Candyman star Tony Todd dies aged 69: A ‘truly poetic man’
Todd is famous for his role in 1992's Candyman
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Candyman star Tony Todd has died aged 69 in his home in Los Angeles, his representatives have confirmed.
The Hollywood legend featured in over 240 films and TV shows across a glittering showbiz career.
The actor, known for his looming 6’5” height and commanding performances, died of natural causes.
Todd was born in Washinton DC in 1954 and pursued a career in acting, honing his craft at the Eugene O’Neill National Actors Theatre Institute and Trinity Rep Conservatory.
His big break came in one of his first onscreen roles, starring in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam War classic Platoon – which went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
In Platoon, Todd played the troubled and heroin addicted Sergeant Warren.
Todd acted in over 240 films and TV shows in his 40-year-long career
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He shared the screen Hollywood legends Johnny Depp, Willem Defoe and Charlie Sheen.
However, it was his leading role in the 1992 horror classic Candyman that Todd is most famous for.
The late actor portrayed the titular ghost, a murdered 19th century African American artist and son of a slave returned to sow revenge.
Todd starred in two sequels – Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh, 1995, and Candyman 3: Day Of The Dead, 1999.
He reprised his role in a 2021 soft reboot of the same name, co-written by Get Our director Jordan Peele.
Todd also starred in the Final Destination and Transformers films, also playing a recurring role as Commander Kurn in various outings of sci-fi series Star Trek.
The actor continued to appear on stage and screen right up until his death, acting in several projects across 2024.
Tributes have been paid to the actor, including by Candyman co-star Virginia Madsen who took to social media following the announcement of her "dear friends" death.
In an Instagram video, she opened with “I don’t know what to say right now” as she held back tears discussing her “beloved Candyman”.
Below the video, Madsen wrote: “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."
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Later, she described Todd as a “truly poetic man” and a “gentle soul with a deep knowledge of arts”.
In reference to their onscreen relationship, Madsen added: "I will miss him so much and hope he haunts me once in a while. But I will not summon him in the mirror!"
Also paying tribute was Todd's manager, Jeff Goldberg, who said: "What an amazing man and I will miss him every single day."
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