Tim Curry, the iconic actor known for his unforgettable roles, has passed away at the age of 80. Throughout his illustrious career, Curry graced audiences with a variety of eccentric characters, most notably in the timeless classics “Clue” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” In the latter part of his career, Curry shifted gears towards voice acting, lending his voice to animated villains like the sinister Hexxus in “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.” Known for his ability to embody villainous roles, he also made a remarkable impact as G. Gordon Godfrey in the animated series “Young Justice.”
Curry’s silky, articulate voice captivated audiences as he portrayed the manipulative Godfrey, a news anchor with a pronounced skepticism of extraterrestrials who habitually faults the Justice League for Earth’s calamities. As the series unfolds, viewers uncover Godfrey’s allegiance to the malevolent Darkseid, voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley. For fans familiar with comic books, this is not unexpected, as Godfrey draws inspiration from Jack Kirby’s character, Glorious Godfrey—a propagandist in the comics who seeks to sway public opinion against superheroes.
In “Young Justice,” Curry’s voice brought G. Gordon Godfrey to life during the second season, before James Arnold Taylor took over in the third due to Curry’s health challenges following a stroke. Both actors infused Godfrey with a chilling presence. Unlike many grandiose supervillains, Godfrey’s manipulation through media strikes a disturbingly relevant chord in today’s world.
MORE STORY: Melissa Joan Hart Shares Updates on Ongoing Earnings from Iconic ’80s Film
Tim Curry almost played another iconic DC villain
Fox Kids
Although Tim Curry’s portrayal of G. Gordon Godfrey might not be among his most famous performances, it stands as a testament to his exceptional talent. Godfrey’s character didn’t dominate the spotlight on “Young Justice,” yet Curry’s portrayal skillfully conveyed an undercurrent of anger that was palpable with every appearance. His innate charisma rendered Godfrey’s views seductively convincing, illustrating how ordinary individuals could be swayed by such rhetoric.
Tim Curry nearly took on an even bigger role within the DC Universe as the original voice of the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series,” before being replaced by Mark Hamill. Clips featuring Curry as the Joker can be found in the documentary “Stay Tooned! Presents — Batman: The Animated Series”. His rendition of the Joker might have been too compelling, proof of Curry’s unparalleled ability to breathe life into any villainous role.
Producer Eric Radmoski said in the documentary, “Tim came with a natural theatrical sort of presence with his delivery, which was something we definitely wanted. We didn’t want the Joker to be a bumbling, goofy, idiot.” It sounds like he may have been a little too scary for a children’s cartoon, as Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy explained, “Tim Curry was crazy scary. And Mark [Hamill] was crazy funny and scary.” Maybe it’s for the best Curry missed out on Joker. Between him and Pennywise, it would be weird if he had played two psychotic evil clowns.