Luke Evans opens up about Tim Curry's final days, reveals he was 'struggling a lot'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Luke Evans opened up about Tim Curry, revealing that he felt a connection with the late actor. 'The Rocky Horror Show' star reached out to Curry with a letter just weeks before his death at the age of 80 on August 25.

Evans feels that the veteran actor was “very sick” and “was struggling a lot.” For those unaware, Evans’ portrayal of the famous character Dr Frank-N-Furter on Broadway originated from Curry’s iconic role on stage and in the 1975 film.

Luke Evans says Tim Curry was ‘really in a bad place’ before death

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly on Friday, September 11, Evans opened up about Curry. He spoke about the letter he had sent to the late actor, saying, “He was very appreciative.”

“I think he was very sick when he got the letter; he was struggling a lot,” said the 'Girl on the Train' actor. “He struggled to speak and talk,” the 47-year-old explained. “So I think he was really in a bad place, but what a legacy.”

Evans also shared that he learned about Curry’s heartbreaking health struggles after speaking with the late actor’s publisher following his death.

Evans starred as Dr Frank-N-Furter for five months and felt a personal connection to Curry’s legacy. He even shared on Instagram on August 26 that Curry had “been part of this journey from the very beginning,” a feeling the Wales native embraced “every single night.”

“What was very strange was the day that he did die, the news, of all the incredible things he did, and he did many incredible, iconic roles, it always started with the same person: Frank-N-Furter,” the Tony nominee added. 

“I had just played him, so there was this real deep connection that I had, even though I’d never met the man. It was a strange, beautiful, tragic way to end my New York experience, but I’ll never forget it,” Evans said. 

Tim Curry’s cause of death revealed as coronary artery disease

Curry’s death was caused by coronary artery disease, his spokesperson confirmed to the BBC. The actor had a history of a stroke and kidney cancer, which were significant health conditions he had dealt with over the years.

In 2012, Curry suffered a stroke, after which he began using a wheelchair. However, he did not leave Hollywood. Instead, he shifted his focus to voice acting exclusively. “If there was anything impressed upon me in the aftermath, it was just how remarkable it was that I was still alive,” Curry said, according to PEOPLE.