Tony Todd
{{Short description|American actor (1954–2024)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tony Todd
| image = Tony Todd by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Todd at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con
| birth_name = Anthony Tiran Todd{{cite news|title=Beloved horror icon Tony Todd passes away at 68|date=November 9, 2024|website=DailyWrap|url=https://dailywrap.ca/beloved-horror-icon-tony-todd-passes-away-at-68,7090820050871937a|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1954|12|04}}
| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|11|6|1954|12|4}}
| death_place = Marina del Rey, California, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1986–2024
| children = 2
| relatives = Monique Dupree (sister)
}}
Anthony Tiran Todd (December 4, 1954 – November 6, 2024) was an American actor known for his distinctly deep and gravelly voice. He was best known for playing the title character in the Candyman film series (1992–2021) and William Bludworth in the Final Destination franchise (2000–2025). For the former, he was nominated at the Critics' Choice and Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.
Todd's films include Platoon (1986), Night of the Living Dead (1990), The Crow (1994), The Rock (1996), Wishmaster (1997), Hatchet, Minotaur (both 2006), The Man from Earth (2007), Frankenstein (2015), Death House (2017), and Hell Fest (2018). On television, he played Kurn in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990–1991) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1996), and appeared in the MTV series Scream (2019).
Todd was a prolific voice actor, notably voicing the Vortigaunts in the Half-Life series of games, the Fallen in Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Zoom in The Flash (2014–2023), Darkseid in the DC Animated Movie Universe (2015–2020), and Venom in the 2023 video game Marvel's Spider-Man 2.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2024-11-09 |title=Tony Todd Dies: 'Candyman' Star Whose Hundreds Of Credits Include 'Final Destination' Films & 'Platoon' Was 69 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/tony-todd-dead-candyman-1236171521/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=2024-11-09 |title=Tony Todd, Voice of Spider-Man 2's Venom Among Many Other Roles, Dies at 69 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/tony-todd-voice-of-spider-man-2s-venom-among-many-other-roles-dies-at-69 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=IGN |language=en}} For the latter, he received a British Academy Games Award nomination. One of Todd's final roles was that of Locus in the 2024 video game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-20 |title=Indiana Jones and the Great Circle voice actors and cast list |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/voice-actors-cast |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Todd was born on December 4, 1954, in Washington, D.C., the son of Evetta Lyons Gaither.{{cite news|title=Famous December birthdays: Celebrities who are celebrating this month|date=December 2, 2019|newspaper=The Arizona Republic|url=https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/people/2019/12/02/celebrity-birthdays-december/929650002/|accessdate=May 12, 2024}}{{cite web |title=My Mother, Evetta Lyons Gaither turns 90 years old today Grace and Mercy! |url=https://x.com/TonyTodd54/status/1735680939735523832?lang=en |website=Tony Todd on X |access-date=9 November 2024 |date=15 December 2023}} He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, attending local schools including Hartford Public High School.{{Cite web |title=Tony Todd |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}{{cite news|first=Frank|last= Rizzo|title='Candyman' Actor Still hangs His Hook in Hartford|work= Hartford Courant|date=October 14, 1992|url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-10-14-0000111258-story.html}} He was also an alumnus of the Artists Collective, Inc.{{cite news|first=Christopher|last= Arneott|title=Actor Tony Todd Returns For TheaterWorks' 'Sunset Baby'|work=The Baltimore Sun|date= January 13, 2007|url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/hc-sunset-baby-theaterworks-20170113-story.html}} Todd attended the University of Connecticut and then went on to study theater at the Tony Award-winning Eugene O'Neill National Actors Theatre Institute,{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800143728/bio |title=Tony Todd|access-date=June 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228120315/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800143728/bio |archive-date=February 28, 2007}} and the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island. Tony has one living brother, Isaiah Lyons and one living sister, Monique Dupree.{{cite web|title=Tony Todd Biography |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tony-todd/bio/3000022671/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=TV Guide}}
Career
=Film=
File:Tony Todd (36141902441).jpg
