Tim Curry, who died this week aged 80, once shared an insight into his friendship with the late Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury, revealing that the rocker's horticultural skills left much to be desired.
Curry, best known for his standout performances as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Pennywise the Clown in the horror film It (1990), suffered a stroke in 2012 that left him unable to walk but took away none of his sparkling wit and story-telling skill as he pivoted towards voice acting work.
Friendship in London
Back in 2019, Curry gave an insight into his friendship with Freddie Mercury. The pair became chums while both living in London, with Tim revealing that the rocker bought an apartment in a "beautiful terrace house" with "a rather small garden at the end of a paved patio".
Speaking to friend and fellow voice actor Charlie Adler, Tim explained: "And he knew that I love to garden, and he asked me to make him a garden."
A Japanese Garden for Freddie
Tim said he made Freddie a Japanese garden because the frontman was "obsessed" with the country, "mostly because they were hugely successful in Japan".
"And he used to come back with ghastly, toursity china. He had no taste at all, but he was a sweet, very funny, nice guy," Tim said.
'It's Dead, Dear'
Tim said he planted the garden and afterwards the band went on tour, possibly in the summer. The film icon says Freddie called him when he got back and said, "Tim, Dear. The garden, dear," to which Tim said, "Yes, Freddie?"
"It's dead, dear," Freddie added. "Dead?", Tim asked, to which Freddie replied, "Yes. Dead, dear."
Tim asked him if he had watered it, to which he said Freddie responded, "water it, dear?", having apparently considered they needed to be looked after in his absence. Tim says he patiently explained that plants need to be watered. He told Charlie he didn't chuckle at Freddie Mercury's expense as he "didn't like being laughed at all".
