Vagabond
A Memoir
-
-
4.7 • 26 Ratings
-
-
- $16.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER
The memoir of the legendary Tim Curry, star of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, and more, imparting the full range of the “escapades, illusions, and contractions I've collected recklessly over the course of my vagabond days.”
There are few stars in Hollywood that could boast the kind of resume Tony award-nominated actor Tim Curry had built over the past five decades. From his breakout role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show to his iconic depiction as the sadistic clown Pennywise in It to his critically acclaimed role as the original King Arthur in both the Broadway and West End versions of Spamalot, Curry redefined what it meant to be a “character actor,” portraying heroes and villains alike with complexity, nuance, and a genuine understanding of human darkness.
Now, in his insta-classic, bestselling memoir Vagabond, Curry takes readers behind-the-scenes of his rise to fame from his early beginnings as a military brat to his formative years in boarding school and university, to the moment when he hit the stage for the first time. He goes in-depth about what it was like to work on some of the most emblematic works of the 20th century, constantly switching between a camera and a live audience. He also explores the voicework that defined his later career and provided him with a chance to pivot after surviving a catastrophic stroke in 2012 that nearly took his life.
Tim Curry died on August 26th, 2026, leaving behind a singular body of work that resonated with and gave solace to multiple generations of outsiders and underdogs, reminding all of the essential necessity: “Don't dream it, be it.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this charming debut autobiography, British actor Curry offers a peek behind the curtain of his prolific screen and stage careers. Born in 1946, Curry moved frequently due to his father's posting as a Royal Navy Chaplain. The experience forced him to develop "a strong relationship with myself and with the scope and powers of my own imagination." At boarding school, Curry fell in love with theater, where he learned to "be comfortable playing a range of parts—personally and professionally—and trying to embrace them all, even if they seem discordant or incompatible." That philosophy guided his stage career, which began in the 1968 London production of Hair (a gig he landed by lying about his professional experience during his audition). He broke out five years later with the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the film adaptation of which became a cult smash and teed Curry up for memorable turns in other movies, including Clue and Stephen King's It. Curry dedicates much of the account to his love of craft, but he's never pretentious. Along the way, he weaves in personal reflections on the aftermath of his 2012 stroke and maintains an infectious enthusiasm. Even those unfamiliar with the actor's work will be delighted.
Customer Reviews
Still mysterious.
You learn quite about him, but mainly his love life is none of our business. i am glad he has said he has loved & been loved, that just makes me happy . I like the fact is is willing to write another book.
Must read
Fantastic and emotional. Loved every page.