Farewell to Tony Todd, the Vitriolic Terror of Horror Cinema and Widely Adored Performer
Farewell to Tony Todd, the Vitriolic Terror of Horror Cinema and Widely Adored Performer
Tony Todd, widely recognized for his roles in "Candyman" and "Final Destination" films, passed away at the age of 69 due to an unspecified illness on November 6, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
Born on December 4, 1954, Todd started his acting career with the 1986 films "Platoon" and "Sleepwalk". His career spanned across various mediums, and a significant portion of his renowned portfolio consisted of genre-specific roles. On television, one could find him on "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Deep Space Nine", and "Voyager", as well as "MacGyver" and "Smallville". On the big screen, he appeared in movies like "Night of the Living Dead", "The Crow", and "Wishmaster". The horror genre particularly favored him; gaining fame as Ben in the "Night of the Living Dead" remake, he later became the main antagonist in the "Candyman" series, which he reprised in Nia DaCosta's 2021 sequel.
Todd also excelled in voice acting. Most recently, he voiced the Venom symbiote in "Marvel's Spider-Man 2," and his final voice role will be in "Indiana Jones & the Great Circle" created by MachineGames. Other notable voice credits include "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (the Fallen), the "Half-Life" series (Vortiguants), several "Star Trek" games (including "Star Trek Online"), "Dota 2" (Dragon Knight and Night Stalker), and "Call of Duty: Black Ops II" (Admiral Briggs). His voice can be heard in various shows and movies like "Dota: Dragon’s Blood" (Slyrak), "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" (Scare Glow), "The Flash" (Zoom), and "Transformers Prime" (Dreadwing).
Before his demise, Todd had roles in the 2024 horror films "Stream" and "The Bunker". His last on-screen performance will be in 2025's "Final Destination: Bloodlines," where he reprises his role as William Bludworth, the expert on death. New Line Cinema, the owner of the "Destination" franchise, stated, "The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a cherished friend. Rest in peace, Tony." Jeffrey Reddick, the creator of the series, added, "A dear friend who had the biggest heart, a joyful spirit, and a generous soul. I’m sending love and prayers to his family, friends, and fans. He’s at peace and his legacy will never be forgotten."
Virginia Madsen, his "Candyman" co-star, remembered him as "my beloved. May you rest in power sweet to the sweet in heaven. The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life. More later but I can’t right now. I love you."
"We’re heartbroken by the passing of our friend Tony Todd," Insomniac Games wrote. "He brought so much joy during the production of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and many players around the world with his inimitable voice and presence."
Todd is survived by his two children and his sister Monique Dupree. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family at this time.
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After learning about Tony Todd's passing, io9 fans might be interested in the upcoming "Marvel's Spider-Man 2," where Todd voiced the Venom symbiote. In the future of movie and television adaptations, fans can anticipate the return of Todd as William Bludworth in "Final Destination: Bloodlines."
Despite his passing, Tony Todd left an indelible mark on the horror genre, with his notable roles in classics like "Candyman" and "Night of the Living Dead." Future film enthusiasts will continue to discover his acting talents and voice performances in various shows and movies.