# Tony Todd
**Tony Todd** (1954 – 2024) was an American actor whose deep voice and 6'5" frame made him one of horror cinema's most recognizable presences, best known as the hook-handed title villain of *Candyman* (1992) and as [William Bludworth](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-bludworth), the mortician who foretold death in the *Final Destination* films[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd) • [2](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/life/cultura/el-actor-tony-todd-conocido-candyman-destino-final-fallece-69nosbr.html). Over a career of more than 200 film and television credits, on and off Broadway, he also became a familiar face in the *Star Trek* franchise and a prolific voice actor[3](https://apnews.com/article/34647ae8e91ae430a6e15a2a6e463321).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | Born 1954 in Washington, D.C.; died November 6, 2024, at his home in the Los Angeles area, aged 69[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd) • [3](https://apnews.com/article/34647ae8e91ae430a6e15a2a6e463321) |
| Signature role | The title character in *Candyman* (1992), the spirit of the painter Daniel Robitaille; he reprised the role in sequels[2](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/life/cultura/el-actor-tony-todd-conocido-candyman-destino-final-fallece-69nosbr.html) |
| Breakthrough | Cast as Sgt. Warren in Oliver Stone's *Platoon* (1986) after Stone saw his performance in *Johnny Got His Gun* at New York's Westbank Theater[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd) |
| Star Trek roles | Klingon Commander Kurn on *The Next Generation* and *Deep Space Nine*; the adult Jake Sisko in "The Visitor" (1995); an Alpha Hirogen on *Voyager* (1998)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd) |
| Horror career | Ben in *Night of the Living Dead* (1990); Grange in *The Crow* (1994); William Bludworth in *Final Destination* (2000) and its sequels[4](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/this-is-ben-the-story-behind-tony-todds-night-of-the-living-dead-audition-that-kicked-off-his-legendary-horror-career) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd) |
| Voice work | Venom in the video game *Spider-Man 2* (2023), a 2024 BAFTA Games Award nominee for the role; characters in *Transformers Prime* and other animated series[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865302/awards/) • [6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tony-todd) |
| Training | University of Connecticut and the Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Institute; classically trained in the theater[3](https://apnews.com/article/34647ae8e91ae430a6e15a2a6e463321) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd) |
## Early life and training
Todd was born in Washington, D.C., in 1954 and grew up in [Hartford, Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/hartford-connecticut)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd) • [7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/todd-tony-1954). He attended the [University of Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-connecticut) before moving into theater training at the Tony Award-winning Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Institute[3](https://apnews.com/article/34647ae8e91ae430a6e15a2a6e463321). His stage work ranged from Broadway productions of *Aida* to the title role in the world premiere of [August Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/august-wilson)'s *King Hedley II*, which he originated in Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Boston[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/todd-tony-1954) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865302/bio/).
## Film career
**Platoon and early work.** Todd's entry into Hollywood came when writer-director [Oliver Stone](https://www.edgepedia.org/oliver-stone) saw his performance in *Johnny Got His Gun* at New York's Westbank Theater and cast him as Sgt. Warren in *Platoon* (1986)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd). He followed it with roles in Stone's *Wall Street* era contemporaries *Colors* (1988) and [Clint Eastwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/clint-eastwood)'s *Bird* (1988), and in [Michael Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-bay)'s *The Rock* (1996)[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/todd-tony-1954) • [9](https://elpais.com/cultura/2024-11-09/muere-tony-todd-voz-del-terror-de-candyman-y-destino-final-a-los-69-anos.html).
**Horror icon.** His horror career began in earnest with the role of Ben in [Tom Savini](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-savini)'s 1990 remake of *Night of the Living Dead*, a part originally played by [Duane Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/duane-jones) in [George A. Romero](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-a-romero)'s 1968 film; Todd continued to appreciate the role decades later[4](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/this-is-ben-the-story-behind-tony-todds-night-of-the-living-dead-audition-that-kicked-off-his-legendary-horror-career). Two years later he played the character that defined him: the Candyman, the vengeful spirit of the painter Daniel Robitaille in Bernard Rose's 1992 film, a performance acclaimed enough to carry him into two further sequels[2](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/life/cultura/el-actor-tony-todd-conocido-candyman-destino-final-fallece-69nosbr.html). He returned to the role in the 2021 legacy sequel *Candyman*, credited as Daniel Robitaille/Candyman[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd).
