A.V. Club staff honors Tim Curry with favorite role picks
Following Tim Curry's death at age 80, The A.V. Club staff selected their favorite performances from his career. Highlights include his roles as Darkness in Legend and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island. The piece celebrates his versatility across film, television, and voice acting.
Tim Curry's death at 80 prompted The A.V. Club to compile staff picks spanning his eclectic career. His role as Darkness in Ridley Scott's Legend was directly inspired by Scott seeing Curry's theatrical work in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with Scott specifically requesting a sensual, imposing presence. In Muppet Treasure Island, Curry's performance as Long John Silver was noted for its seamless integration with the puppet cast, including a memorable musical number.
The Clue entry highlights how the film's multiple theatrical endings made it a home-video favorite, allowing viewers to study Curry's physical comedy and precise timing in the famous "how it was all done" sequence. The piece emphasizes his rare ability to steal scenes from both Carol Burnett and Kermit the Frog, underscoring his range across musicals, cult films, voice work, and television.
This retrospective may resonate with multiple generations of fans who encountered Curry through different entry points—from Rocky Horror devotees to children who knew him as Long John Silver. His death could spark renewed streaming interest in his filmography, potentially introducing younger audiences to his distinctive theatrical style. The tribute format also highlights how versatile character actors often shape cultural memory more broadly than leading stars, with their work spanning genres and decades.