Tim Curry, the First Premier Cherdenko in Red Alert 3, Has Died at 80
Credit: Crédit : Double Fine Productions

Tim Curry, the First Premier Cherdenko in Red Alert 3, Has Died at 80

Fabian Fabian Lainé
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In brief

Tim Curry, the legend who dared to take video games seriously when hardly anyone else did, passed away on August 25 at the age of 80. From the 1990s to the late 2000s, he brought unforgettable characters to life, from Premier Cherdenko in Red Alert 3 to Emperor Doviculus in Brütal Legend, leaving his mark on four generations of gamers.

Tim Curry died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80. For gamers, it marks the passing of one of the very first Hollywood actors to take video games seriously, back when the medium hadn't proven anything yet.

His longtime manager, Marcia Hurwitz, confirmed the death: the actor passed away at his home in Toluca Lake (Los Angeles). The cause has not been made public. He had suffered a severe stroke in 2012, leaving him with mobility and memory impairments, and he was still working recently, as an author.

Four Roles, Four Generations of Gamers

It all began in 1993: the title role in Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers (Sierra), in the voiced CD-ROM version, alongside Mark Hamill. Three roles followed that many players encountered without recognizing him: Premier Anatoly Cherdenko in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (EA, 2008), in live-action footage — not Kane, who remains Joseph D. Kucan's character; Emperor Doviculus in Brütal Legend (Double Fine, 2009); Arl Rendon Howe in Dragon Age: Origins (BioWare, 2009).

It was Cherdenko who made him immortal online, with his line about space: « I'm escaping to the one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism: Space! » Red Alert 3 has a full French dub: the scene only circulates here in the original version.

Double Fine gave away Brütal Legend on itch.io for 666 minutes, during the night of August 26 to 27, under the title

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Frequently asked questions

Which video games did Tim Curry leave his mark on?
Four key games: Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers in 1993, Red Alert 3 in 2008, Brütal Legend and Dragon Age: Origins in 2009. Memorable roles that touched several generations of gamers.
Why did Premier Cherdenko become legendary on the Internet?
His surreal line about space, « I'm escaping to the one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism: Space! », became a cult meme. The scene circulates widely in its original English version, while the full French dub of Red Alert 3 remains little known.
How did Double Fine pay tribute to Tim Curry?
The studio made Brütal Legend free on itch.io for exactly 666 minutes during the night of August 26 to 27, under the title « The Tainted Coil shall rule forever! », a direct nod to Curry's character in the game.
Did Tim Curry keep working despite his 2012 stroke?
Yes, although he suffered a severe stroke in 2012 with lasting effects on his mobility and memory, he was still working recently as a writer, showing remarkable determination.

Key takeaways

  • Tim Curry was one of the first major Hollywood actors to treat video games as a legitimate medium, long before it became trendy
  • His role as Premier Cherdenko in Red Alert 3 remains etched in memory, notably for his famous line about space
  • He played four iconic characters between 1993 and 2009: Gabriel Knight, Cherdenko, Doviculus, and Arl Rendon Howe
  • Double Fine paid tribute by making Brütal Legend free on itch.io for 666 minutes right after his death

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