Tim Curry’s Pennywise terrified an entire generation, but despite how iconicly harrowing he was in the dancing clown isn't his scariest role. The IT miniseries, first broadcast in 1990, became an instant horror staple thanks in large part to Curry’s unforgettable portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. While the makeup and costume were unnerving enough, it was Curry’s unhinged performance - slipping between manic humor and pure menace - that burned itself into pop culture history. Even decades later, Tim Curry’s Pennywise remains one of the most talked-about horror performances on television.

However, among the countless iconic characters Tim Curry has played throughout his career - from The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Legend - one of his most frightening roles came nearly 20 years after IT. In a chilling guest appearance in a long-running crime procedural, Curry delivered a performance that was just as memorable, but far more grounded in terrifying reality. Though it may not have the supernatural flair of Pennywise, Tim Curry’s portrayal of serial killer Billy Flynn in Criminal Minds is easily one of the most disturbing villains to ever hit the small screen - and it’s a role that still haunts viewers today.

In 2010, Criminal Minds brought in Tim Curry for a chilling two-episode arc that closed out season 5 and opened season 6. Appearing in “Our Darkest Hour” and “The Longest Night,” Curry portrayed Billy Flynn, a nomadic serial killer and home invader known only as “The Prince of Darkness” until his identity was uncovered.

Tim Curry’s Criminal Minds character was based loosely on real-life criminals like Richard Ramirez, with a similar pattern of breaking into homes during blackouts to commit unspeakable crimes. It’s a brutal and realistic premise - and one that was .

By the time the BAU catches up with Flynn, he has murdered over 200 people across multiple states. His M.O. was as horrifying as it was personal: he would force a child or spouse to witness the execution of their loved ones before abducting them. , not collateral damage.

Tim Curry leaned into every sinister detail when he stepped up to become one of Criminal Minds most memorable UnSubs. He portrayed Flynn as . The character exuded quiet menace, never needing to shout or rage to be terrifying. This juxtaposition with the moments that Flynn did snap into a snarling, bestial rage ensured viewers were constantly on the edge of their seats.

Tim Curry’s Pennywise in IT may have come from the mind of Stephen King, but Billy Flynn is rooted in a far more believable horror. In a series that already featured its share of unsettling killers, Curry’s villain stood out because he felt so real. Fans of Criminal Minds still rank Billy Flynn among the show’s most dangerous UnSubs, and with good reason.

Tim Curry’s Pennywise in IT is a genre-defining horror villain, but Billy Flynn is, somehow, even more chilling. Pennywise is a shape-shifting monster from beyond space and time, preying on children’s fears with gleeful sadism. Curry’s iconic performance was unforgettable - equal parts theatrical and grotesque - but ultimately, viewers could take comfort in the fact that Pennywise wasn’t real. That’s exactly what makes Billy Flynn such a terrifying contrast: he could be.

In Criminal Minds, Curry plays Billy Flynn with . He’s not just a murderer - he’s a predator who thrives in chaos, using power outages to cloak his movements and instill helplessness. The character never breaks into clichés or typical serial killer tropes.

Instead, Tim Curry brings a grounded, bone-chilling realism to Billy Flynn. His voice is low, deliberate, and dispassionate. There’s no clown makeup or monster transformations here - . The contrast between the two roles highlights Curry’s range, but also his understanding of what truly terrifies audiences.

Tim Curry’s Pennywise scared viewers with fangs and otherworldly abilities. Billy Flynn frightened them with silence, stillness, and the cruel reality of a killer who could live next door. It’s that quiet dread - the idea that monsters don’t need to be supernatural - that makes Tim Curry’s Criminal Minds role feel even more disturbing than IT.

Criminal Minds introduced dozens of memorable and disturbing UnSubs over its 15-season run, from cannibalistic cult leaders to deranged family annihilators. Yet, Tim Curry’s Billy Flynn continues to be ranked among the show’s most haunting villains.

His appearance in “Our Darkest Hour” and “The Longest Night” isn’t just a highlight - it’s a turning point that Unlike many other UnSubs who lasted just one episode, Flynn’s story had scope, stakes, and a sense of escalation that made his takedown feel urgent and necessary.

Billy Flynn stands tall alongside other Criminal Minds UnSubs who appeared more regularly and directly threatened members of the BAU, such as Mr. Scratch and Frank Breitkopf. However, what truly sets Flynn apart is the emotional weight of his crimes. Tim Curry’s UnSub on Criminal Minds didn’t just kill - he destroyed families, left survivors emotionally shattered, and . That level of psychological damage is rare, even in a show built around profiling killers.

It also doesn’t hurt that Tim Curry, already a horror legend thanks to , gave the performance everything it needed. Tim Curry’s Pennywise remains iconic, but Billy Flynn proved that sometimes the scariest monster is the one without fangs or claws. In a show full of terror, Billy Flynn’s legacy is that he remains one of the most realistically disturbing villains ever portrayed - not just in Criminal Minds, but in all of television.