Three drag queens in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' Image via 20th Century Studios By Victoria Luxford Published Aug 26, 2026, 11:03 PM EDT Victoria has written about film for a variety of outlets across the world, including The Guardian , NME , BBC , The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone , Empire Magazine , Metro , and many more. She was previously Film Editor for London newspaper City AM , as well as Global Film & TV Editor for American Express Essentials . Sign in to your Collider account Add Us Add on Google Preferred Source Google News Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Listen Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap On August 26, movie fans around the world mourned the passing of actor Tim Curry , a star whose work had touched generations. Many adored him for his comedic turns in films such as Clue or Home Alone 2 , or his performance as the terrifying Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 miniseries IT . To others, however, he will always be Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the mad scientist at the center of 1974’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
A startling performance that exuded queerness before the term was mainstream, on the surface, Curry's Frank-N-Furter was a chaotic and provocative pastiche of old sci-fi movies. In between the lines, however, the character shone a light for outsiders around the world, inviting you to be yourself without fear of judgment, if only for a couple of hours. To the millions who kept the movie in theaters for over 50 years, and to the actor himself, the performance was a beacon that could never have been foreseen.
Tim Curry singing in Rocky Horror Picture Show Image via 20th Century Studios Based on the stage play by Richard O’Brien , the movie adaptation of Rocky Horror was developed in 1973, with Curry reprising the role he originated in London’s West End. Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick play Janet and Brad, an innocent young couple who find themselves stranded with a flat tire on a stormy night, only to seek refuge at “the Old Frankenstein place,” an ominous mansion with the lights turned on . Initially, Brad and Janet just want to use the phone, but the couple are soon unwittingly introduced to the world of Dr Frank-N-Furter (Curry), a cross-dressing mad scientist whose diabolical experiments and seductive nature draw them into chaos.
Featuring timeless songs such as “Sweet Transvestite” (Curry’s opening number) and “The Time Warp” , the film is a lurid cinematic rebellion that throws many of the rules of filmmaking out the window (along with some of the doctor’s failed experiments!). What gives it its power, however, is Curry’s performance, a symphony of gender ambiguity and reckless desire held together with the actor’s signature dry wit. His outfit – a corset, fishnets, and provocative makeup – stands in direct contrast with his upper-class English accent (the character was initially meant to be German, until Curry overheard two rich British women discussing their houses and mimicked their accent).
Playing the character with elements of British aristocracy, drag, and theatrical showmanship, he is the ringmaster gleefully welcoming us to the circus that is to come. Even if you haven’t seen the film, you’ve doubtless seen a picture of him in costume somewhere, alongside other great movie icons. Over time, however, his legacy became something more.
Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror P…