Iconic horror actor and Candyman star Tony Todd dead at just 69

Tony Todd, who portrayed the Candyman horror franchise’s title serial killer, passed away in Los Angeles on Wednesday night at the age of 69.

Jeffrey Goldberg, his representative, informed TMZ that he did not have a specific cause of death and that he passed away at home in Marina Del Rey from natural causes.

Todd contributed his skills to several tentpoles during his forty years in show business, such as the Transformers and Final Destination movie franchises.

Additionally, he portrayed Commander Kurn of the Starship Enterprise in other Star Trek series, such as Deep Space Nine and The Next Generation.

Additionally, Todd had a diverse stage career that included a stint in the Broadway version of the musical Aida, which featured Tim Rice and Elton John tunes.

Tony Todd, who portrayed the Candyman horror series’ title serial murderer, passed away at home in Los Angeles this Wednesday at the age of 69. He was photographed at 2023 Comic-Con International San Diego.

Todd was reared in Connecticut by an aunt who took him in when he was barely three years old. He was born in Washington, DC, in 1954.

“My mom was having some problems.” Decades later, Todd gave the Guardian a cryptic explanation of how the family stepped in.

I appreciate my mother as the lady who gave birth to me, although she has no recollection of it to this day. However, I’m also happy that my aunt stepped in and guided me in the correct direction.

Todd eventually studied drama at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center after his aunt fostered his passion in performing and enrolled him in summer classes.

The critically acclaimed military film Platoon, the first installment of director Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy, was one of his earliest motion picture releases.

Amidst a sparkling ensemble that included the young Johnny Depp, Charlie Sheen, Willem Defoe, and Forest Whitaker, Todd played a minor role.

Todd remarked, “The last thing he wanted was anybody that looked like an actor,” in reference to Stone’s casting decision. He desired genuine faces. Therefore, the fact that I came from poverty and the theater helped.

Todd became a success in his own way four years later when he costarred with Patricia Tillman as the main character Ben in the 1990 adaptation of Night of the Living Dead.

When he played the titular antagonist in Candyman, which he costarred in alongside Virginia Madsen, in 1992, he became a legend in the horror genre.

Todd featured in Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh (1995) (shown) and Candyman: Day Of The Dead (1999) following the first movie’s overwhelming popularity.

The critically acclaimed military film Platoon, the first installment of director Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy, was one of his earliest motion picture releases.

Todd rose to fame four years later when he costarred with Patricia Tillman as the main character Ben in the 1990 adaptation of Night of the Living Dead.

“When people see me, they still think of that role,” Todd said to SciFi.radio some thirty years later. That’s what makes terror so lovely. Fans of horror are valuable. They cling to the memories! And I continue to create new stuff! Additionally, I believe that people will eventually recognize the genre’s complexity.

When he played the titular antagonist in the supernatural film Candyman in 1992, he became a legend in the horror genre.

Todd portrayed the murderous spirit of an American slave from the 19th century who had an affair with a white woman and was killed as a result.

The ghost appears and savages the person who called him with a hook that has taken the place of one of his hands if someone shouts “Candyman” five times in front of a mirror.

The film’s protagonist, Helen Lyle, a Chicago graduate student who discovers the truth about the Candyman legend, was portrayed by Virginia Madsen, who lead the ensemble.

In addition to being a terrifying character on screen, Todd became somewhat of a sex icon through the popular horror film.

Todd featured in Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh (1995) and Candyman: Day Of The Dead (1999) following the film’s overwhelming popularity.

Todd was back in his favorite role when the Candyman brand was brought back for a 2021 film that Jordan Peele co-wrote.

 

Todd, a staple of the horror genre today, starred in movies like Final Destination, which came out in 2000, Final Destination 2, which came out in 2003, and Final Destination 5, which came out in 2011.

In addition, he was a regular TV actor. He played Kurn on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a role he played again on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

In addition to playing two additional Star Trek characters, Todd also starred in Star Trek: Voyager, the third series in the franchise.

He supplied the narration for the villainous robot, The Fallen, in the Michael Bay movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Additionally, Todd’s baritone voice was well-suited for a variety of video game roles, such as those in Call of Duty: Black Ops II and other Star Trek adaptations.

But the stage continued to be his first love, and he performed in musicals like Aida by Elton John and plays like King Hedley II by August Wilson.

Todd once admitted to Whoosh! that “in a perfect world, I’d just do theater.” “Unfortunately, working in full theater is difficult to earn a living.” Every year, I try to perform a play.

Todd worked hard until the end of his life, and his IMDb shows a number of unreleased projects, including a supposed comeback as funeral director William Bludworth in the upcoming film Final Destination: Bloodlines.

‘I don’t know what to say right now,’ Virginia Madsen, his co-star from Candyman, said in an emotional Instagram video after learning of his passing.

“My beloved,” she captioned the photo. I hope you slumber in heaven, pleasant to the sweet. The legendary actor Tony Todd is now an angel and has departed from us. like he was in real life. I can’t now, but I can later. I cherish you. #candyman.