BuzzFeed Publishes 1 Crossword Honoring Tim Curry After Recent Death

Q: What other pop culture icons passed away during the same tragic week that inspired BuzzFeed's poignant crossword tribute to Tim Curry?

The other major pop-culture figures reported to have died in that same week included Dolly Parton and Peter Cullen, alongside several other notable names across entertainment. Coverage tied to BuzzFeed’s tribute does not specify exactly which losses creator Manda Webber had in mind when she wrote that “last week we lost more pop culture icons than I’d like to really think about.” But contemporaneous reporting shows that the week also brought news of the deaths of country music legend Dolly Parton, 80, and Peter Cullen, 85, the longtime voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore. Other notable deaths announced that week included singer and TV personality Jaye P. Morgan, former “American Gladiators” star Debbie “Storm” Clark, stunt performer James Lew, actor Samuel Monroe Jr., and artist Yayoi Kusama, whose death was also announced during that period. So, while BuzzFeed did not name them directly, the clearest widely reported fellow “pop culture icons” from that tragic week were Dolly Parton and Peter Cullen.

Q: Beyond his legendary cult classics, which of Tim Curry's surprisingly diverse roles were hidden within the heartfelt BuzzFeed crossword puzzle?

Beyond *Clue* and *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, the tribute crossword appears to have nodded to several of Tim Curry’s best-known, unexpectedly wide-ranging roles across horror, family films, and animation. Based on the accompanying coverage of the BuzzFeed puzzle and the roles repeatedly highlighted in reporting tied to the tribute, the likely hidden references included Pennywise from the 1990 *It* miniseries, Rooster in *Annie*, Mr. Hector in *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*, Long John Silver in *Muppet Treasure Island*, and Nigel Thornberry in *The Wild Thornberrys*. Those parts underline why Curry was such a fitting subject for a pop-culture crossword. He was not only the face of two major cult classics, but also a performer who moved easily between terrifying villains, musical comedy, broad live-action farce, family adventure, and beloved voice work. In other words, the puzzle’s tribute seems to have embedded the breadth of his career, not just its most famous cornerstones. Some broader coverage of Curry’s legacy also points to other memorable roles that could plausibly have been referenced, including appearances in *Charlie’s Angels*, *Will & Grace*, and even *Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3*. But the clearest roles tied to the BuzzFeed tribute materials are the ones most often cited alongside *Clue* and *Rocky Horror*: Pennywise, Rooster, Mr. Hector, Long John Silver, and Nigel Thornberry.

1 articles · Updated · BuzzFeed · Sep 2

A new BuzzFeed Pop Culture Crossword was published to honor Tim Curry following his recent passing, with the creator calling it a tribute to his pop-culture legacy.
The puzzle follows another themed crossword released Monday and was framed as a response to losing several pop-culture icons last week.
Tim Curry's work in "Clue" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was singled out in the post, underscoring the roles driving the tribute.
BuzzFeed said its Pop Culture Crosswords run 3 days a week—Monday, Wednesday and Friday—placing the Curry tribute within an ongoing series.