It is difficult to overstate the magnificence of Tim Curry. The actor, singer, dancer, and performer extraordinaire was truly something special, which is what makes his recent passing at the age of 80 such an enormous shame. In the wake of such a loss, at the very least, audiences have his immortal roles on celluloid to remember him by.
Curry had been a prolific actor for decades, having appeared in iconic films such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, Legend, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Home Alone 2, and more. But perhaps the role that people of a certain generation most associate him with is that of Long John Silver in Brian Henson’s 1996 classic, Muppet Treasure Island. And now, with his passing, The Muppets are remembering him and honoring his legacy by reaffirming that Curry is very much an honorary Muppet through and through.
In a post on social media from the official The Muppets account, The Muppets wrote, “Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry. As a performer, he was unparalleled—witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny. We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.”
Though there has been an outpouring of memories and support in the wake of his passing, there is perhaps no better way to remember Curry than this: at the absolute top of his game, performing show-stopping feats with unyielding charisma in a way that only he knew how. The role of Long John Silver has been played by numerous actors over the years in other adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic Treasure Island story (albeit with fewer Muppets). But none have been able to match the kind of manic and wide-eyed exuberance of Curry’s portrayal, something that jived so synchronously with The Muppets themselves and with Curry’s strengths as a performer.
If you’re in the mood to treat yourself to a dose of Tim Curry in honor of the legend, you genuinely cannot go wrong with any of his work. Even in lesser films, he had the unique ability to captivate for the sum total of his screen time. Muppets Treasure Island is a great film that meets Curry on his own frequency and is all the better for it. Personally, I’m queuing up a double feature of that film and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Curry’s on-screen debut (!?!), in which he is transcendent beyond words. “Don’t Dream It, Be It” has always resonated deep within my bones, and I can’t imagine the levels of devastation it is going to induce on this watch.
God bless you, Tim Curry. Rest in peace.
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