Todd appeared in more than 100 theatrical and television films and played opposite many major Hollywood stars. His film credits include: Platoon (1986), Night of the Living Dead (1990), Candyman{{cite news|first=Brad|last=Miska|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18444|title=Tony Todd Isn't Worried About Making 'Candyman' Return|work=Bloody Disgusting|date=December 18, 2009|access-date=July 23, 2016}} (1992), The Crow (1994), The Rock (1996), Wishmaster (1997), the Final Destination series (2000–2025), Minotaur (2006), and Beg (2010).{{cite news|first=Heather |last=Wixson|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35038/exclusive-tony-todd-talks-dark-christmas-hatchet-2-and-candyman-iv|title=Exclusive: Tony Todd Talks Dark Christmas, Hatchet 2, and Candyman IV|work=Dread Central|date=December 18, 2009|access-date=July 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222131342/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35038/exclusive-tony-todd-talks-dark-christmas-hatchet-2-and-candyman-iv|archive-date=December 22, 2009}} Todd was the voice of The Fallen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) and was also in the Rel Dowdell film Changing the Game.[http://tonytoddonline.com/news.php?item.51 Tonytoddonline.com]{{dead link|date=July 2016}} Todd was a special guest of the Weekend of Horror Creation Entertainment on May 23, 2010,{{cite news|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20041|date=April 30, 2010|first=Brad|last=Miska|title=Details for Creation Entertainment's Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles, CA|work=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=July 23, 2016}} and Screamfest LA.{{cite news|first=Sean|last=Decker| url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37458/screamfest-la-hosting-creation-weekend-horrors-kick-party-and-youre-invited|title=Screamfest LA Hosting Creation Weekend of Horrors Kick-off Party and YOU'RE Invited!|work=Dread Central|access-date=July 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714122313/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37458/screamfest-la-hosting-creation-weekend-horrors-kick-party-and-youre-invited|archive-date=July 14, 2014}} Todd portrayed Reverend Zombie in Hatchet II, which was released in a limited number of theatres on October 1, 2010. His signature baritone voice narrated several works, including the 2021 documentary Invisible Threads: From Wireless to War.{{cite web | url=https://tbrnewsmedia.com/movie-review-invisible-threads-from-wireless-to-war/ | title=Movie Review: 'Invisible Threads: From Wireless to War' | TBR News Media | date=November 2, 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14498354/ | title=Invisible Threads - from Wireless to War | website=IMDb }} Todd returned as William Bludworth, when he filmed Final Destination Bloodlines in 2024.{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2024 |title=Toni Todd |url=https://kinopanda.club/actor/a-Toni-Todd |website=KinoPanda}}
=Broadway=
Todd has acted on and off Broadway. Among his many roles are August Wilson's King Hedley II, Athol Fugard's The Captain's Tiger, for which he received the Helen Hayes nomination. Others include No Place to be Somebody,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-24-ca-3814-story.html|title=This Revival Of 'No Place' Goes Places|last=Drake|first= Sylvie|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 24, 1987|access-date=February 20, 2012}} Les Blancs, Playboys of the West Indies, Othello, Zooman and The Sign, award-winning playwright Keith Glover's Dark Paradise, Aida (on Broadway), and Levee James for the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference and The New Dramatist Guild.{{IMDb name|nm0865302}}{{better source needed|date=January 2017}}
=Television=
Todd's other television appearances include a recurring role on Boston Public and guest appearances on Law & Order, Homicide: Life on the Street, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess as Cecrops, The X-Files, Smallville, Psych, Angel, 24, Charmed, Stargate SG-1, Andromeda, Criminal Minds, 21 Jump Street, and Chuck.
Todd is one of the few actors to have portrayed two different speaking roles on 24. He was initially cast as Detective Michael Norris in season three and four years later as General Benjamin Juma in both 24: Redemption and season 7.{{cite news |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/89906/exclusive-tony-todd-talks-vanish/|first=Staci Layne|last=Wilson| date=February 20, 2015|title=Tony Todd Talks VANish |work=Dread Central |access-date=January 21, 2014}} He also played a major role in the Babylon 5 TV film A Call to Arms.
He portrayed several characters in the Star Trek universe: Worf's brother Kurn in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, an adult Jake Sisko in the episode "The Visitor" in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and an Alpha Hirogen in the episode "Prey" in Star Trek: Voyager. In 2017, Todd returned to the world of Star Trek as General Rodek in the MMORPG game Star Trek Online.
Todd also provided the voices of the Decepticon Dreadwing on Transformers: Prime, and Icon in Young Justice.
In 2015, Todd was cast as the disguised voice of Zoom (portrayed by Teddy Sears when undisguised) in the second season of The Flash. Todd would later reprise his role in the fifth season episodes "What's Past Is Prologue" and "Godspeed" (though the latter featured archive audio of Todd instead) and returned to the role one last time for the series finale, "A New World, Part Four".
