Tony Todd Dead: ‘Candyman’ Star Was 69

Tony Todd, an American actor identified for main the “Candyman” horror franchise as its eponymous hook-wielding ghost, died Wednesday at his house in Marina Del Rey, Calif. He was 69.

Todd’s loss of life was confirmed by a consultant for the actor. A reason behind loss of life was not disclosed.

A dependable presence in style fare throughout 4 many years, Todd’s collection of credit embrace iconic titles akin to Alex Proyas’ comedian e book adaptation “The Crow,” Michael Bay’s Alcatraz actioner “The Rock” and the flowery killing-set-piece collection “Last Vacation spot.” Considered one of his earliest movie performances got here in his early thirties in Oliver Stone’s Oscar-winning warfare epic “Platoon.” On “Star Trek: The Subsequent Era,” Todd donned alien make-up to play Kurn, a Commander within the Klingon Protection Drive and the brother of Worf (performed by collection common Michael Dorn).

However Todd secured his title within the style pantheon along with his efficiency in Bernard Rose’s “Candyman,” an early-’90s Americanized spin on a Clive Barker quick story that introduced a memorable supernatural spin on themes of gentrification and racism. At a towering 6’5”, Todd performed Daniel Robitaille, aka Candyman, the tortured, bee-covered ghost of an African American artist and son of a slave who was murdered for his relationship with a white lady. The movie starred Virginia Madsen as a Chicago graduate scholar making ready a thesis on the legend of Candyman by investigating inner-city Chicago.

“My beloved. Might you relaxation in energy,” Madsen wrote in a put up on Instagram after studying of her co-star’s loss of life. “The nice actor Tony Todd has left us and now’s an angel. As he was in life. Extra later however I can’t proper now. I really like you.”

“Candyman” positioned itself as a considerably arty style play, debuting on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition within the Midnight Insanity part. Its dealing with of significant themes didn’t go unquestioned on the time, with some levying accusations that it trafficked in racist stereotypes. However the movie has endured in crucial and style circles for its unblinking method to severe issues, connecting America’s historical past of racism to the woes of up to date city life.

Todd reprised his function because the sympathetic slasher a number of instances. He returned for the 1995 sequel “Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh” (which marked an early characteristic for later Oscar-nominee Invoice Condon), in addition to Turi Meyer’s “Candyman: Day of the Lifeless” in 1999. After many years in growth, the property was revived at Common by director Nia DaCosta in 2021 with the simply-titled “Candyman,” which functioned as a direct sequel to the 1992 authentic and was co-written by DaCosta, Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld. Todd reprised his function within the new entry, which starred Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as an artist who turns into drawn into the Candyman city delusion.

Born Dec. 4, 1954 in Washington, D.C., Todd studied on the College of Connecticut for 2 years earlier than shifting to the Eugene O’Neill Nationwide Theatre Institute. Skilled for the stage, Todd would apply playwriting himself and train it to highschool college students in Hartford. He would go on to originate the title function of August Wilson’s “King Hedley II” with productions in Pittsburgh, Seattle and Boston. His efficiency “was a memorable tour-de-force,” Selection wrote in a assessment on the time.

Amongst Todd’s credit, totaling nicely above 200, the actor had a recurring function on “Boston Public” and made visitor appearances on “Legislation & Order,” “Murder: Life on the Avenue,” “The X-Recordsdata,” “Smallville,” “Psych” and “24.” He usually voice-acted too, enjoying The Fallen in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” Zoom in The CW’s “The Flash” and, most just lately, Venom in Insomniac’s PlayStation smash “Spider-Man 2.” He starred within the 1990 remake of “Evening of the Dwelling Lifeless” and was one of many few actors to recur within the “Last Vacation spot” franchise, which might usually kill off all its new characters by the tip of every of its entries.

Todd by no means stopped working, usually lending his gravitas and style status to direct-to-video thrillers over latest years. His profile on IMDb presently lists greater than 9 titles which have entered post-production.

Todd is survived by his two kids, Alex and Ariana.