tim curry Having played some of film’s most memorable characters, the actor recently revealed that one role he’s never played still haunts him.

During an appearance on YouTube channel “The Academy,” Curry, 79, reflected on his more than 50-year career and said he was still disappointed that he was never considered as a player. iconic part.

“One of my biggest regrets is that I read the script for ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and I really wanted to play Hannibal Lecter,” Curry said.

“My agent couldn’t get me in the room, but Tony Hopkins did a great job,” he admits.

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Tim Curry admits he wanted to play Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. (Fox Photo Collection via Getty Images)

“silence of the lambsPremiering on Valentine’s Day 1991, the film tells the story of FBI cadet Clarice Starling, who must enlist the help of imprisoned cannibal Hannibal Lecter to catch another serial killer. This psychological horror film stars Anthony Hopkins as Lecter and Jodie Foster as Starlin.

The film grossed over $270 million at the global box office and received five oscar awardIncluding Best Picture, Best Actor for Hopkins and Best Actress for Foster. Hopkins reprized the role in Ridley Scott’s sequel Hannibal (2001) and the prequel film Red Dragon (2002).

Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster both won Academy Awards for their performances in the 1991 film “The Silence of the Lambs.” (Michael Oaks Archives/Getty Images)

Hopkins once gave new meaning to broad beans and delicious Chianti, he tells us type He originally thought “The Silence of the Lambs” was a movie for kids—at least until he read the script.

“In 1989 I was doing a play called M. Butterfly in London,” he recalls. “My agent sent me the script.”

After 10 pages, Hopkins immediately called his agent back to find out if the offer to star in The Silence of the Lambs was real.

“This is the best script I’ve ever read,” Hopkins declared at the time.

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At the 2015 Austin Film Festival, Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme recalled that Sean Connery was his first choice to play Lecter, but the James Bond star turned down the role after reading the script.

“Word quickly came through that he thought it was disgusting and wouldn’t dream of playing the role,” Demme recalled in an interview with Deadline’s Paul Thomas Anderson. “So, great, now we can go to Tony Hopkins.”

Sir Anthony Hopkins attends the red carpet at the closing night of the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on December 11, 2025. (Tim P. Whitby/Red Sea International Film FestivalGetty Images)

Demme explained that he was impressed by Hopkins’ performance as surgeon “Frederick Treves” in the 1980 historical drama The Elephant Man, and he believed Hopkins was perfect for the role.

“I could easily see Anthony making a great Dr. Lecter because he was such a great, good doctor in ‘The Elephant Man,'” Demme said. “He’s as believable a doctor as you can imagine, and he’s great. What if you cast Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Lecter, and he’s not the worst doctor, but he’s a… good doctor gone bad? That was my engine for Anthony Hopkins.”

Although Curry lost the opportunity to play Lecter, the actor went on to create a series of iconic characters. He became a cult icon as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show, followed by memorable roles as the villainous clown Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries It and the butler Wadsworth in Clue.

Curry also impressed as the demon Dark in “Legend,” Rust Hannigan in “Annie,” and Long John Silver in “Muppets Treasure Island.” He is also known for his voiceover work, including playing Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys.

During an appearance on “The Academy,” Curry discussed other roles he was considered for but ultimately didn’t get.

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He noted that he auditioned for the role of the thief Marv in “Home Alone” after being approached by director Chris Columbus, who purchased two of Curry’s studio albums.

“I actually met Chris Columbus, who apparently owns my only two albums and is a fan. No one else bought them,” he joked.

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Tim Curry in 1975’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” (Getty Images)

Although the role of Marv ultimately went to Daniel Stern, Columbus chose Curry to play Plaza Hotel concierge Mr. Hector in the sequel Home Alone: ​​2.

Curry remembers working with a young Macaulay Culkin, who played the title role of Kevin McCallister in both films.

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“Mike used to stay up late watching late-night movies and fall asleep in the makeup chair,” he recalls. “I like him. He’s a really good kid.”

Before Jeremy Irons was cast, Curry was considered to play the villainous lion Scar in the hit 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King.

“That would be great,” Curry said.