Horror Celebrity Spotlight: Tony Todd
Welcome back to Horror Celebrity Spotlight, my series on horror’s most intriguing icons! This time I’m taking a look at the late, great, Tony Todd!
Previous Spotlights
Let’s take a look at Todd’s career, the characters he’s played, and all the Tony Todd horror movies you should be watching!
The Basics
Full Name: Anthony Tiran Todd
Age: 69 when he passed away on November 6, 2024
Best Known For: Candyman, Final Destination, Hatchet
An Iconic Figure in Multiple Franchises
Tony Todd first emerged as a horror icon by playing the title role in Candyman (1992). Candyman is a vengeful specter who haunts a Chicago housing project. He is summoned by saying his name five times while looking into a mirror.
Todd returned in two less acclaimed sequels: Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995) and Candyman: Day of the Dead (1999). He appeared briefly in Candyman (2021).
Candyman alone would have been enough to make Todd iconic, but he was just getting started. In 2000, Todd played a memorable supporting role as the mysterious coroner William Bludworth in Final Destination. His character’s popularity led to his return in several sequels. He will appear, in his final film role, in Final Destination Bloodlines.
Of course, Todd also plays Reverend Zombie in the Hatchet franchise and has a small role in the third season of the Scream television series. That’s four famous franchises that he took part in. He was one prolific performer!
Random Tidbits
-Despite precautions taken with the bees on set, Todd was stung 27 times during the making of the original Candyman. He received a $1000 bonus for each sting.
-Outside of horror, he appeared in three Star Trek series: Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Voyager.
-He did extensive work as a voice actor for numerous animated productions.
-Todd had a strong reputation for friendliness. He was consistently willing to engage with fans who approached him in public.
-He was renowned for his distinctive deep voice. Having a “scary” voice is a perfect attribute for a horror actor, obviously, but Candyman co-star Virginia Madsen enjoyed it on a different level. She said that Todd’s voice’s “made it easy to swoon.”
-Todd’s sister, Monique Dupree, is an actress and professional wrestler.
His Legacy Will Endure
Todd passed away last year, but there’s no chance that horror fans are going to forget about him. His death led to a number of major tributes. A couple of good ones can be found here and here.
Todd is hailed as a trailblazer for African Americans in horror movies. In contrast to the stale “black guy dies first” trope, Todd’s Candyman is the central character of the film. He was deeply passionate about mentoring young actors.
His body of work is among the most impressive in the history of the genre. Todd appeared in over 50 movies. Along with his voice, Todd’s commanding stage presence helped him build a successful career. He will be missed, not only by fans, but also the costars and directors who had the pleasure of working with him.
.jpg){kind=link}