Coronary artery disease has been officially confirmed as the cause of Tim Curry’s death, according to records obtained from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as reported by People magazine.
The beloved British actor died peacefully at his home in the Toluca Lake area of Los Angeles on August 25, aged 80.
His spokesman confirmed to the BBC that a history of stroke and kidney cancer were also listed as significant contributing factors, though neither was identified as the underlying cause of death.
The public health documents further noted that Mr Curry had not undergone any surgical procedures related to his heart condition, kidney cancer, or stroke history.
Tim Curry died last week at the age of 80
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GETTYThe confirmation came just over a week after the actor’s passing.
Mr Curry’s health had been severely compromised since 2012, when he experienced a near-fatal stroke that necessitated emergency brain surgery.
The episode left him with partial paralysis on the left side of his body, confining him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.
He required a team of carers to assist him in his daily routine following the stroke.
Mr Curry suffered a stroke in 2012 that forced him to step away from the limelight while he underwent physiotherapy | GETTY
At a screening marking the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in September 2025, Curry spoke candidly about his ongoing difficulties.
“I still can’t walk, which is why I’m in this silly chair, and that’s very limiting,” he told the audience.
“So I won’t be singing, and I won’t be dancing very soon. I still have real problems with my left leg.”
In an interview with CBS News the following month, Mr Curry reflected on mortality with characteristic wit and directness.
Tim Curry’s official cause of death has been revealed
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GETTY“I don’t fear death. I try to avoid it, as I think we all do, but I suspect that in the end, I will welcome it,” he said. “Well, I think it may be very comforting to go bye-bye – and I want to earn it!”
The actor had also published his memoir, Vagabond, in 2025, offering fans a final window into a life and career that spanned more than five decades on stage and screen.
Mr Curry’s career was remarkably varied, encompassing iconic roles across film, television, and theatre.
He remains perhaps best known for his portrayal of Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and his terrifying turn as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
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He also delighted audiences as the pompous hotel concierge Mr Hector in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, alongside appearances in Muppet Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers, and Annie.
On stage, his talents earned him three Tony Award nominations on Broadway, including for Amadeus and Spamalot.
In London’s West End, he received two Laurence Olivier Award nominations for Best Actor in a Musical, for The Pirates of Penzance in 1982 and Spamalot in 2007.
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