Who could ever forget the iconic performance of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the legendary The Rocky Horror Picture Show? At a time when gender roles were much more rigid than they are in 2026, Tim Curry portrayed a character who challenged society’s conventional ideas about masculinity, sexuality, and gender expression. His bold and unforgettable performance helped push boundaries and opened the door for audiences to see gender and sexuality in a different way.
Tim Curry’s impact on helping the world be a more inclusive place through his work will continue to be felt for generations despite him recently moving on from the world.
Madeline Gale of Montclair took some time to let us know how much Tim’s work has had an impact, “Tim Curry had a huge impact on the LGBTQ+ community, especially our trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming folks. His flamboyant affect and costumes left a lasting effect on all of us, which pushed boundaries beyond the binary, and in a sense allowed trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming folks, and essentially all of our LGBTQIA+ community, to act and dress and be our authentic selves.”
Throughout his more than five-decade-long career, Tim was a part of so many iconic TV and film productions. From playing the terrifying clown Pennywise in the 1990 television miniseries adaptation of It to bringing to life the pirate Long John Silver in the family-friendly film Muppet Treasure Island.
Curry’s characters were some of the most over-the-top to ever grace our small and big screens. They are characters that will live on for generations, ensuring that his incredible work and legacy will never be forgotten.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the iconic character that Tim Curry portrayed was for many of us, one of, if not the first, “queer” characters,” said Cathy Renna, of Montclair reflecting on how his character from The Rocky Horror Picture Show personally impacted her life and was a groundbreaking one. “I vividly remember stumbling across the movie at 13 when it was airing on HBO. I was transfixed (pun intended). The whole film was queer coded and I loved it from that day forward. And it obviously has tremendous staying power given the cult following as well as the Broadway productions and midnight shows.”
Curry’s performances truly provided an outlet for those who feel like outcasts to feel fully seen and accepted as they are. “Curry’s performance gave generations of viewers permission to imagine a wider range of possibilities for how a person might look, love, desire and simply take up space in the world,” said Lisa Vandever of Rahway. She is the director and co-founder of The Cinekink Film Festival, which celebrates films that showcase all forms of sexuality.
“That importance of seeing yourself reflected on screen is something that has also shaped CineKink over time,” said Vandever. “The festival’s underlying value is similar: giving space to forms of sexuality, gender and desire that mainstream culture has often treated as too much, too strange, or simply better left unseen. There is power in putting those lives and possibilities on screen and letting them exist without apology.”
If you want to have a chance to celebrate this legend and his work in person locally, on Saturday, September 5, at 9 PM, The Ordinary Kids Rocky Horror performing troupe will hold a special tribute to Curry before the screening at Montclair Cinemas The Clairidge. Producer of the troupe, Paulie DeLarge, said: ” Fearless is the best word to describe the work he gave us. He was an icon in the best way possible. There will never be another Tim Curry. “