On October 12, 2018, it was confirmed by Bloody Disgusting that Todd would star in a recurring role in Scream: Resurrection, the third season of the slasher television series Scream.{{cite news|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3526915/horror-legend-tony-todd-will-star-third-season-mtvs-scream/|title=Horror Legend Tony Todd Will Star in the Third Season of MTV's 'Scream'!|last=Squires|first=John|date=October 12, 2018|work=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=October 13, 2018}} The season premiered on VH1 on July 8, 2019.{{cite magazine|url=https://etcanada.com/news/467876/scream-reboot-gets-trailer-with-cameo-from-paris-jackson/|title='Scream' Reboot Gets Trailer With Cameo From Paris Jackson|last=Samhan|first=Jamie|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 24, 2019|access-date=June 25, 2019}}
=Audio=
Todd played the title character in Bleak December Inc.'s 2016 audio drama adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.{{Cite web|last=Spry|first=Jeff|date=2016-06-06|title=Candyman's Tony Todd grabs Dracula role in new Canadian audio drama|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/candymans-tony-todd-grabs-dracula-role-new-canadian-audio-drama|access-date=2021-08-26|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en}}
Todd was the narrator of the spoken word version of Ice Nine Kills' album The Silver Scream, released on June 29, 2023.{{cite web | url=https://open.spotify.com/album/6oZTqjCmmaS3jD2uFOYboL?si=0ZiFGiWiTo-oeJxFW1V7hw | title=Spotify | website=Spotify }}
Personal life
Todd was married to Fatima Cortez. He had two children named Alexander and Ariana.{{cite web|title=An Interview With Tony Todd|url=https://whoosh.org/issue24/itodd1.html|website=Whoosh!|date=1998|accessdate=23 July 2024|first=Bret|last=Rudnick}}
Death
When Tony Todd signed on to film Final Destination Bloodlines in 2023, he let the producers know that he secretly had terminal stomach cancer. As a result, when filming happened in early 2024, they allowed Todd to improvise the last lines of his character Mr. Bludworth so he could give a proper goodbye to audiences. “Life is precious, enjoy every single second, you never know when it will be your last. Good luck.”{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/final-destination-bloodlines-producer-14-year-gap-1236393064/ | title='Final Destination Bloodlines' Producer Craig Perry Talks Death's 14-Year Resume Gap & Which Franchise Star Could Return: "Never Say Never" }}
Todd died at his home in Marina del Rey, California, on November 6, 2024, at the age of 69.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2024-11-09 |title=Tony Todd Dies: 'Candyman' Star Whose Hundreds Of Credits Include 'The Crow' & 'Platoon' Was 69 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/tony-todd-dead-candyman-1236171521/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Deadline}} His cause of death was listed as stomach cancer. Both Bloodlines and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle were dedicated to his memory.
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="3"| 1987
| Troy Tolliver | Episode: "I Thought the War Was Over" |
| Werewolf
| Charlie | Episode: "The Unicorn" |
| 21 Jump Street
| Aaron Jackson | Episode: "You Oughta Be in Prison" |
| rowspan="3"| 1989
| – | Episode: "A Tree Grows on West 56th Street" |
| Night Court
| Mr. Crumine | Episode: "For Love or Money" |
| MacGyver
| Zimba | Episode: "Black Rhino" |
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| Matlock | Billy Pierce | Episode: "The Narc" |
| Cop Rock
| Omar | Episode: "Potts Don't Fail Me Now" |
| rowspan="2"| 1990–91
| Jordan Lee | Recurring cast: Season 4 |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation
| Kurn | Guest cast: Season 3–5 |
| 1991
| Lou | Episode: "The Fugitive Priest Mystery" |
| rowspan="3"| 1994
| Reverend Ott | Episode: "Sanctuary" |
| The X-Files
| Augustus D. Cole | Episode: "Sleepless" |
| Homicide: Life on the Street
| Matt Rhodes | Recurring cast: Season 3 |
| rowspan="2"| 1995
| Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Gladius | Episode: "The Gladiator" |
| Black Fox
| Britt Johnson / Black Fox | Main cast |
| 1995–96
| Adult Jake Sisko / Kurn | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3"| 1996
| National Security Agent Nathan Mitchell | Episode: "Mrs. Parker's Revenge" |
| New York Undercover
| Andrew Bryant | Episode: "Rule of Engagement" |
| Beverly Hills, 90210
| Dr. Julius Tate | Episode: "If I Had a Hammer" |
| rowspan="3"| 1997
| Detective Eddie Hazell | Episode: "Taillight's Last Gleaming" |
| Xena: Warrior Princess
| Cecrops | Episode: "Lost Mariner" |
| Soldier of Fortune, Inc.
