The cause of death of veteran actor Tim Curry has been revealed just over a week after the celebrated performer died at his Los Angeles home on August 25.
Curry, who became a cultural icon through his unforgettable performance as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, died aged 80 from coronary artery disease, according to a report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health obtained by People.
Stroke and kidney cancer listed as contributing factors
The report also identified Curry’s previous stroke and history of kidney cancer as contributing conditions.
However, the documents reportedly make clear that those conditions were not directly related to the coronary artery disease identified as his cause of death.
The report further indicated that Curry had not undergone surgery connected with the coronary artery disease or the contributing conditions.
Health struggles followed devastating 2012 stroke
Curry had experienced serious health difficulties for more than a decade following a major stroke in 2012.
The medical emergency left him unable to walk and significantly reduced his public appearances in the years that followed.
During a television interview in 2025, Curry revealed that he had suffered two brain bleeds during the stroke and initially had no idea that anything was wrong.
Masseuse recognised something was seriously wrong
Curry previously credited the masseuse who was treating him at his Los Angeles home with recognising that he needed urgent medical attention.
He recalled feeling completely normal during the massage, despite the seriousness of what was happening.
The masseuse became concerned and called emergency services.
Curry was subsequently taken to hospital by ambulance, where doctors diagnosed him with a stroke.
The actor later underwent brain surgery and spent approximately a month in hospital undergoing rehabilitation.
Curry had to relearn how to speak
The aftermath of the stroke dramatically changed Curry’s life.
He explained that he had to learn to speak again during his rehabilitation, a particularly difficult experience for an actor whose career had been built around performance and communication.
Curry also recalled being frightened after learning that he had suffered a stroke, partly because his father, James Curry, had experienced one when Tim was 11.
Actor remained candid about mobility problems
Curry continued to experience significant mobility problems in his later years.
At a 2025 event marking the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, he spoke openly about still being unable to walk and relying on a wheelchair.
He also revealed that he continued to experience problems with his left leg, acknowledging that his physical limitations had affected what he could do professionally.
Curry was seen in Los Angeles earlier this year
Before his death, Curry was photographed in Los Angeles in April while being pushed in his wheelchair.
The actor had made the city his permanent home after relocating there in 1988.
During that outing, he visited the Friar Tuck Shoppe in Sherman Oaks, a business specialising in British products located beside the Robin Hood British Pub.
A career defined by an iconic role
Curry’s most famous performance came in 1973 when he played the flamboyant Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The role turned him into a cult favourite and became one of the defining performances of his career.
His distinctive voice, theatrical presence and memorable portrayal helped make the film a lasting part of popular culture.
He also became a familiar face in Hollywood
Curry’s career extended well beyond The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
A new generation of viewers knew him as the suspicious and formal concierge Mr Hector in the 1992 comedy Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
He also enjoyed a successful stage career, including his portrayal of King Arthur in Spamalot between 2004 and 2007.
His performances took him to Chicago, Broadway and London’s West End.
Other theatre credits included What About Dick?, My Favorite Year and Travesties.
Lifetime achievement honour recognised his career
Curry’s contribution to the performing arts was formally recognised in 2015 when he received The Actors Fund Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles.
Even after his stroke curtailed his physical abilities, his reputation as one of the most distinctive performers of his generation remained intact.
His legacy extends across film, television and theatre
Although Curry spent much of his final years away from the public spotlight, his influence remained visible across several generations of audiences.
From cult cinema and mainstream Hollywood comedy to major stage productions, he established a career that crossed multiple forms of entertainment.
His death marks the passing of an actor whose performances, particularly as Dr Frank-N-Furter, became deeply embedded in popular culture.
What’s next for Curry’s legacy?
With the cause of death now established, attention is likely to remain focused on celebrating Curry’s career and enduring contribution to entertainment.
His work in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Home Alone 2 and Spamalot ensures that his performances will continue to introduce him to new audiences, while longtime fans remember the distinctive performer behind some of cinema and theatre’s most recognisable characters.
Summary
Tim Curry died on August 25 at his Los Angeles home at the age of 80.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reportedly determined that coronary artery disease was the cause of death, with his previous stroke and kidney cancer listed as contributing factors.
Curry had lived with significant health challenges since suffering a debilitating stroke in 2012, but continued to speak openly about his experiences and remained connected to his best-known work.
His decades-long career, led by his iconic performance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, leaves behind a lasting legacy in film, television and theatre.
