Tim Curry, the celebrated British actor whose unmistakable performances stretched across film, television and theatre for five decades, has reportedly died at the age of 80.

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The actor died at his home in Los Angeles late on Tuesday night (25/08), according to TMZ, which cited sources close to the situation.

Law enforcement sources told the outlet that police responded to Curry’s home at 11:23PM on Tuesday and that no foul play is suspected.

A cause of death was not immediately given.

Curry had experienced significant health problems during the later years of his life, having suffered a major stroke in 2012.

The stroke left him unable to walk and reportedly paralysed him on one side of his body, while also affecting his speech. He required brain surgery following the medical emergency.

Last year, around the release of his memoir Vagabond, Curry said that he was still unable to walk.

But his health struggles came after an extraordinary career which saw the Cheshire-born performer become one of the most recognisable character actors of his generation.

For countless fans, Curry will forever be associated with Dr Frank-N-Furter.

His performance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show became the defining role of his career and helped cement his place in popular culture.

The film did not immediately receive the level of acclaim its subsequent reputation might suggest. Instead, it developed a remarkable second life through the midnight movie circuit and eventually grew into a cult phenomenon.

It was far from Curry’s only memorable appearance.

He also terrified audiences as Pennywise in the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s It, years before Bill Skarsgård took on the role in the later film adaptation.

Another generation will remember him as Mr Hector in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Curry’s extensive screen credits also included Annie, Clue, The Hunt for Red October, Muppet Treasure Island, Addams Family Reunion and Scary Movie 2.

His work was by no means restricted to the screen.

Curry remained a prominent theatre performer throughout his career and received three Tony Award nominations. The supplied reports also credit him with two Olivier Award nominations, a Grammy Award nomination and Emmy recognition.

Born Timothy James Curry in Cheshire in 1946, he was the younger of two children.

His mother, Patricia, worked as a school secretary, while his father, James, was a Methodist chaplain in the Royal Navy.

Curry also had an older sister, Judith, who became a concert pianist and died in 2001.

He spent part of his childhood in Plymouth, with his early years marked by the death of his father from pneumonia.

From those beginnings, Curry went on to build a body of work that crossed genres and mediums with remarkable regularity.

While many actors spend their careers trying to escape one defining character, Curry accumulated several.

Dr Frank-N-Furter, Pennywise and Mr Hector could hardly be further apart, yet all became performances for which audiences continued to recognise him decades later.

His ability to inhabit larger-than-life and frequently villainous characters became a hallmark of his work, whether he was appearing on stage, in a cult musical, a horror adaptation or a family comedy.

Even after his 2012 stroke significantly affected his mobility, Curry would still make many appearances in interviews and specials to talk about his celebrated career.

Our thoughts go out to Curry’s family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured image credit: Instagram/TimCurry/YouTube/20th Century Studios (screenshots)