Tony Todd, the renowned actor best known for his chilling portrayal of the title character in the 1992 horror classic Candyman, has passed away at the age of 69. Todd, who also had memorable roles in Final Destination, The Rock, and Platoon, died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday after battling a prolonged illness. His wife, Fatima, confirmed the news.
Born in Washington D.C. in 1954, Todd's career spanned over four decades, amassing more than 200 credits across both television and film. Early in his career, he took on the role of Sergeant Warren in Platoon, Oliver Stone's acclaimed war film. He also appeared in The Rock (1996), sharing the screen with Nicolas Cage, and portrayed the character William Bludworth in the Final Destination franchise. In 1994, he played Grange in The Crow, a film starring Brandon Lee.
Todd's television credits were equally impressive, with notable roles in series such as 24, Homicide: Life on the Street, The X-Files, 21 Jump Street, MacGyver, Matlock, Law & Order, Beverly Hills 90210, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Murder, She Wrote. He is also remembered for his portrayal of Kurn, the Klingon brother of Worf, in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.
In addition to his on-screen work, Todd was a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to characters in Call of Duty and Half-Life, as well as voicing Venom in Spider-Man 2 and a villain in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
However, it was Todd’s role as the hook-handed killer in Candyman that left an indelible mark on horror fans. The film, which explores themes of racism and social class, features Todd’s character, Daniel Robitaille, a man lynched by a white mob. His vengeful spirit haunts the location of his death, a public housing project.
Beyond acting, Todd used his fame to give back to the community, particularly in gang outreach and by hosting acting seminars for underprivileged children. Reflecting on Candyman, he said, "I’ve done 200 movies, this is the one that stays in people’s minds. It affects people of all races. I’ve used it as an introductory tool in gang-intervention work: what frightens you? What horrible things have you experienced?"
The entertainment world mourns the loss of a true legend. New Line Cinema, which produced the Final Destination films, shared a tribute on Instagram, saying, “The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a cherished friend. Rest in peace, Tony, -Your Final Destination Family.”
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