Tim Curry Leaves Behind 'Smashing' Legacy in Family-Friendly Nickelodeon

Tim Curry, known for his distinctive voice and iconic roles in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' 'Clue,' and 'It,' left an enduring legacy in family-friendly Nickelodeon shows like The Wild Thornberrys. Audiences who grew up watching the British actor on Nickelodeon may also remember him as Nigel Thornberry, a lovable and eccentric aristocrat-turned-wildlife documentarian for 90 episodes of the show.

Curry brought Nigel to life with his signature catchphrase 'Smashing!' which became an iconic part of the character. In an interview, Curry explained that he initially tried using a version of the voice he'd given Romanian philanthropist Herkermer Homolka in the adventure movie 'Congo,' but it didn't fit Nigel's look.

The final result was the 'braying sound' of the British accent that has been with us for decades. For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Nigel's Catchphrase and Character Development

Curry also voiced Col. Radcliffe Thornberry, Nigel's father, in a few episodes of the series. In 2002, he brought Nigel to the big screen in 'The Wild Thornberrys Movie.' He reprised the role the following year in 'Rugrats Go Wild,' a crossover movie that brought the Thornberrys together with the babies from 'Rugrats.'

The Wild Thornberrys was just one of Tim Curry's many voice roles. He also voiced multiple characters in 1990s cartoons, including 'The Pirates of Dark Water,' 'The Legend of Prince Valiant,' and 'Captain Planet and the Planeteers.' One of his notable early performances was the villainous Hexxus in 'FernGully: The Last Rainforest.

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In a 2002 interview with UGO, later uploaded to Curry's official Facebook page, Curry shared he initially tried using a version of the voice he'd given Romanian philanthropist Herkermer Homolka in the adventure movie "Congo," but it didn't fit Nigel's look.

The Making of The Wild Thornberrys

"He looked like one of those bomber pilots from WWII," Curry said, adding that the "braying sound" of that sort of accent was "the sound of the [British] Empire and it's still with us."

Beloved actor Tim Curry, who passed away on August 25, 2026 , leaves behind an impressive body of work that includes iconic roles in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Clue," and the "It" miniseries. Audiences who grew up watching Nickelodeon in the late '90s and '00s might also remember Curry for perhaps his most "smashing" role: Nigel Thornberry in "The Wild Thornberrys." Curry voiced the eccentric, enthusiastic aristocrat-turned-wildlife documentarian for 90 episodes of the show, which premiered in 1998 and ran for five seasons before ending in 2004.

"The Wild Thornberrys" followed Nigel's daughter, Eliza (Lacey Chabert), a nature-loving 12-year-old with the ability to talk to animals, though she'll lose the power if she tells anyone. As the Thornberry family travels the world, Eliza often finds herself caught up in animal adventures while Nigel remains good-natured and a little oblivious.

"Nigel never really grew up," Curry stated of the character in a Nicktoons video promoting the show.