Died at 71
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Tony Todd (December 4, 1954 – November 6, 2024) was an acclaimed American actor known for his deep, resonant voice and imposing screen presence. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Todd trained in theatre at the University of Connecticut and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, building a foundation for his later work both on stage and screen. Todd's film career began in the mid-1980s with supporting roles in films like "Platoon" (1986) and "Sleepwalk" (1986). He rose to prominence for his starring role as Ben in "Night of the Living Dead" (1990) before achieving iconic status as the title character in the horror classic "Candyman" (1992), a role he would reprise in several sequels. His film credits also include "The Crow" (1994), "The Rock" (1996), "Wishmaster" (1997), and his recurring role as William Bludworth in the "Final Destination" series (2000–2025). In television, Todd was widely recognized for his recurring roles across the Star Trek franchise—most notably as Kurn, Worf's brother, in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," as well as other roles in "Star Trek: Voyager." He also made memorable appearances on shows like "Boston Public," "24," "The X-Files," "Smallville," and "Law & Order". Beyond live-action roles, Todd was a prolific voice actor. He contributed to the Half-Life video game series as the Vortigaunts, voiced The Fallen in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009), Zoom in "The Flash" (2014–2023), and played Venom in "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" (2023), for which he earned a BAFTA Games Award nomination. Todd’s theatre credentials were equally impressive, including starring roles in Broadway and regional productions such as August Wilson's "King Hedley II," "The Captain's Tiger," "Othello," and "Aida." His voice, physical stature, and range earned him critical acclaim and a lasting legacy in horror, science fiction, and dramatic arts. Tony Todd died from stomach cancer at his home in Marina del Rey, California, on November 6, 2024, at the age of 69. He had reportedly been quietly battling this illness during his final projects. Both "Final Destination: Bloodlines" and "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" were dedicated to his memory.
Thirty years ago, Amelia Vaux Tanner and her husband built a house high on the bluffs, a cottage they named Chateau Laveau. For decades, "Ama" played host to American presidents, Wall Street titans, and cultural icons. But her favorite guests have always been her three "goddaughters:" Esperanza "Perry" Soto, a beautiful, talented Afro-Latina lawyer with Ama's strong, yet guarded personality; Olivia Jones, a gifted Wall Street analyst with Ama's brilliant, logical mind; and Billie Hayden, a gifted marine biologist and rule-breaker with Ama's courageous free spirit. This summer, Ama is sixty-six and has lost her beloved husband. She has invited Perry, Olivia, and Billie to spend one last golden summer together with her the way they did when they were kids. And when fall comes, she is going to give the house to one of them. Each of the women wants the house desperately. Each is grappling with a secret she fears will hurt her and her chances. By the end of summer, old ties will fray, new bonds will be created, and these three found sisters will discover they aren't the only ones with something to hide. Ama has a few secrets of her own. What she has to give them is far more than property. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, she will tell these surrogate daughters she fiercely loves and protects everything they never knew they needed to know.
