Vagabond: A Memoir

In this charming debut autobiography, British actor Curry offers a peek behind the curtain of his prolific screen and stage careers. Born in 1946, Curry moved frequently due to his father’s posting as a Royal Navy Chaplain. The experience forced him to develop “a strong relationship with myself and with the scope and powers of my own imagination.” At boarding school, Curry fell in love with theater, where he learned to “be comfortable playing a range of parts—personally and professionally—and trying to embrace them all, even if they seem discordant or incompatible.” That philosophy guided his stage career, which began in the 1968 London production of Hair (a gig he landed by lying about his professional experience during his audition). He broke out five years later with the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the film adaptation of which became a cult smash and teed Curry up for memorable turns in other movies, including Clue and Stephen King’s It. Curry dedicates much of the account to his love of craft, but he’s never pretentious. Along the way, he weaves in personal reflections on the aftermath of his 2012 stroke and maintains an infectious enthusiasm. Even those unfamiliar with the actor’s work will be delighted. Agent: Jon Michael Darga, Aevitas Creative Management. (Oct.)