Tim Curry’s “Wild Thornberrys” Co-Stars Lacey Chabert, Flea and Danielle Harris Recall His “Uncanny Humor” After His Death

Tim Curry’s co-stars from Nickelodeon’s animated series “The Wild Thornberrys” remembered him this week after his death, with cast members including Lacey Chabert, Flea and Danielle Harris reflecting on Curry’s role as the show’s on-screen patriarch, Nigel Thornberry. Curry, who voiced Nigel, died on Wednesday at age 80, according to Deadline.

The tributes come as “The Wild Thornberrys” continues to resonate with families that grew up with the series’ mix of family comedy and wildlife adventures. Nickelodeon’s show ran for five seasons from 1998 to 2004, featuring a main voice cast built around Nigel Thornberry and the family’s extended network of friends and collaborators.

Chabert, Flea and Harris were among the performers Deadline highlighted in connection with the animated series. Deadline described their recollections of Curry’s approach to the character, characterizing him as having “uncanny humor” and “naughty wit,” elements the actors said informed the way Nigel Thornberry came through in the show’s dialogue.

For viewers, Nigel Thornberry has long been tied to a distinctive comedic cadence, and Curry’s performance gave the character a grounded, patriarchal presence that could shift quickly into punchlines and exaggerations. In the tributes, the co-stars pointed to how Curry brought energy and timing to the role, helping Nigel stand out even within a cast that included characters devoted to fieldwork, travel and conservation-minded themes.

While the on-screen storyline placed Nigel in the center of family dynamics, the series itself relied on the voice ensemble to carry its broad emotional range, including scenes meant for younger audiences and moments designed to land with adult viewers. Deadline’s account of the co-stars’ memories suggests Curry’s work anchored that balance, delivering character-driven comedy in a way that stayed consistent across episodes.

The death of a lead voice performer can also echo beyond the original run when a series continues through repeats, streaming availability and ongoing fan engagement. “The Wild Thornberrys,” which aired in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has remained part of Nickelodeon’s identity as a family animation property, and tributes like those from Chabert, Flea and Harris reflect how long the character has persisted in popular memory.

Curry’s passing, and the cast’s immediate remarks, are likely to renew attention on the show’s original production and its voice cast, including how animated series rely on performers to create continuity when characters remain off-camera. Deadline’s coverage framed the tributes as a shared response to the loss of a performer who helped define the series’ central family figure.

As the entertainment industry continues to respond to Curry’s death, additional public statements from other members of the “Wild Thornberrys” cast and production community may follow. For now, Deadline’s report centers on the co-stars’ recollections of Curry’s humor and the imprint his portrayal left on the series that ran from 1998 to 2004.