Tim Curry’s death has been met with outpourings of grief from across the world, and has led fans to claim that one of his projects might have been “cursed”.
The Cheshire-born actor, who was best known for playing the legendary Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and preceding London stage production, died at his Los Angeles home, it was announced on Wednesday.
A cause of death was not confirmed; however, Curry suffered a major stroke in 2012, leaving his left side paralysed.
Yet it was not Rocky Horror, but Curry’s appearance in Home Alone 2: Lost In New York that fans spotted a sad coincidence with following Curry’s death.
The stage and screen star appeared opposite Macauley Culkin in the 1992 sequel as Mr Hector, the concierge for the swanky Plaza Hotel visited by Culkin’s Kevin.
Online, people were quick to point out that Curry was the third member of the film’s cast to die in 2026, following the deaths of fellow actors Brenda Fricker and Catherine O’Hara.
Schitt’s Creek star O’Hara died in January aged 71, having played Kevin’s mother Kate throughout the franchise.
Then, in July, Irish actress Fricker died aged 81. While her most prestigious role came in 1989’s My Left Foot – and earned her an Oscar in the process – Fricker iconically played a homeless woman known as the Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2.
“That Home Alone 2 rewatch at Christmas is REALLY gonna hit huh,” one viral post on X read, showing pictures of O’Hara, Curry and Fricker in the film.
Another said: “They’re calling it ‘The Curse of Home Alone 2’. 2026 has taken Brenda Fricker, Catherine O’Hara, and now Tim Curry. The rest of the people who appeared in that movie BEWARE.”
In his death, the actor was remembered by his Home Alone 2 co-star Rob Schneider, who shared a lengthy message to Instagram about the “great and wonderful” actor.
“I have never known another actor who could say more with a knowing grin or a raised eyebrow than the splendid Tim Curry,” Schneider wrote, as he recalled watching Curry film seven “completely different” but “fantastic” takes of a scene on the movie.
“I asked him about it, and he gave me a great gift. Tim said, ‘I want to give the director different choices! It’s not my job to decide which one. It’s up to him!’” Schneider wrote.
“Right then and there, it changed everything for me! Tim was kind and generous to be in a scene with. I was thrilled to be in the same frame as him.”
