'Final Destination' actor Tony Todd dies at 69
Tony Todd, the acclaimed Hollywood actor best known for his work in movies such as Candyman, Night of the Living Dead, and the Final Destination series, passed away at his Los Angeles home on November 6. He was 69 years old. The news of his death was confirmed by his representatives to Deadline, although no cause of death has been provided yet. May he rest in peace.
Todd's early life and entry into Hollywood
Born on December 4, 1954, in Washington, D.C., the acclaimed actor studied acting at the Eugene O'Neill National Actors Theatre Institute and Trinity Rep Conservatory. It was here that he developed his unique style and honed his skills. One of his first screen roles was that of the heroin-addicted Sergeant Warren in Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning Vietnam War classic Platoon.
Todd's extensive career in film and television
Todd's illustrious career lasted over 40 years, during which he reportedly accumulated over 240 film and TV credits. He guest-starred on popular series such as 21 Jump Street, Night Court, MacGyver, Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, Law & Order, The X-Files, NYPD Blue among others. He also had recurring roles as Matt Rhodes in Homicide: Life on the Street and Gus Rogan in The Young and the Restless.
Todd's iconic roles and approach to acting
Todd is probably best remembered as Ben in the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead and the mythical Candyman in 1992. He reprised the latter in the 2021 sequel. Other memorable roles include William Bludworth in Final Destination and Grange in The Crow. In a 2022 interview with Deadline, Todd revealed his method of acting, saying he creates a backstory for all his characters, tortured souls or heroes. His last Instagram post was in June 2022.
Todd's later career and contributions to voice acting
Todd kept working steadily in film, TV, and video games throughout the 21st century. His roles included a recurring gig as the CIA director on NBC's Chuck and appearances on Freeform's Dead of Summer and MTV/VH1's Scream. He also lent his distinctive voice to several roles in Star Trek and Call of Duty games, TV shows like Transformers Prime, Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, and films like Transformers: Rise of the Fallen. He will be posthumously seen in Final Destination: Bloodlines.
