Tim Curry has given his first major interview since suffering a severe stroke in 2012, discussing his career, sexuality and friendship with David Bowie. The 79-year-old actor, best known for his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, says he is 'astonished' at how ambitious he has been.
Curry's memoir, Vagabond, was published after he had 'an appalling amount of time to reflect' during his recovery. The stroke left his left side paralysed, but he is grateful he did not lose his speech. 'The day before I had the stroke, I smoked three packs of Marlboro Reds,' he said. 'I won't be doing that again!'
The book details his encounters with celebrities including David Bowie, with whom he had impromptu dinners after stage performances, and working through bowls of cocaine at Studio 54 with Truman Capote and Andy Warhol. Curry also recalls a catty encounter with Donald Trump on the set of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Curry, who has played many villains including Pennywise the clown in Stephen King's It, says he always tried to make his villains amusing. 'It gives them a bit more edge,' he explained. The actor, who was nominated for Olivier awards for The Pirates of Penzance and Spamalot, says comedy has become a 'coping mechanism' since his stroke.
Reflecting on his childhood as a military brat, Curry says he was a self-confessed showoff. His father was a chaplain in the Royal Navy, and he would sing in the church choir. He developed a repertoire of accents to make his mother laugh, including impersonating a local grocer.
