Whether he’s playing a cunningvillainor a beloved dad—but let’s face it, usually a cunning villain—British actorTim Currystands out in just about every film he’s in and seems to pop up almost everywhere. He began his career in the late 1960s onstage before beginning to work in film in the1970s, and he’s been featured in over 200 projects since, from belovedfamily moviesto cult classics. After having a stroke in 2012, most of Curry’s work since has been voiceover roles.
Just as Curry is a joy to watch, so, too, are many of his movies. The best of them can be enjoyed over and over again, and it’s almost impossible to imagine any other actor bringing these characters to life the way that Curry does. Although he may be known for playing a certain character type, he never does it the same way twice and always brings something new to each character, a testament to why he’s tapped for such roles again and again.
10’The Wild Thornberrys Movie' (2002)
Directed by Jeff McGrath and Cathy Malkasian
The Wild Thornberrys Moviewas based on theNickelodeonanimated seriesThe Wild Thornberrys, which followed the Thornberry family, including 12-year-old daughter Eliza (Lacey Chabert), who could talk to animals. The film followed her quest to save a cheetah cub from poachers while the family was on an African safari to film a nature documentary. Out of concern for her safety, Eliza’s grandmother Cordelia (Lynn Redgrave) has her sent off to a boarding school.
…Nigel remains a beloved character by audiences who grew up watchingThe Wild Thornberrys.
Curry’s distinctive voice has earned him many voiceover roles throughout his career, and his role as Eliza’s father, Nigel Thornberry, was among the few in which he didn’t voice a villain. His voice was perfectly suited for the character, however, due to his wildlife narration. The role is also among those Curry is best remembered for today, as Nigel remains a beloved character by audiences who grew up watchingThe Wild Thornberrys.
The Wild Thornberrys Movie
9’Charlie’s Angels' (2000)
Directed by McG
As a continuation of the popular series of the same name,Charlie’s Angelsfollows three private investigators—Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Dylan (Drew Barrymore) and Alex (Lucy Liu)—in their work for the unseen millionaire Charlie Townsend (John Forsythe). The women were tasked with locating kidnapped software engineer Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell). Curry appeared in the film as Roger Corwin,the owner of Redstar Technologies suspected of being Knox’s kidnapper. The film was followed by a sequel in 2003.
Curry was the perfect choice for the character of Roger—his reputation for playing villains meant that’s exactly what the audience would expect from him as soon as he turned up, adding to the surprise when that turned out not to be the case. Given the over-the-top nature of the movie, Curry was in his element. And his wasn’t the only memorable performance, either. The film also featuresBill MurrayandCrispin Glover.
Charlie’s Angels
8’The Pebble and the Penguin' (1995)
Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman
Two penguins—the shy and stuttering Hubie (Martin Short) and bully Drake (Curry)—both competed for the affections of Marina (Annie Golden) in the animated movieThe Pebble and the Penguin. After Hubie found a pebble he wanted to give to Marina, Drake had Hubie sent away. The movie was based on the actual mating rituals of penguins. It was directed byDon Bluthand was the final film made by Don Bluth Limited before it went bankrupt.
… It’s since become a cult classic and has grown in popularity…
The Pebble and the Penguinwasn’t well-received when it was first released, but it’s since become a cult classic and has grown in popularity,similar to some of Curry’s other work. And while it’s still not among his most famous roles—or among the most famous and well-regardedwork of director Don Bluth—it is a sweet movie about love and friendship. It also boasts some beautiful artwork and a lovely musical score.
The Pebble and the Penguin
7’The Three Musketeers' (1993)
Directed by Stephen Herek
The Three Musketeers, loosely based on the 1844 novel of the same name byAlexandre Dumas, tells the story of D’Artagnan (Chris O’Donnell), who traveled to Paris in the hopes of joining the king’s protectors, the musketeers Athos (Kiefer Sutherland), Porthos (Oliver Platt), and Aramis (Charlie Sheen), only to have the group had been disbanded.Curry played Cardinal Richelieu, who disbanded the group as part of a plot to have the king killed.
Richelieu was among Curry’s best performances as a villain—the character was downright cruel, with a frightening temper, and was quintessential Curry.He makes such a good villain that it’s satisfying to see him get punched in the face, the ultimate comeuppance for any villain. While the film takes some liberties with the original story, it’s still an entertaining adventure film with some great action scenes and a wonderful sense of humor.
The Three Musketeers
6’The Cat Returns' (2002)
Directed by Hiroyuki Morita
After teenager Haru (Chizuru Ikewaki) rescued a cat which was about to be hit by a truck,the cat revealed itself to be a princenamed Lune inThe Cat Returns. Haru was then taken to the Cat Kingdom, and out of gratitude, Lune’s father, the Cat King (Curry), asked Haru to marry Lune. The movie was produced byStudio Ghibliand was a spin-off ofWhisper of the Heart.
