Time to do the time warp … literally. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was released in 1975; in the intervening 50 years since it debuted, it transformed from a commercial flop into a worldwide phenomenon, with raucous midnight screenings of the film occurring in theaters around the world. Each year, it helps a new generation of fans discover the pleasures of rebellion, individuality, and fishnet stockings.

But while the film’s reputation has grown in a fairly traditional fashion, its stars have taken all different paths in the almost half-century since we first got caught with a flat (well, how ’bout that). Some pursued traditional movie stardom, while others found themselves behind the bar (or selling the perfect vintage armoire). Damn it, Janet, let’s put on our gold bikini bottoms and check in with the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Dr. Frank-N-Furter

Courtesy of the Everett Collection; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

The original stage production of The Rocky Horror Show was Tim Curry’s second-ever full-time acting gig. He originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in London in 1973, and played it in New York and Los Angeles runs of the show as well. Curry leveraged his role in the film into a first Broadway and then big-screen career; Ridley Scott said he cast Curry in his 1985 film Legend based on his performance in Rocky Horror.

Curry played numerous iconic roles, including a smarmy butler in 1985’s Clue, Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 made-for-TV movie IT, and a scheming cardinal in 1993’s The Three Musketeers. He’s also had a music career, releasing several of his own albums in the ’70s and ’80s, and appearing on the cast recording of Broadway plays like Spamalot.

A 2012 stroke limited Curry’s mobility, but he has done voice acting for TV series like Over the Garden Wall and appeared as the Criminologist in a 2016 live performance of Rocky Horror on FOX.

Recently, Curry has been making the rounds in honor of Rocky’s 50th anniversary, which coincided with the release of his memoir, Vagabond. At a 50th anniversary celebration at the Academy Museum, Curry spoke to Rocky Horror‘s staying power and importance to pop culture. “I think the message of the film, ‘Don’t dream it, be it,’ is very important. I think what this movie does is give everyone permission to behave as badly as they really want, in whatever way and with whom.”

>> How Actor Tim Curry is Doing After His 2012 Stroke

Janet Weiss

Unlike the rest of the cast, Susan Sarandon already had a major motion picture role under her belt before Rocky Horror — she’d played a strung-out hippie teen in the 1970 film Joe. But Rocky helped her become a breakout star, quickly vaulting her to high-profile art films like 1978’s controversial Pretty Baby and the sexy 1983 vampire thriller The Hunger.

She moved into mainstream starring roles when she appeared alongside Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Witches of Eastwick and has stayed there ever since, starring in movies from 1991’s Thelma & Louise to the 2023 superhero movie Blue Beetle. She was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar five times and won once, for Dead Man Walking.

Her most recent outings were Netflix’s Nonnas and The Six Triple Eight, in which she played Eleanor Roosevelt.

Brad Majors

20th Century Fox./Courtesy Everett Collection; Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Before Rocky, Barry Bostwick made a mark on Broadway, where in 1972 he originated the role of Danny Zuko in Grease. After Rocky, he returned to Broadway, winning a Tony Award in 1977 for his appearance in the musical The Robber Bridegroom.

Bostwick has had a long TV career, most notably his six-season run from 1996 to 2002 playing the mayor of New York City on Spin City. He had recurring roles on What I Like About You and Cougar Town, and also showed up on Cold Case, Law & Order: SVU, Scandal, New Girl, The Goldbergs and a Rocky Horror-themed episode of Glee. Most recently, he appeared in the sitcom, The Potwins.

Riff Raff

20th Century Fox./Courtesy Everett Collection; Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Richard O’Brien did more the originate the role of hunchbacked butler Riff Raff; he also wrote the original play, The Rocky Horror Show, when he was a stage actor in London in the early ’70s, appearing in shows like Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. He followed Rocky with the 1981 semi-sequel Shock Treatment, which included some of the original film’s actors, like Nell Campbell and Patricia Quinn; it also featured Brad and Janet, though they were played by new actors. The film was not a success.

O’Brien went on to host the U.K. game show The Crystal Maze from 1990 to 1994 and perform in U.K. theater. He appeared in all four original seasons of Phinneas & Ferb as Lawrence, Ferb’s dad and Phinneas’ stepdad, a role he reprised in the 2025 reboot.

Columbia

20th Century Fox./Courtesy Everett Collection; Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage

“Little” Nell Campbell, who played the tap-dancing Columbia, appeared in small roles in several films, including Pink Floyd: The Wall, and had a brief singing career in the U.K. But in the ’80s, she left the stage to go behind the bar and became a New York City restaurateur and bar owner. Her nightclub, Nell’s, became a 1980s New York City institution — so much so that it is mentioned in the book version of American Psycho. Today, she maintains an Instagram account, where she documents her many meetings with Rocky Horror fans around the world.

Magenta

Fox/Courtesy of Everett Collection; Danny E. Martindale/Getty Images

Patricia Quinn didn’t just play villainous housemaid Magenta — hers are also the iconic lips that open the film (though that’s O’Brien’s voice singing “Science Fiction/Double Feature”). In the decades since, she has appeared mostly in British film and TV, including episodes of Dr. Who, though her final role before retiring from acting was in Rob Zombie‘s 2012 film The Lords of Salem.

The most unexpected feature of Quinn’s post-Rocky life? Her 1995 marriage to actor Sir Robert Stephens means her official title is “Patricia Quinn, Lady Stephens.”

20th Century Fox./Courtesy Everett Collection; Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic

Though Rocky Horror‘s cast held a few future stars, Meat Loaf was the first to shoot to the top — just two years after Rocky, he released Bat Out of Hell, which is one of the bestselling albums of all time.

Meat Loaf (who was born Marvin Aday and changed his first name to Michael sometime in the ’80s) released a number of other albums, including the ultra-successful, Grammy-winning 1993 comeback album, Bat Out of Hell II. He also had a memorable turn in 1999’s Fight Club. He died in 2022, at the age of 74.

20th Century Fox. All rights reserved./courtesy Everett Collection

Great Scott! Adams was best known as Dr. Scott, the buttoned-up scientist who taught Brad and Janet in high school, and ends the movie in fishnets and high heels, just like everyone else. But he originated the role of the Narrator in the original London stage version of the show as well. Post-Rocky, Adams appeared in handful of other movies, including the 1990 Dario Argento/George A. Romero film Two Evil Eyes.

In addition to his acting work, Adams had a career as a visual artist and exhibited work up until his death in 2005, at the age of 74.

Peter Hinwood (78)

Oh, Rocky! The award for most unexpected post-Rocky career might go to Peter Hinwood, who played the film’s titular gold-underpants-wearing superstud. Though he had a few small roles after the film, as he told People Magazine in 2000, he never pursued a serious film career because, “One, I can’t act. Two, I cringe with embarrassment every time I see myself on film. Three, I relish a quiet, peaceful life.”

Hinwood instead became an antiques dealer, working alongside famous U.K. antiques dealer and interior designer Christopher Gibbs. He now lives and works in both London and Tangier. Unexpected fun fact: According to a 2023 interview, one of his closest friends is famous shoe designer Manolo Blahnik.

Photo by Mark Sagliocco/FilmMagic

TV host Hilary Farr is best known as the host of HGTV’s Love It or List It. But decades before her reality TV stardom, Farr — then going by the name Hilary Labow — appeared in Rocky Horror briefly, as bride Betty Munroe (of “Oh, it’s nicer than Betty Munroe had” fame), who appears at the start of the film.

Farr ended up with the role because her family lived in the same building as Tim Curry at the time. After a few more years trying her hand at acting, Farr pivoted to interior design.