Why is Tim Curry in a wheelchair? The Rocky Horror Picture Show star opens up about health struggles

Tim Curry, the Rocky Horror Picture Show star, recently appeared at the film's 50th anniversary party in Los Angeles, where he spoke about his health struggles and 2012 stroke, which left him confined to a wheelchair.

The event, held on September 26, 2025, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, also featured Tim's co-stars Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn, and Nell Campbell along with the film's producer, Lou Adler.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tim, who received a standing ovation as he took the stage, explained that he suffered a stroke in 2012 while receiving a massage.

"I was having a massage at the time and I didn’t even actually notice anything," he said.

However, his massage therapist insisted on calling the ambulance.

"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 added that he still can't walk because of the stroke, which is why he was seated in a wheelchair.

"I still can’t walk, which is why I’m in this silly chair, and that’s very limiting. So I won’t be singing and I won’t be dancing very soon. I still have real problems with my left leg. It’s awfully late, isn’t it? Why don’t we show the pic?" he added.

"I probably owe my life to the fact that he ignored me": Tim Curry on his massage therapist's quick actions

Finally arrived today ❤️
Tim Curry's memoir- Vagabond, can't wait to read it 😍❤️❤️#timcurry #dontdreamitbeit pic.twitter.com/6jym8gEY1p

— Elizabeth Evans (@_lizzie_bizzy_) October 14, 2025

Tim Curry shared more details about the stroke in his new memoir, Vagabond. Reflecting on the quick actions of his massage therapist, Curry said:

"I probably owe my life to the fact that he ignored me, went with his instinct and called an ambulance."

Curry was rushed to a nearby hospital and "still didn't know what was going on and what else was going to happen, which was very frightening."

He wrote that he underwent an emergency craniectomy, and that his brain was "inflamed enough, or filled with enough blood" that bone from his skull had to be removed and implanted into his abdomen to keep his brain working.

"Thankfully the operation was successful (which was by no means guaranteed)," he added.

After the surgery, he was informed that he had suffered a serious stroke and two blood clots had been removed from his brain.

It was a right-sided paralytic stroke, which caused paralysis on the left side of his body.

He further wrote that he had to wear a "protective helmet" as his brain was "exposed to the elements."

"It really wasn't my best look but at least there wasn't an abundance of people looking at or judging me. If there was anything impressed on me in the aftermath, it was just how remarkable it was that I was still alive. All I can truly remember thinking is 'But I didn’t feel anything…'"

Tim added that he could comprehend words after regaining consciousness, "but they did not register or settle without effort."

"Life was exceedingly dull, monotonous, and uncertain for a long while. I was aware of where I was, but it took me a while to fully accept what had happened, as I imagine is the case with many people getting over a stroke and brain surgery. My skull had been smashed in to save my life. That’s plenty to process. I needed the rest and slept a lot."

After spending months at the hospital he was transferred to a rehabilitation center "where the real exercises began: to retrieve my ability to speak clearly, to work on smiling and facial expressions, and to try using my hand and adapting to my new normal."

Tim Curry's memoir, Vagabond, is out now.