As “The Rocky Horror Picture” show celebrated its 50th anniversary this weekend, the film’s star Tim Curry gave a rare health update.
Speaking at a special screening for the horror-musical’s at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, Curry spoke about the stroke he suffered back in 2012.
“I was having a massage at the time and I didn’t even actually notice anything, but the guy who was doing the massage said, ‘I’m worried about you, I want to call an ambulance.’ And he did, and I said, ‘That’s so silly,’” Curry said, per The Hollywood Reporter.
“I still can’t walk, which is why I’m in this silly chair, and that’s very limiting,” he said, referring to his wheelchair. So I won’t be singing and I won’t be dancing very soon. I still have real problems with my left leg.”
Curry received a standing ovation when he entered the screening, where he was joined by Barry Bostwick (who played Brad Majors), Patricia Quinn (Magenta), Nell Campbell (Columbia) and producer Lou Adler.
It was a sold-out crowd, many of whom were in costume and holding onto prop kits to tie in with the camp classic’s long-running audience participation jokes.
“I’m so excited by this and very honored by the Academy to do this presentation of our movie, which has dragged on for 50 years,” Curry, who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
Speaking to the film’s legacy, especially with LGBTQ fans, Curry said it “means a lot because I think the message of the film — don’t dream it, be it — is very important. One of the things that the movie does, I think, is give anyone permission to behave as badly as they really want, in whatever way and with whom. And I’m proud of that.”
Despite the stroke, Cury has continued to work and recently wrote a memoir, “Vagabond,” available October 7.