Rocky Horror star Tim Curry's cause of death revealed as coronary artery disease

British actor Tim Curry died of coronary artery disease, his spokesman has confirmed to the BBC.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star died in his Los Angeles home on 25 August, aged 80.

In addition to the heart condition, Curry had a history of stroke and kidney cancer, which were significant conditions that contributed to his death, his spokesman said, citing a death certificate filed in Los Angeles County.

Stars of stage and screen paid tribute to the actor, who shot to fame as the lingerie-clad Dr Frank-N-Furter in the cult 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

After having a near-fatal stroke in 2012, Curry used a wheelchair. He shifted his focus to voice acting exclusively, expressing gratitude that the stroke resulted in paralysis rather than taking away his ability to speak.

He continued to appear at film conventions and published his memoir, Vagabond, last year in which he opened up about the medical incident and his prolonged recovery.

"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 , external magazine.

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In a tribute last week, Michael McKean, Curry's co-star in the 1985 comedy whodunit Clue, said that the ailing actor had been in a "grim physical state".

"Even wheelchair bound, he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans," wrote his Rocky Horror co-star Susan Sarandon, who described Curry as a "funny, sexy, original".

Born in the north-western English town of Warrington in 1946, Curry landed his first acting job after university, appearing in the 1968 London production of the rock musical Hair.

His castmate Richard O'Brien asked him to audition for his new musical, The Rocky Horror Show, the iconic 1973 role in which Curry uttered the line "don't dream it, be it".

His on-screen roles include playing the sadistic clown Pennywise in the 1990 TV version of Stephen King's It, King Arthur in the stage production of Spamalot, Rooster in the 1982 musical film Annie and appearances in Home Alone 2, The Hunt For Red October and Scary Movie 2.

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