Tony Todd, known for his roles in iconic horror films like Candyman and the Final Destination series, passed away at 69. According to his wife, Fatima, he died on Wednesday at his home in Marina del Rey after a prolonged illness.
New Line Cinema, which produced the Final Destination films, paid tribute to Todd, stating on Instagram: “The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a cherished friend. Rest in peace, Tony, -Your Final Destination Family.”
Born on December 4, 1954, in Washington, D.C., Todd studied for two years at the University of Connecticut before earning a scholarship to the Eugene O’Neill National Theatre Institute. This experience paved the way for further training at the Hartman Conservatory in Connecticut and the Trinity Repertory Company in Rhode Island.
Todd made his film debut in 1986 with Sleepwalk. He went on to amass over 200 credits in both film and television. His breakthrough came in 1992 with Candyman, where he played the haunting lead character. He later portrayed the mysterious mortician William Bludworth in several Final Destination movies, beginning with the first installment in 2000.
In addition to his work in horror, Todd appeared in several Star Trek series, including The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. His IMDb profile lists multiple projects currently in post-production.
Rel Dowdell, who directed Todd in Changing the Game (2012), remembered him as a dedicated actor. Todd is survived by his wife, Fatima, and their two children, Alex and Ariana.