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It's been about three weeks since the unfortunate passing of beloved actor Tim Curry. Curry was born on April 19th, 1946, in Grappenhall, England. He studied Drama and English at the University of Buckingham. He came from a regular sort of background, he was a regular sort of person. And yet, he blossomed into one of the most inspirational acting legends this world has seen. As Curry moves on, the rest of us must remember his legacy, and learn from what his life has taught us.
Tim Curry didn’t start off as a superstar. His first major role was in a London production of the musical Hair. Though he had been studying theatre at university, he lacked any professional experience, and (in)famously lied to the casting crew of Hair that he did. He was only 22. Curry worked his way through several theaters, eventually finding his way to the Royal Court Theater, where a little production called The Rocky Horror Picture Show debuted on June 19th, 1973. Curry played arguably the most important character of his career, the iconic Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the transsexual Transylvanian mad scientist, a character that has cemented its place among film and theater buffs alike. Curry reprised the role for the 1975 film adaptation, and continued working in theatre and film after.
Rocky Horror requires little background on its importance, and his performance in that film alone cemented his legacy. Fringe culture and cult classic films would not be the same without Curry and Frank-N-Furter, who is in some ways a mascot of the cult film. There are still several screenings and fan events surrounding the film every single year. Curry also played iconic film roles such as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 It miniseries and Wadsworth in Clue (1985).
Curry isn’t unique because he happened to find success in acting, he’s unique because of the kind of person he was throughout his life. It’s in how Curry was, as a human being, that we as filmmakers, no matter our field of interest, can learn from.
Tim Curry inspires us to not give up on our dreams. Curry wanted to be an actor, and he accomplished that (even if he had to bend the truth a bit to do so). He pursued an acting education and auditioned for several productions. Additionally, once he ‘made it’, he still pursued musicals, voice acting, and film. He demonstrated an overwhelming passion for the art of acting. As filmmakers, our paths may look quite different than his. We might not be able to land auditions just by bluffing about how much experience we have. But those setbacks are part of the journey. The art that we make is worth the struggle, is worth the journey, and is worth the effort.
There are many fields in film that one can find work in, and it can be helpful to try different things. Of course, honing one skill can be incredibly useful. That said, learning and understanding other departments of the industry, or even just understanding your department in new ways and experimenting is a good idea. Curry focused his career on acting, but he did not limit himself to one specific sort of acting, doing musicals, television, film, and voice work. Similarly, for example, someone specializing in on-set sound jobs, such as boom operation or sound mixing may be inclined to try out post-production sound, or foley work. A great thing about the film industry is just how many jobs exist as part of the production. It never hurts to learn more.
On the subject of experimentation, maybe for you that means something different than donning drag and a lab coat. But, don’t be discouraged from trying something out just because it hasn’t been done before or because it isn’t the norm. This doesn’t mean go out and shoot a movie entirely in dutch angles or constantly break the 360 rule. It means you should get out of your comfort zone, maybe try shooting with a new color setting or submit that short film to a few festivals... just because.
Finally, the most important lesson that Curry can leave to filmmakers. Authenticity. Art can not exist without an artist to make it. That touch of humanity is what turns something into something. Imprint your soul on what you make. Let your personality and interests come across in whatever it is you work on, so that every project becomes a passion project. If you are passionate about what you create, it will show in your work.
So, as Curry is laid to rest, let his memory and his legacy live on in film. He taught many aspiring actors and artists, and now it is up to them to keep creating. Let a life well lived gain new life through the work of artists today.
