Tim Curry made a rare public appearance at the 50th anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show over the weekend.
The 79-year-old actor, who famously originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, joined fellow stars Patricia Quinn, Barry Bostwick, Nell Campbell, and producer Lou Adler on stage before the film on Friday, September 26. While reminiscing about his career and the film’s impact, Curry opened up about the 2012 stroke that left him reliant on a wheelchair, along with a candid update on his health now.
“I was having a massage at the time and I didn’t even actually notice anything,” Curry recalled, per The Hollywood Reporter. “But the guy who was doing the massage said, ‘I’m worried about you, I want to call an ambulance.’ And he did, and I said, ‘That’s so silly.’”
The actor admitted the stroke left lasting challenges. “I still can’t walk,” he shared. “Which is why I’m in this silly chair, and that’s very limiting. So I won’t be singing and I won’t be dancing very soon. I still have real problems with my left leg.” Curry followed his comments with a playful, “It’s awfully late, isn’t it? Why don’t we show the pic?”
The audience, many dressed in character and clutching prop kits, gave Curry a lengthy standing ovation. He joked about the film’s ongoing popularity — calling its promotion something that “dragged on for 50 years” — but also expressed pride in its message. He stated how the audience’s response “means a lot because I think the message of the film — don’t dream it, be it — is very important.”
Reflecting on his early days as Frank-N-Furter, Curry recalled doing his own stage makeup, describing it as “like a back-street hooker,” before the movie brought in a professional makeup artist. “I was horrified, actually, by his first attempt because I thought I was ready for the runway; it was just too polished for me.”
Originally released in 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has since become a global cult classic, and fans can still catch it today through streaming platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
