Letter Remembers Tim Curry's Role in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

A letter published in the Guardian pays tribute to actor Tim Curry by highlighting a role that, for a younger generation of fans, may be even more memorable than his famous turn in The Rocky Horror Show.

The letter recalls Curry's performance as Anatoly Cherdenko, the fictional Soviet premier, in the 2008 real-time strategy video game Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, a title known for its cold war-inspired alternate history setting and deliberately absurd tone.

According to the letter, Curry's performance was marked by a gleeful, theatrical energy reminiscent of the comedic style of 'Allo 'Allo!, with the actor reportedly struggling at times to contain his own laughter during recording sessions.

The letter singles out one particular line — Cherdenko's declaration that he is "escaping to the one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism... SPACE!" — as an example of the character's bombastic, pantomime-like flair.

Far from detracting from the performance, the letter argues that Curry's evident enjoyment of the role only enhanced it, turning moments that might otherwise be seen as corpsing into a shared joke that drew players into the game's over-the-top tone.

The tribute reflects the breadth of Curry's career, which spanned stage, film, and voice work across multiple decades, earning him a devoted following across very different generations of fans.