Tim Curry’s Death: Carol Burnett, Christopher Lloyd, Susan Sarandon & More Pay Tribute

Tim Curry has died at the age of 80. While his death was reported on August 26, Curry died on August 25, the same day Dolly Parton died at the same age. Carol Burnett, Clue stars Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, and Lesley Ann Warren, Rocky Horror Picture Show‘s Susan Sarandon, and more have paid tribute to Curry on social media since his death was announced.

TMZ reports that Curry died on late on the night of August 25 in his Los Angeles home after struggling with health issues ever since a stroke in 2012. As of last year, Curry was still unable to walk.

Tributes are flooding in for the actor who rose to fame through his iconic performance as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He went on to deliver more memorable performances as Pennywise in the original It series, Wadsworth the butler in Clue, Rooster in Annie, Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island, and more, cementing himself as an onscreen legend.

Burnett, who was Miss Hannigan opposite of Curry’s Rooster in Annie, posted a clip from the film on Instagram and said, “We had such a wonderful time working together on Annie. Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend. I was blessed to know him.”

Clue stars have paid their own tributes. Lloyd, who played Professor Plum, shared a photo of Curry as Wadsworth on his Instagram story with a heart emoji as the caption (see above).

McKean, who played Mr. Green, paid tribute on X (formerly known as Twitter), saying, “My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter. 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.”

Warren, who played Miss Scarlet, shared a photo of her and Curry on a red carpet on Instagram and wrote, “My dear companion in crime, the brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny, magician of artistry has left us. 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.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Susan Sarandon (@susansarandon)

Sarandon played Janet in the Rocky Horror film. She posted photos of her and Curry together on Instagram and said, “What a funny, sexy, original he was. 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.”

The Muppets Instagram account said, “Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry. 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.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Muppets (@themuppets)

Evans, who earned a Tony nomination for his performance as Frank-N-Furter in the 2026 Rocky Horror revival, paid tribute by sharing the letter he wrote to Curry just three weeks before his death.

“Dear Tim, With only three weeks left before I finally hang up the fishnets and heels, I wanted to send you a note,” Evans’ letter said, per the Instagram tribute. “Although we’ve never met, you’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning. Every actor who puts on Frank inevitably walks into a conversation that started with you, and I’ve felt that every single night.”

“Being compared to you has been one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, even though it’s a comparison no one could ever hope to live up to. There is, and always will be, only one Tim Curry,” the letter continued. “I’ve never tried to recreate what you did. That would be impossible. I simply hoped to honour the extraordinary character you brought to life, while finding my own way through him. As this chapter comes to an end, I just wanted to say thank you. For your fearless performance, for creating something so enduring, and for inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be. I hope, wherever you are, you’d approve of one more Frank having the time of his life in those heels. With enormous admiration, Luke.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Luke Evans (@thereallukeevans)

“Tim Curry is Going Home,” comedian Greg Proops of Whose Line Is it Anyway posted on Instagram with a photo from Rocky Horror. He also paid tribute to Parton the day prior, saying, “Dolly is forever.”

Jillian Bell said Curry inspired her to become an actor.

“I’m devastated,” she wrote on Instagram. “This is the person who made me want to be an actor. The last 10 minutes of Clue, it was all on him to deliver the ending, and he devoured every frame. It became my favorite movie of all time and still remains in that position. I realized that character actors got to have all the fun. They can be wild and outrageous and do unforgivable things and live deliciously. He gave us so much in his career. He terrified us in It, he made us laugh in Clue and Home Alone 2, he made us sing in Annie and Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

“The risks he took in his career were one of a kind,” Bell continued. “He was beautiful and weird and dark and light all at the same time. And I loved him. I got to meet him once, and he was just as sweet and cheeky as I had hoped. I got to tell him what he meant to me. I didn’t know the man, but I feel like each performance gave me a piece of him that I will cherish forever.”

Glee‘s Kevin McHale, who just joined the cast of Broadway’s Rocky Horror as Brad on August 25, posted a photo of Curry on his Instagram story with a broken heart emoji as the caption.

Rob Schneider from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York penned an Instagram tribute that said, “The great and wonderful Tim Curry has given his final bow. I have never known another actor who could say more with a knowing grin or a raised eyebrow than the splendid Tim Curry!”

“Most actors will do a scene the same way and try to perfect it,” Schneider continued. “I was astonished as a young actor to witness Tim do a scene 7 completely different ways and ALL OF THEM FANTASTIC! I asked him about it, and he gave me a great gift. Tim said, ‘I want to give the director different choices! It’s not my job to decide which one. It’s up to him!’ Right then and there, it changed everything for me! Tim was kind and generous to be in a scene with. I was thrilled to be in the same frame as him.”

Goodnight Sweet Myth… https://t.co/yJNnTWIehH

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) August 26, 2026

Director Guillermo del Toro tweeted, “Goodnight Sweet Myth…”

NSYNC’s Lance Bass mourned both Parton and Curry in his tribute: “My two favorite entertainers have passed just one day apart. It seems too surreal. Dolly was not only an incredible force in entertainment, but also an example of who we should all aspire to be — preaching love, respect, and acceptance.”

“Tim Curry starred in most of my favorite films. I had the pleasure of hanging with him a few times throughout my career. What a guy!,” Bass continued. “Anyone that knows me knows that my favorite movie of ALL time is Clue. It solidified him as the comedic genius he was. I also had the honor of being his Rocky in his last Rocky Horror Picture Show, which I’m still pinching myself over! Thank you Tim and thank you Dolly for shaping so much of who I am in this crazy business we call entertainment. Your impact on this planet will be felt forever.”