Tim Curry embraces the possibility of death after a stroke
The iconic actor who starred in The Rocky Horror Picture Show says it might be nice to "go bye-bye."
Actor Tim Curry is best known for his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” His career has spanned more than 50 years and he also portrayed Rooster in “Annie,” Nigel in The Wild Thornberrys, Pennywise in “IT,” Wadsworth in “Clue,” and the concierge in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” He has also lent his voice to many animated projects including those produced by Disney.
When Curry was 10, his father, a chaplain in the British Army, suffered a stroke and shortly after died from Pneumonia. The versatile actor also had a stroke 13 years ago in 2012. His skull was smashed in to save his life and he has been paralyzed on his left side ever since and uses a wheelchair.
He revealed in a recent interview that he was having a massage and that he felt “a little out of sorts.” He didn't realize the seriousness of the situation but his massage therapist did and insisted on calling 911.
It turned out that my brain was inflamed enough, or filled with enough blood that bone from my skull had to be removed and implanted into my abdomen to keep my brain, and me, alive,” he wrote. “Thankfully the operation was successful (which was by no means guaranteed).”
In an interview with Ben Mankowicz from TCM, Curry talked about protecting his identity and how acting allowed him to be someone else. He said he could escape from his mother's mood swings after his father's death. Looking back he believes she may have been bipolar because she could turn on a dime.
Curry, 79, has accepted his mortality and said it might be fun to go "bye-bye." Fans wonder about his attitude and whether he believes in heaven or hell. He has not shared whether he has any religious faith or if he believes in an afterlife.
There is a website that lists him as Christian. His father being a chaplain suggests he was raised in a Christian home. The actor, himself, has not spoken publicly about what he believes. He did make this comment.
“I had been very scared when I did not know what was happening to me, because I had no sense of whether tremendous pain was forthcoming,” Curry wrote. “But if death comes for me peacefully and I fade gently from light into dark oblivion, why would I be afraid of it? Sometimes, I rather think it would be a comfort.”
The news of the stroke was first reported by The Daily Mail in 2013, one year after it happened. Curry revealed that he had trouble speaking, and his comprehension was off. He says he had had time to accept hsi situation as he expects happens to others with his medical condition.
Curry's longtime personal assistant and publicist, Marcia Hurwitz, has been by his side during this ordeal. There have been rumors that the two are dating or secretly married, but this has not been confirmed.
There has been speculation that the actor is gay, but he has never mentioned his dating life during his long career. It was common during the era that Tim Curry went into show business for gay men to date women as a cover. The iconic entertainer has kept his romantic life private, and this should be respected.
I don’t fear death. I try to avoid it. As I think we all do. But I suspect that in the end I will welcome it.” He added, “I think it may be very comforting to go bye bye, and I want to earn it.”
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Cheryl E Preston
Cheryl enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.
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Comments (1)
Hard to believe he's 79. Just watched Rocky Horror on Halloween.