[Bandit LOAF]

Tragic news to report today: veteran Wing Commander actor Tim Curry has passed away at age 80. Curry is known around the world for his endless acting credits, which included everything from Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show to the crazed Russian leader famously ranting about space in Command and Conquer 3. But Wing Commander fans know him best as Prince Thrakhath's chee’dyachee Melek, the alternatively groveling-and-scheming alien vizier who steals the show in the game's various cuts to the Kilrathi (he also recorded many of the generic Kilrathi taunts). You can read a more complete obituary at The Hollywood Reporter.





In addition to his seemingly endless and endlessly significant filmography, Tim Curry is also remembered for being a solid human being. Social media today is full of endless stories of his casual kindness to fans and others that he encountered. For such a life, even 80 years is not enough. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.

Wing Commander's Mark Hamill had an interesting connection with Curry throughout this career: they often worked on the same projects but never at the same time. Hamilly succeeded Curry as the star of Amadeus on Broadway during its original run and they appeared in both Gabriel Knight and Wing Commander III together in the 90s... but they never worked together! (Since Curry voiced Melek, he recorded his lines after the fact rather than on set with the physical puppet.) Asked about this at the time, Hamill said:

“People ask me what is was like working with Tim Curry but I don’t know, because I never met him when we did the project. I’d met him before but when we recorded Gabriel Knight I was in the studio on my own. Just me and the director, in Wing 3 you’re actually on the set and doing scenes with real, live actors.

Tim Curry was not available to perform Melek in Wing Commander IV and was replaced by Barry Dennen who passed away in 2017.

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Original update published on August 26, 2026

 

[Mekt-Hakkikt]

Sad news. I had totally forgotten about his Melek role (though not his C&C role).

 

[Quarto]

Indeed. There was something very unique about Tim Curry. He was, of course, typecast for ages into "weirdo" roles, but whatever he was acting in, whether it was a video game, a b-movie, or some minor role in a more prominent film (e.g. Home Alone 2), he always seemed to act to the hilt, with relish.

Personally, I will remember him best not from WC3 (where he didn't get that much speaking time), nor from C&C (which I never played much), but from the very short-lived TV show Earth Two (does anyone even remember that?). I rewatched this show a couple of years back, and for all of its flaws, I think it deserved a second season, not in the least because of Tim Curry.

 

[Bandit LOAF]

I saw someone describe him as a person that didn't take themselves seriously but that did take their job very seriously. Seems like a good way to live to me!

(I do remember Earth 2! They ran it after seaQuest here and I loved that block of programming.)

 

[kingmakeress]

RIP

 

[Scribbler]

another one of the greats... I would have loved to meet him, but since his stroke, the dream was over. because such a journey to Germany would have been unthinkable. he was so stunning in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. and every other role he filled with so much life. the Cluedo movie, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. it made me so sad that his wonderful smile was gone... and immense respect. 80... he had so much strength. I had completely forgotten that he also did so much voice acting work, which we in Germany didn’t really get to experience. I still remember, as a kid I had a PC game about Frankenstein, where he played Dr. Frankenstein in the video sequences. rest in peace and goodspeed Mr. Curry and thank you for everything. you will not be forgotten....

 

[wcnut]

First Dolly now this... Tim youll be missed. The best Long John Silver

 

[FredDude32]

In my mind he made a memorable role (three of them actually) in a Tales from the Crypt episode "Death of some salesmen".