Tony Todd

Anthony Tiran Todd (December 4, 1954 – November 6, 2024) was an American actor known for his distinctly deep and gravelly voice. He amassed several credits on screen and in video games since the 1980s, including the title character in the '' Candyman'' film series (1992–2021) and William Bludworth in the ''Final Destination'' franchise (2000–2025). For the former, he was nominated at the Critics' Choice and Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.

Todd's films include ''Platoon'' (1986), ''Night of the Living Dead'' (1990), ''The Crow'' (1994), ''The Rock'' (1996), ''Wishmaster'' (1997), ''Hatchet'', ''Minotaur'' (both 2006), ''The Man from Earth'' (2007), ''Frankenstein'' (2015), '' Death House'' (2017), and '' Hell Fest'' (2018). On television, he played Kurn in '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1990–1991) and '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1996), and appeared in the MTV series ''Scream'' (2019) and ''Devil May Cry'' (2025).

Todd was a prolific voice actor, notably voicing the Vortigaunts in the ''Half-Life'' series of games, the Fallen in Michael Bay's '' Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' (2009), Zoom in ''The Flash'' (2014–2023), Darkseid in the DC Animated Movie Universe (2015–2020), Venom in the video game ''Marvel's Spider-Man 2'' (2023), and Locus in the video game ''Indiana Jones and the Great Circle'' (2024). For ''Spider-Man 2'', he received a British Academy Games Award nomination.

Early life and education

Todd was born on December 4, 1954, in Washington, D.C., the son of Evetta Lyons Gaither. He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, attending local schools including Hartford Public High School. He was also an alumnus of the Artists Collective, Inc. Todd attended the University of Connecticut and then went on to study theater at the Tony Award-winning Eugene O'Neill National Actors Theatre Institute, and the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island. Tony has one living brother, Isaiah Lyons and one living sister, Monique Dupree.

Career

Film

Todd appeared in more than 100 theatrical and television films and played opposite many major Hollywood stars. His film credits include: ''Platoon'' (1986), ''Night of the Living Dead'' (1990), '' Candyman'' (1992), ''The Crow'' (1994), '' The Rock'' (1996), '' Wishmaster'' (1997), the ''Final Destination'' series (2000–2025), ''Minotaur'' (2006), and ''Beg'' (2010). Todd was the voice of The Fallen in '' Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' (2009) and was also in the Rel Dowdell film '' Changing the Game''. Todd was a special guest of the Weekend of Horror Creation Entertainment on May 23, 2010, and Screamfest LA. Todd portrayed Reverend Zombie in ''Hatchet II'', which was released in a limited number of theatres on October 1, 2010. His signature baritone voice narrated several works, including the 2021 documentary ''Invisible Threads: From Wireless to War''. Todd returned as William Bludworth, when he filmed ''Final Destination Bloodlines'' in 2024.

Broadway

Todd has acted on and off Broadway. Among his many roles are August Wilson's ''King Hedley II'', Athol Fugard's ''The Captain's Tiger'', for which he received the Helen Hayes nomination. Others include '' No Place to be Somebody'', '' Les Blancs'', ''Playboys of the West Indies'', ''Othello'', '' Zooman and The Sign'', award-winning playwright Keith Glover's ''Dark Paradise'', ''Aida'' (on Broadway), and ''Levee James'' for the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference and The New Dramatist Guild.

Television

Todd's other television appearances include a recurring role on ''Boston Public'' and guest appearances on ''Law & Order'', '' Homicide: Life on the Street'', '' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', '' Xena: Warrior Princess'' as Cecrops, ''The X-Files'', ''Smallville'', ''Psych'', ''Angel'', '' 24'', ''Charmed'', ''Stargate SG-1'', '' Andromeda'', ''Criminal Minds'', ''21 Jump Street'', and ''Chuck''.

Todd is one of the few actors to have portrayed two different speaking roles on ''24''. He was initially cast as Detective Michael Norris in season three and four years later as General Benjamin Juma in both '' 24: Redemption'' and season 7. He also played a major role in the ''Babylon 5'' TV film ''A Call to Arms''.

He portrayed several characters in the ''Star Trek'' universe: Worf's brother Kurn in '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', an adult Jake Sisko in the episode " The Visitor" in ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', and an Alpha Hirogen in the episode "Prey" in '' Star Trek: Voyager''. In 2017, Todd returned to the world of ''Star Trek'' as General Rodek in the MMORPG game ''Star Trek Online''.

Todd also provided the voices of the Decepticon Dreadwing on '' Transformers: Prime'', and Icon in ''Young Justice''.

In 2015, Todd was cast as the disguised voice of Zoom (portrayed by Teddy Sears when undisguised) in the second season of ''The Flash''. Todd would later reprise his role in the fifth season episodes " What's Past Is Prologue" and " Godspeed" (though the latter featured archive audio of Todd instead) and returned to the role one last time for the series finale, " A New World, Part Four".

On October 12, 2018, it was confirmed by Bloody Disgusting that Todd would star in a recurring role in ''Scream: Resurrection'', the third season of the slasher television series '' Scream''. The season premiered on VH1 on July 8, 2019.

Audio

Todd played the title character in Bleak December Inc.'s 2016 audio drama adaptation of Bram Stoker's ''Dracula''.

Todd was the narrator of the spoken word version of Ice Nine Kills' album '' The Silver Scream'', released on June 29, 2023.

Personal life

Todd was married to Fatima Cortez. He had two children named Alexander and Ariana.

Health and death

When Tony Todd signed on to film ''Final Destination Bloodlines'' in 2023, he let the producers know that he secretly had terminal stomach cancer. As a result, when filming happened in early 2024, they allowed Todd to improvise the last lines of his character Mr. Bludworth so he could give a proper goodbye to audiences. “Life is precious, enjoy every single second, you never know when it will be your last. Good luck.”

Todd died at his home in Marina del Rey, California, on November 6, 2024, at the age of 69. His cause of death was listed as stomach cancer. Both ''Bloodlines'' and ''Indiana Jones and the Great Circle'' were dedicated to his memory.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Todd, Tony
1954 births
2024 deaths
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
Male actors from Hartford, Connecticut
Male actors from Washington, D.C.
University of Connecticut alumni
20th-century African-American male actors
21st-century African-American male actors
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
Deaths from stomach cancer in California