In case you were wondering, Tim Curry’s sense of humor is better than ever. The actor, 70, joined the cast of the new ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ for a panel, and had everyone laughing out loud.
“I remember quite a lot of the original film because it was my first movie,” Tim Curry said at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour on Aug. 8 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. “It was fun though to do it again. I offered myself as Dr. Scott because I was already in a wheelchair; they thought the narrator was a better fit.”
Critics were extremely excited to see the actor, who originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, join the panel. In the new version, he is taking on the role of Criminologist Narrator in the Fox remake. In 2012, Tim suffered a stroke that landed him in that wheelchair — but his acting and his sense of humor is still very much in tact.
When asked what he thought about Dr. Frank-N-Furter being his legacy, Curry quipped, “There’s not a lot I can do about it really.”
See Stills From ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’
“Having Tim Curry green light this, to have this man with us, I couldn’t wait to be there,” Ben Vereen, who does play Dr. Scott, revealed on the panel. EP, director and choreographer Kenny Ortega also shared a story of the first time Laverne Cox, who is playing Frank-N-Furter this time around — sang “Sweet Transvestite,” next to the piano. Tim sat next to the pianist and was the first voice to speak after she finished; he said “Bravo!”
“We had a ball. You really made the difference,” Kenny said at the end of the panel. “I loved being there,” Tim responded.
The panel also included EPs Lou Adler and Gail Berman, and stars Victoria Justice, Christina Milian, Reeve Carney, Annaleigh Ashford, Ryan McCartan, Staz Nair, and Ivy Levan. (P.S., Ivy broke into song on request during the panel and it was killer.)
The new version — which is more of a tribute than a remake — of The Rocky Horror Picture Show airs on Fox on October 20.