From the Editor: The Tim Curry Collection
A signed memoir provokes an unexpected trip down memory lane through the unforgettable characters Tim Curry brought into one fan’s life.
Editor’s update: This article was written before Tim Curry’s death on August 25, 2026. What began as a happy bit of reminiscing about an actor whose work has been part of my life for decades now feels very different. His passing is devastating for those of us who loved him, whether we first knew him as the outrageously irresistible Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Clue’s impeccably proper, increasingly manic Wadsworth, the charming but villainous Cardinal Richelieu, the often goofy explorer and devoted family man, Nigel Thornberry, or one of the countless other characters only Tim Curry could have made unforgettable. I considered changing what I had written, but I won’t. These were my thoughts while he was still with us, and I can think of no better way to honor him than to leave them that way.
“I have loved and have been loved, and I hope you have too.” — Tim Curry, Vagabond.
One of the perks of editing Kovels Antique Trader is that I never quite know what will capture my attention next. While researching one of this issue’s sales reports featuring a recent JG Autographs’ History & Culture auction, one lot gave me pause: a signed copy of Tim Curry’s memoir, Vagabond.
It wasn’t the autograph that caught my eye. It was the name.
Like so many people of my generation, my introduction to Tim Curry came through The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I regularly went to the midnight showings, but I never quite graduated to fishnets and corsets. However, I did learn enough of the audience dialogue and call-backs to join in enthusiastically. To this day, when someone mentions Rocky Horror, my inner 19-year-old self exuberantly screams “Another helping of curry, please!”
As I read the auction description, every Tim Curry favorite immediately came rushing back. Wadsworth in Clue: “I was in the hall; I know because I was there.” The deliciously wicked Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers: “All for one. And more for me.” Long John Silver chewing up the scenery in Muppet Treasure Island: “Upstage, lads. This is my only number.” And Nigel Thornberry (“Smashing!”), whose wonderfully eccentric personality was a huge part of watching The Wild Thornberrys with my youngest daughter and my son. The show brought us happiness while teaching my children about the importance of the stewardship of nature. If I’m being honest, the ability to stream The Wild Thornberrys is one of the reasons that I recently signed up for Paramount Plus.
I soon realized that I hadn’t just stumbled across a signed book while researching an auction report. Instead of discovering an object, I discovered that I’d unknowingly assembled a collection of Tim Curry moments and memories spanning much of my life.
We often think of collections as things we intentionally build. But sometimes our best collections aren’t objects at all. A night at the movies. A favorite television show. A song. A family tradition. In my case, an actor whose performances have accompanied me through the decades until this one unexpected object made me aware of the fact that he’s been there all along.
I am reminded of how fortunate we are that so much of his work endures. A stroke in 2012 largely ended Tim Curry’s performing career, quieting one of the most recognizable voices in film and television. Yet he remained remarkably engaged with his fans, appearing at conventions, fan events, and cast reunions and roundtable discussions. Fortunately for the world, the stroke couldn’t diminish the characters he brought to life or the joy they continue to bring to audiences decades later.
By the time I’d finished editing the sales report, I’d ordered my own copy of Vagabond. Mine isn’t signed and never will be, and that’s perfectly all right. I wanted Tim Curry’s story more than his signature.
As it turns out, that auction lot gave me far more than a book recommendation.
Looking back, it’s remarkable how often Tim Curry appeared at different stages of my life. I didn’t set out to follow his career intentionally, yet there he was, popping up in films, television, animation, and stage productions, always leaving an impression. Very few performers could move so effortlessly from comedy to drama, from live action to voice work, and make every role distinctly their own.
So, thank you, Tim Curry. Thank you for the laughter. Thank you for a lifetime of remarkable performances and unforgettable characters. And thank you for the memories I’ve collected along the way.
Simply smashing.
