BAFTA-nominated actor Tony Todd, best known for his titular role in the “Candyman” horror films, has died at age 69.
Todd died Wednesday night at his home in Marina Del Rey, California, his reps confirmed to multiple outlets on Friday. An exact cause of death was not provided, though his rep told TMZ he died of natural causes.
Born Dec. 4, 1954, in Washington, D.C., Todd initially trained for the stage at Connecticut’s Eugene O’Neill National Theatre Institute before turning his sights to TV and film.
He went on to have hundreds of acting credits to his name, beginning with his big screen debut in the 1986 fantasy drama “Sleepwalk,” followed later that year by Oliver Stone’s star-studded Vietnam War film, “Platoon.” The latter won four Academy Awards, including best picture.
Though Todd had no shortage of roles in the early years of his career — including stints on “21 Jump Street,” “MacGyver,” “Matlock” and several episodes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” — it wasn’t until 1992 that he took on his most memorable role to date in the horror movie “Candyman.”
He reprised his role as the hook-wielding villain in each of the three sequels, the latest of which hit theaters in 2021.
Fans of the horror genre also came to know him for playing funeral home owner William Bludworth in “Final Destination” and its multiple sequels, among many other bone-chilling flicks. His genre work extended to the small screen, where he appeared in episodes of “Masters of Horror,” “Riverdale” and several episodes of “Scream: The TV Series.”
Todd appeared in a handful of episodes of “24” and had a recurring role on “Chuck” and “The Young and the Restless.” He also had a varied voice acting career, most notably in “Transformers Prime,” “Dota: Dragon’s Blood,” and until last year, he voiced Zoom in “The Flash.”
Todd was acting up until the end, with several of his films released just this year, including “Realm of Shadows,” “Stream” and “The Bunker.”
He’ll likely be seen in at least nine posthumous releases, as many of his upcoming projects are already completed or in postproduction. One of those includes his rumored role in “Final Destination: Bloodlines.”
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