10 Comedy Actors Who Made Great Horror Movie Characters

Pennywise the Dancing Clown/It is one of cinema's most terrifying villains, a dark cosmic entity that has terrified audiences since their debut in Stephen King's eponymous novel. Although the 1990 adaptation is a two-part miniseries, each part feels like a feature-length films in some respects.

Fortunately, the various adaptations of the novel have been able to capture the relatable existential threat posed by It. As much as Bill Skarsgard's performance in the 2017 and 2019 films was enthralling in its sheer terror, it owes a great deal to the legendary work done by Tim Curry nearly three decades earlier.

Before this, Curry was known for his comedic roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Annie. These roles demonstrated that the actor was adept at balancing various tones and working well in horror, but It blew away even the most optimistic expectations of what Curry could have done with the role.

Despite both parts having less than stellar moments, Curry's gravelly voice effectively punctuates his unnerving lines and frenzied physicality shows how the dangerous clown relishes in murdering innocent children and Curry's commitment to the role is simply legendary.