed of creature similar to the gargoyles. Xanatos later fired Sevarius for conducting unethical experiments on humans, but that didn’t stop the power-hungry geneticist from continuing his work. Curry’s voiceover work was so well done that he continued to have a recurring role on the series
as Sevarius for seven episodes.
The Grand Wizard in The Worst Witch (1986)
Before Harry Potter, there was Mildred Hubble, the unlucky young witch from The Worst Witch children’s book series by Jill Murphy. In 1986, ITV released a musical made-for-TV-movie based on the first book in the series, with Fairuza Balk as the titular character, Charlotte Rae as Miss Cackle, Diana Rigg as Miss Harbroom, and of course, Curry as the Grand Wizard. The TV special aired =on the Disney channel in the ‘90s, making it a Halloween classic for millennials and Gen Xers who grew up watching it.
Every young witch at Miss Cackle’s Witch Academy is in love with the oh-so-dreamy Grand Wizard, including their teacher, Miss Harbroom. Although we only see him in portraits and photos at first, it makes his dramatic entrance at the school’s Halloween celebration all the more impressive. “Anything Can Happen on Halloween,” the song performed by Curry in the movie, is a fun and campy ‘80s rock hit that has become a Halloween staple on many spooky playlists.
Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys (1998-2004)
A classic Nickelodeon animated series from the ‘90s, The Wild Thornberrys is about a girl named Eliza Thornberry who can talk to animals. She travels the globe with her family, making friends with the local fauna and having wild adventures along the way. The show's popularity grew so well that a crossover film was made with another successful Nickelodeon series, Rugrats, resulting in 2003's Rugrats Go Wild!
Curry is the voice of Nigel Thornberry, the adventurous host of a nature documentary series that he makes with his wife, Marianne. His “smashingly” optimistic attitude makes even the most dangerous situations feel like a fun and exhilarating outing. Although he might be a bit flaky at times, Nigel is a loving husband and father, and Curry’s spot-on voice acting is a huge highlight of the series.
Honorable mentions
Though these may not have made the final cut, these Curry roles from the realms of fantasy and sci-fi should not be missed. Be sure to check them out for yourselves, or add any missed ones in the comments!
- Herkermer Homolka in Congo. Curry plays a baddie who gets his comeuppance from killer gorillas. It doesn't get much better than that.
- Farley Claymore in The Shadow. Once again playing a villain, Farley is a sleazy minion of the movie's big bad. Curry's comedic performance alone is worth the watch of this underrated superhero flick from 1994.
- Captain Hook in Peter Pan & the Pirates. Curry voiced the notorious pirate villain Hook in this animated Saturday morning cartoon from 1990 to '91.
- Zimbo in Aaahh!! Real Monsters. Curry had a recurring role in this Nickelodeon cartoon as Zimbo, the buzzing troublemaker and minion of the Snorch.
- Trymon in The Colour of Magic. Curry plays the cunningly underhanded wizard Trymon in this two-part miniseries based on the works of Terry Pratchett.
Add us as a preferred source on Google