Other genre work included Grange in *The Crow* (1994), Johnny Valentine in *Wishmaster* (1997), and Reverend Zombie in *Hatchet* (2006)[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/todd-tony-1954) • [2](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/life/cultura/el-actor-tony-todd-conocido-candyman-destino-final-fallece-69nosbr.html). Beginning with *Final Destination* (2000), he played the enigmatic mortician William Bludworth across the series, including *Final Destination 2* (2003) and *Final Destination Bloodlines* (2025), released after his death[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/todd-tony-1954) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd). He also worked outside horror: his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes is the cult science-fiction drama *The Man from Earth* (2007)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd).
## Television and Star Trek
Todd appeared regularly as a guest and recurring actor from the late 1980s onward, in series including *Night Court*, *Matlock*, *Law & Order*, *The X-Files*, *Homicide: Life on the Street*, *Boston Public*, *24*, *[Chuck](https://www.edgepedia.org/chuck-tv-series)*, and *The Flash*[3](https://apnews.com/article/34647ae8e91ae430a6e15a2a6e463321) • [6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tony-todd).
His *Star Trek* roles earned him a cult following. Beginning in 1990 he played Klingon Commander Kurn, the long-lost brother of Lt. Worf, on *Star Trek: The Next Generation*, and reprised Kurn on *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd). On the same series he played a human, the adult version of Jake Sisko, in the 1995 episode "The Visitor"; he later appeared as an Alpha Hirogen game hunter on *Star Trek: Voyager* in 1998, giving him the distinction of playing three different characters on three different *Star Trek* series[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd).
## Voice work and later career
Todd's voice was a career in itself. He voiced characters in animated series including *Transformers Prime*, *Young Justice*, and *Masters of the Universe: Revelation*, provided the voice of the Devil in *Final Destination 3* (2006), and contributed to film and television trailers[6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tony-todd) • [7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/todd-tony-1954). In the video game *[Spider-Man 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/spider-man-2-2023-video-game)* (2023) he voiced Venom, a performance nominated for the 2024 BAFTA Games Award for Performer in a Supporting Role[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865302/awards/) • [2](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/life/cultura/el-actor-tony-todd-conocido-candyman-destino-final-fallece-69nosbr.html).
He also worked as a producer, serving as an executive producer on films including *Sushi Girl*, *Requiem*, and *Candy Corn*[6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tony-todd).
## Recognition and death
IMDb records 22 wins and 7 nominations for Todd, including lifetime achievement awards from the New York City Horror Film Festival (2018) and the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards (2017), a 1992 Chainsaw Award nomination for Best Actor for *Candyman*, and festival awards late in his career for *The Activated Man* (2023)[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865302/awards/).
Todd died on November 6, 2024, at his home in the Los Angeles area, aged 69, as confirmed by his longtime manager [Jeffrey Goldberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeffrey-goldberg)[3](https://apnews.com/article/34647ae8e91ae430a6e15a2a6e463321). He had returned to the role of William Bludworth for *Final Destination Bloodlines* while suffering from cancer[10](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/tony-todd-wife-responds-late-actor-left-out-emmys-in-memoriam). His widow, Fatima Cortez Todd, publicly criticized the 2025 [Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmy-awards) for omitting him from its In Memoriam segment, saying he "was not respected as much by the industry he gave his artistic life"[10](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/tony-todd-wife-responds-late-actor-left-out-emmys-in-memoriam).
## References
1. [Tony Todd Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_todd)
2. [El actor Tony Todd, conocido por 'Candyman' y 'Destino Final', fallece a los 69 años, HuffPost](https://www.huffingtonpost.es/life/cultura/el-actor-tony-todd-conocido-candyman-destino-final-fallece-69nosbr.html)
3. [Actor Tony Todd, known for his role in the movie 'Candyman' and other films, dies at 69, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/34647ae8e91ae430a6e15a2a6e463321)
4. ['This Is Ben': The Story Behind Tony Todd's Night Of The Living Dead Audition, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/this-is-ben-the-story-behind-tony-todds-night-of-the-living-dead-audition-that-kicked-off-his-legendary-horror-career)
5. [Tony Todd – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865302/awards/)
6. [Tony Todd, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/tony-todd)
7. [Todd, Tony 1954–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/todd-tony-1954)
8. [Tony Todd – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865302/bio/)
9. [Muere Tony Todd, voz del terror de 'Candyman' y 'Destino final', a los 69 años, El País](https://elpais.com/cultura/2024-11-09/muere-tony-todd-voz-del-terror-de-candyman-y-destino-final-a-los-69-anos.html)
10. [Tony Todd's Wife Responds To The Late Actor Being Left Out Of The Emmys In Memoriam Segment, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/tony-todd-wife-responds-late-actor-left-out-emmys-in-memoriam)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Sw to T*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license