| Joseph Karenga | Episode: "Missing in Action" |
| rowspan="2"| 1998
| Alpha Hirogen | Episode: "Prey" |
| Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
| Episode: "Faith" |
| 1999
| Himself | Episode: "Horror Movie Stars" |
| 2000
| Angel | Vyasa | Episode: "The Shroud of Rahmon" |
| rowspan="2"| 2001
| Cephus | Episode: "The Siege" |
| Smallville
| Earl Jenkins | Episode: "Jitters" |
| rowspan="5"| 2002
| Coach Jim Evans | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| Andromeda
| Captain Fehdman Metis | Episode: "The Lone and Level Sands" |
| Charmed
| Avatar of Force | Episode: "Sam I Am" |
| Boston Public
| Lester Lipschultz | 2 episodes |
| CSI: Miami
| Sergeant Marcus Cawdrey | Episode: "Camp Fear" |
| 2002–03
| Stanley Carver | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2004
| The 100 Scariest Movie Moments | Himself | Episode: "Part I: 100–81" |
| 24
| Detective Michael Norris | Episode: "Day 3: 3:00 a.m.–4:00 a.m." |
| rowspan="3"| 2005
| Himself | Episode: "Episode #4.175" |
| Night Stalker
| Detective | Episode: "Malum" |
| Criminal Minds
| Eric Miller | Episode: "The Fox" |
| 2005–06
| Lord Haikon | Recurring cast: Season 9 |
| rowspan="2"| 2006
| Himself | Episode: "Dracula's Daughter" |
| Masters of Horror
| The Beast | Episode: "Valerie on the Stairs" |
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| Detective Walter Berenson | Episode: "The Innocent Man" |
| Without a Trace
| Dr. Carl Williams | Episode: "Res Ipsa" |
| 2007–11
| Chuck | CIA Director Langston Graham |
| rowspan="4"| 2009
| Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Astaroth |
| 24
| General Benjamin Juma | Recurring cast: Season 7 |
| Psych
| Detective Moses Johnson | Episode: "High Top Fade Out" |
| Splatter
| Spencer Pope | Main cast |
| rowspan="2"| 2010
| Dark Shaman | Voice, episode: "Shaman of Fear" |
| The Event
| General Whitman | Recurring cast |
| rowspan="4"| 2012
| Jordan Nevins | Episode: "Kalele (Faith)" |
| Holliston
| Himself | Episode: "Candyman" |
| Transformers: Prime
| Dreadwing |
| Zombie Family
| Principle McGuffy | Episode: "Are You Eyeballing Me Boy?" |
| 2012–13
| Icon |
| rowspan="2"| 2013
| Himself / Guest Judge | Episode: "Twisted Nursery Rhymes" |
| The Young and the Restless
| Gus Rogan | Regular cast |
| 2014
| Aeon Worm | Voice, episode: "Season of the Mitch" |
| 2015–23
| Zoom | Voice (recurring role: season 2, guest: seasons 5 and 9); 16 episodes |
| 2016
| Holyoke the Tall Man | Recurring cast |
| rowspan="3"| 2017
| Space Kook, Captain Lewis, Reggi |
| Room 104
| The Father | Episode: "The Knockadoo" |
| Riverdale
| "Farmer" McGinty | Episode: "Chapter Twenty: Tales from the Darkside" |
| rowspan="2"| 2019
| Moclan Delegate | Episode: "Sanctuary" |
| Scream: Resurrection
| Luther Thompson / Hook Man | 3 episodes |
| 2021; 2024
| Masters of the Universe: Revelation | Scare Glow |
| 2021–22
| Slyrak |
| 2025
| TBA | Voice, posthumous release{{Cite tweet|user=tonytodd54|number=1730613655853797583|title=Just got cast in yet another @netflix animated project! After #DragonsBlood #MastersoftheUniverse & #Devilmaycry}} |
=Video games=
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|865302|Tony Todd}}
- {{Memory Alpha}}
- {{discogs artist|Tony Todd (2)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Todd, Tony}}
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Male actors from Hartford, Connecticut
Category:Male actors from Washington, D.C.
Category:University of Connecticut alumni
Category:20th-century African-American male actors
Category:21st-century African-American male actors
Category:20th-century American male actors