TRIBUTES have been paid to the “irreverent” Tim Curry by the boss of Colchester’s leading LGBTQ+ event.
Curry, who was best known for playing Dr Frank-N-Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, died aged 80 on August 25.
Ben Powell, current chairperson of Colchester Pride, says Curry’s death came during “a bit of a week for the LGBTQ+ community”, after country singer Dolly Parton died on the same day.
“Two absolute jewels of the camp spectrum have sadly departed," he told the Gazette.
“Rocky Horror is one of the quintessential parts of queer culture.
“For a lot of people, it was an early experience of seeing difference and queerness on film or on stage.”
Ben says Tim Curry and Dolly Parton were “forces of kindness” on and off-stage.
“He and Dolly had a reputation for kindness and inclusivity for all – both on and off the job," he said.
Curry’s career spanned stage and screen over six decades, including playing William Shakespeare in a 1978 miniseries about the writer’s life.
For his 18th birthday, Ben, now 36, hosted a Rocky Horror-themed celebration.
He said: “I saw the film when I was 14 and became obsessed.
“I realised there was a whole world out there.”
Ben says Curry’s role as Frank-N-Furter was the “clearest gateway” to his wider work.
He said: “Whatever you see him in, there’s always an element of camp and irreverence – a little nod and a wink.
“There are important points to be made about LGBTQ+ rights, but it’s also good to diffuse the idea of fear or difference.
“A lot of Tim Curry’s work highlights that, ultimately, any person just wants to get the most enjoyment they can out of life.
“When people forget that everyone else is also a person, things get messy.”
On Saturday, August 29, Colchester Pride hosted A Big Camp Cabaret at Colchester Arts Centre, which ended with a Rocky Horror singalong.
The event helped raise money for next year’s event, which is totally self-funded.
Colchester Pride will celebrate its tenth anniversary on July 31, 2027.
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