A Modern Man Of Many Faces (Happy Birthday Tim Curry!)

The sign of a truly great actor is his ability to BECOME the character. Slide into it as the actor or actress disappears and the character becomes real.
Few actors have achieved the kind of disappearing acts of a true actor that the great Tim Curry has.
He rose to fame as the transvestite mad scientist Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 cult classic "Rock Horror Picture Show."
Aside from theater roles like "Hair," he also starred in supporting roles in the film "Annie." My sister was a massive fan of that film and I used to watch it often when I was a kid. Many a great performer appeared in that film, and Mr. Curry held his own with legendary talent. Of course, he would become legendary himself in the years to come.
He would have a hellish time portraying Darkness in the 1985 film "Legend." This is perhaps the ultimate 'disappear into the character' role as he was simply unrecognizable in the extreme make-up. The film is still a curious fantasy that many fans of the fantastical (including myself) gravitate towards. The '80's fantasy films are quite the treat.
That same year the release of "Clue" would bring the board game to life and would stand the test of time as a most entertaining murder mystery. His role as the butler Wadsworth is absolutely delightful. I had a special love for the board game and have fond memories of it as well as the film. He will always be a small part of my childhood for that role.
He would appear in plenty of hits as his career moved into The '90's, including a role in the juggernaut hit franchise "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York."
But it would be his role as Pennywise in the Stephen King adaptation of "It" that would cement his standing as one of the most exciting and fascinating actors of his generation. He portrayal of the killer clown would terrify a whole generation of horror fans and even with a modern day adaptation his performance is still remembered. And always will be.
Not since the legendary Lon Chaney Sr. has there been a type of actor that brings that type of immersion into a character. He truly is a special talent.
He was born on April 19th 1946 and though he hasn't been in the best shape these years, it's just so wonderful to say we still have him around. Happy birthday Tim Curry!