The Cat Returnsis a fun, whimsical movie about an adventure to another world, and it’s very different from the kinds of movies Studio Ghibli has become known for. It has great humor,and it caneasily be enjoyed again and again.While Curry has certainly played more evil and terrifying villains, he still brought the cunning Cat King to life wonderfully, in a way that few other voice actors could.
The Cat Returns
In The Cat Returns, a young girl named Haru finds herself unexpectedly honored and overwhelmed after saving a feline prince from an accident. Subsequently, she’s taken to the mysterious Cat Kingdom, where she must navigate surreal adventures and decide on her future in the human world, aided by unique allies.
5’Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' (1992)
Directed by Chris Columbus
In the sequel toHome Alone, young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) lost track of his father while rushing through the airport and mistakenly boarded the wrong plane, leading him to end up on his own in New York City while the rest of his family was heading for Florida. In need of a place to stay,Kevin checked himself into the Plaza Hotel using his father’s credit card, where he earned the ire of concierge Mr. Hector (Curry).
Sequels have a reputation for not being as good as their predecessors, butHome Alone 2was the rare example of a film coming pretty close to matching what made the first so entertaining and beloved, despite receiving negative reviews when it was released. Curry’s performance as Mr. Hector has certainly helped.Some of the film’s funniest moments came from Kevin toying with Hector—the scene in which Kevin used a movie to scare Hector and his staff never gets old.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
One year after Kevin McCallister was left home alone and had to defeat a pair of bumbling burglars, he accidentally finds himself stranded in New York City - and the same criminals are not far behind.
4’Annie' (1982)
Directed by John Huston
Set in 1933, the musicalAnniefollowed the titular red-haired orphan Annie (Aileen Quinn), who lived in an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett) and was convinced that her parents left her there by mistake and would one day return for her. When billionaire “Daddy” Warbucks (Albert Finney) decidedto temporarily take in one of the orphans for Christmasto improve his image, he chose Annie—and eventually took on the task of attempting to find her parents.
Annieis a classic musical that’s been adapted for film time and time again,but the 1982 version starring Burnett remains among the best, thanks in part to perfect casting. It’s unfortunate that Curry hasn’t starred in more musicals—they not only helped launch his career, but he’s well-suited for them, especially with his deep voice. InAnnie, he played Rooster, the con-man younger brother of Miss Hannigan, with equal parts charm and malice.
3’Muppet Treasure Island' (1996)
Directed by Brian Henson
Muppet Treasure Islandwas a retelling ofRobert Louis Stevenson’s classic novelTreasure Islandbut with a Muppet twist. After coming into possession of a treasure map, young Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop), along with companions Gonzo (David Goelz) and Rizzo the Rat (Steve Whitmire), set sail with a crew to find the treasure.Curry appeared as Long John Silver, a pirate who worked as the ship’s cook and had his eyes set on Jim’s map.
When it comes to Muppet movies, especially ones based on books,it doesn’t get much better thanMuppet Treasure Island. It was a great retelling of the original story with all the humor and fun one expects from a Muppet movie.Curry didn’t simply play Long John as an over-the-top villain—in some of the movie’s best moments,he brought nuance to the characterand showed that the pirate truly cared for Jim.
Muppet Treasure Island
The Muppets embark on a swashbuckling adventure as they set sail for a hidden pirate treasure. Led by the brave young Jim Hawkins, they face off against the treacherous Long John Silver and his pirate crew.
2’Clue' (1985)
Directed by Jonathan Lynn
InClue, six people were anonymously invited to a mansion and given aliases named after colors as part of a blackmail plot. But when the host was murdered, they were forced to work together to uncover what really happened—andevery single one of them was a suspect. Curry appeared as the butler, Wadsworth. The movie was based on the board game of the same name and is known forits multiple alternate endings.
It’s hard to imagine a movie based on a board game actually being good, butCluedelivered. With its humor and fantastic cast,Clueis a great movie to turn to when in need of a pick-me-up or comfort watch,and it’s packed with quotable lines. Every member of the star-studded cast delivers, butCurry stands out in particular in one of his best and funniest roles, complete with incredible comedic timing.
1’The Rocky Horror Picture Show' (1975)
Directed by Jim Sharman
After their car got a flat tire during a storm, newly engaged couple Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) found themselves at the strange mansion of the even stranger Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Curry) inThe Rocky Horror Picture Show.The couple happened to arrive on the very night Frank was unveiling his latest creation. The movie was based on the stage musicalThe Rocky Horror Show, which also starred Curry as Frank-N-Furter.
Rocky Horrorhas an incredible legacy—decades after its release,it’s still regularly shown in theaters, making it one of the most famous and longest-running cult movies of all time. Frank-N-Furter remains Curry’s most famous and most instantly recognizable role and Curry embodies him flawlessly, with one of the most iconic entrances in film. Despite Frank’s callousness and selfish pursuits of pleasure, there’s something about him which makes him impossible to dislike.
