Tony Todd, best known for his unforgettable performances in Night of the Living Dead, Candyman and Star Trek, has passed away at the age of 69 in his Marina del Rey, California, residence, his representative confirmed.
He died “peacefully” at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, as confirmed by Todd’s rep.
In his four-decade career and more than 200 acting credits to his name on the big and small screen, he will be remembered for many memorable roles, including Platoon and roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. He also had a successful career on stage, including Broadway productions of The Captain’s Tiger, Othello and the musical Aida, among many others.
Born in Washington DC in 1954, the actor became a household name and a horror genre icon for his role in 1992’s Candyman, in which he played the titular hook-wielding spirit of a 19th-century American slave. Based on Clive Barker’s “The Forbidden”, Candyman propelled him to fame. He also starred in two sequels – 1995’s Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh and Candyman 3: Day Of The Dead in 1999. Todd returned to the role in 2021 for Nia DaCosta’s Candyman, which co-written by Jordan Peele.