Tim Curry Shares His Dislike for Pennywise: ‘I Loathed It’

Tim Curry may have delivered one of the most unforgettable performances of his career as Pennywise, but the actor never shared the same affection for the character that fans did.

In his memoir, Vagabond, Curry, who portrayed the chilling clown in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It, revealed that he still “loathes” Pennywise, though his feelings are more nuanced than some stories about the production suggest.

For years, a popular tale about Curry’s experience on It claimed that the clown makeup was so unsettling that he couldn’t bear to look at himself in a mirror. Curry addressed this directly in his memoir, clarifying that the reality was somewhat less dramatic.

While he didn’t enjoy seeing himself as Pennywise, he noted that the story had been exaggerated over time.

“Not quite to the extent that I literally couldn’t look at myself in the mirror, as has often been reported, but I certainly didn’t delight in my reflection.”

Curry expressed that he had mixed emotions when he was first offered the role of the killer clown. There was something about the character that made him uneasy, yet he was intrigued enough to accept the part.

Ultimately, the role became one of the defining performances of his career.

He also aimed to dispel another misconception. His silence regarding Pennywise over the years led some fans to believe he regretted taking the role. According to Curry, that was never the case.

He respected King’s story and felt the television adaptation was a strong piece of work, but he did not consider Pennywise one of his most personally rewarding roles.

“I haven’t had much to say about it publicly for many years, which many people misread as my carrying some sort of deep conflict about the role. That’s really not the case, but I didn’t revel in the role, either.”

He added, “I have great respect for Stephen King and think it’s a strong adaptation, but it wasn’t exactly a Stoppard experience. Nor did I expect it to be.”

Interestingly, Curry’s biggest challenges with Pennywise may have arisen after filming wrapped.

In his memoir, he recounted some of the peculiar conversations he has had with fans over the years. Those who approached him about the role generally fell into two categories: some loved Pennywise’s sinister nature, while others wanted to express how much the character had terrified them.

Some fans even told him that his performance had kept them awake at night or left them traumatized as children.

Curry understood why the character could have such an effect, especially given how frightening Pennywise was designed to be. However, he admitted he never quite knew how to respond when someone told him he had ruined their childhood.

“The majority of people who want to talk to me about being Pennywise are either notably odd people, who sort of revel in his evilness, or else they want me to know that I’ve really traumatized them, or made it impossible to sleep, or something of that variety.”

He continued, “But I’ve never really known how to respond to that. It’s not the most charming conversation starter, and invariably leads to a less-than-delightful discussion to navigate.”

Despite Curry’s complex feelings toward the character, his portrayal of Pennywise remains one of the most iconic horror performances of its time. Decades later, even after Bill Skarsgård took on the role in the modern It films, Curry’s version continues to haunt the memories of fans who first encountered the terrifying clown in 1990.

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