Home Alone 2: Lost in New York delivered another brilliant rival for Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) (Picture: Twentieth Century Fox)
At this time of year, film fans are keen to celebrate all things Christmas with their favourite festive movies, which often includes the likes of Home Alone and its sequel, starring Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister.
The most self-sufficient eight-year-old in cinema’s adventures were continued in 1992’s Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, after the breakout success of the 1990 original.
However, there’s a devastating twist in the real-life tale of one of the sequel’s most enduring characters.
Home Alone 2 includes many famous faces, bringing back the world’s most forgetful mother in Catherine O’Hara, as well as Kevin’s burglar enemies Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern).
The most memorable addition to the cast though came in the form of Tim Curry’s hotel concierge, Mr Hector, a professional rival of sorts for Kevin as he spends the whole film trying to hunt him down at New York’s plush Plaza Hotel.
His suspicious and superior behaviour makes him the perfect foil for the streetwise Kevin – and it was even a sequence with Mr Hector and his hotel colleagues, tricked into believing they were dealing with a gun-toting gangster, that resulted in the now iconic quote: ‘Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.’
Tim Curry starred as the suspicious concierge of the Plaza Hotel, Mr Hector (Picture: Twentieth Century Fox)
He and his colleagues were well and truly bested by Kevin in a memorable scene (Picture: Andy Schwartz/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)
British actor Curry, now 77, was an iconic antagonist in Home Alone 2 but had already been an established star ahead of the movie thanks to his performance as Pennywise the clown in the 1990 TV series It, as well as ‘sweet transvestite’ Dr Frank-N-Furter in 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
He had also popped up in the likes of Legend and Annie, and would go on to appear in Charlie’s Angels, Muppet Treasure Island and Will & Grace.
However, in 2012 Emmy winner Curry had a near-death ordeal when he suffered a stroke that left him in a wheelchair, having lost the mobility in his legs, and requiring physical and speech therapy.
An established actor of stage and screen already, Curry’s most famous role is that of Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a role he first played in the theatre (Picture: Everett/Rex/Shutterstock)
His other movies include Muppet Treasure Island (Picture: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock)
His stroke wasn’t public knowledge for almost a year, with his rep confirming to The Hollywood Reporter in May 2013 that it had happened the previous summer.
‘Tim had a stroke last July,’ she told the publication at the time. ‘He has been going to physical therapy doing very well and still has his great sense of humour. He thanks everyone for sending good wishes.’
Although he retreated from the spotlight following his stroke, Curry, who already had a distinguished voice acting career, was able to continue working sporadically.
Having already leant his tones to SpongeBob SquarePants videogames, Barbie animated movies and Mighty Ducks cartoons, as well as leading the cast of Nickelodeon’s The Wild Thornberrys as Nigel Thornberry, Curry did voice work for Star Wars: The Clone Wars from 2012 until 2014 as well as a couple of smaller gigs.
Curry’s stroke in 2012 left him in a wheelchair, but he retained his trademark humour in subsequent public appearances (Picture: Allen Berezovsky/WireImage)
He even returned to Rocky Horror to voice the character of the Criminologist, who served as the narrator of the two-hour remake special that aired on US TV in 2016, attending the premiere in a suave all-black outfit.
The previous year, in 2015, he had also made a rare first public appearance since his ordeal at the Tony Awards Viewing Party, where he was honoured with the special Actors Fund Lifetime Achievement Award.
He also returned to Rocky Horror in 2016, this time to narrate (Picture: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
Speaking to press at the time, he revealed he was ‘doing well’, and – showed he had lost none of his sense of humour – said: ‘I’ve done a few benefits for the Actors Fund and it’s a marvellous organisation. I hope never to have to use it.’
Curry also addressed the issue of his stroke, admitting his humour had helped him with his recovery.
‘It is not tough to maintain,’ he explained. ‘It is just part of my DNA.’
The star still attends fan conventions (Picture: Getty)
He played along with fans in December 2021 for a fun photo op (Picture: Getty)
Since then, the popular Curry has made occasional appearances at conventions to meet and greet with fans who hold him in high esteem thanks to his varied back catalogue of work.
This included the 2021 Emerald City Comic Con where he was available to sign items and for photo opportunities, with a lovely picture of him blowing a kiss to two fans emerging afterwards.
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The actor behind one of the film’s most enduring characters has had a tough time in recent years.