Over 40 years after bringing Dr. Frank-N-Furter to legendary onscreen life, Tim Curry has joined the cast of Fox's two-hour reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. With Laverne Cox stepping into the high heels of the doctor this time around, Curry will play a different role: the Criminologist Narrator.
Press Release: Tim Curry, the Emmy Award-winning actor, Tony Award nominee and creator of the original “Dr. Frank-N-Furter,” will return to the iconic, pop culture phenomenon as the Criminologist Narrator of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, the two-hour television event airing this fall on FOX. Curry, an accomplished stage, television and film actor, originated the breakout “Dr. Frank-N-Furter” role in the 1973 London stage production of “The Rocky Horror Show,” returning to play the character in the Lou Adler-executive-produced film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” which premiered September 26, 1975, and has been in theatrical distribution longer than any other film in history.
“I am very happy and excited to be a part of this new event,” said Curry.
Curry joins previously announced cast members Laverne Cox (Dr. Frank-N-Furter, “Orange is the New Black”), Victoria Justice (Janet, “Victorious”), Ryan McCartan (Brad, “Liv & Maddie,” “Heathers: the Musical”), Adam Lambert (Eddie, “Glee”), Reeve Carney (Riff Raff, “Penny Dreadful,” “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”) and Staz Nair (Rocky, “Game of Thrones”).
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW follows sweethearts Janet (Justice) and Brad (McCartan), who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Cox) bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous, flirtatious alien mad-scientist – with the help of his faithful servants Riff Raff (Carney) and Magenta – is holding an annual, Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of “Rocky Horror” (Nair) – a fit, attractive man created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.
Executive-produced by Lou Adler (Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee), Gail Berman (TV, film and Broadway producer) and Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical” franchise, “This Is It,” “Descendants,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Newsies”), THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is a reimagining of the cult classic, which is celebrating 40 years of theatrical distribution – longer than any other film in history. One of the most popular films of all time, it still plays in movie theaters around the world.
Tim Curry is an English actor and singer known for his diverse work in Hollywood. In addition to his role on “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Curry acted in a handful of English productions, such as “Threepenny Opera,” “Love For Love” and “Rivals.” Curry later starred in “Pirates of Penzance,” earning him enthusiastic reviews and paving his way to Broadway. There, he starred in “Travesties,” gaining huge popularity with the American audience. Curry was then nominated for his first Tony Award for his role as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in “Amadeus.” In the Broadway production of “My Favorite Year,” he earned his second Tony Award nomination for playing “Alan Swann.” Following that, Curry acted in both “Me and My Girl” and “The Wall: Live in Berlin.”
He began his momentous role of “King Arthur” in “Spamalot” in Chicago in 2004. This show eventually made its way to Broadway, which earned Curry his third Tony Award nomination, specifically for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. He also received the Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for this role.
Curry also has had a major presence in television, guest-starring in popular shows such as “Hot in Cleveland,” “Criminal Minds,” “Psych,” “Will & Grace,” “Roseanne” and “Monk.” In addition to theater and television, Curry has dominated the big screen as well. On film, Curry appeared in “Annie,” “Clue,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “Scary Movie 2.”
In 2015, Curry was honored by The Actors Fund with an Artistic Achievement Award and later that year, as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” film, was named West Hollywood’s Honorary Mayor.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is from Fox 21 Television Studios and The Jackal Group. Adler and Berman, along with Kenny Ortega, will serve as executive producers. Emmy Award winner Kenny Ortega will also direct and choreograph. “Like” THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW on Facebook at facebook.com/RockyHorrorFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @RockyHorrorFOX and join the discussion using #RockyHorror. See photos and videos on Instagram by following: @RockyHorrorFOX/.