Candyman star Tony Todd dies aged 69 after battling ‘long illness’ as tributes pour in for ‘gentle soul’ Star Trek icon

TONY Todd, known for his star roles in the Candyman and Final Destination horror franchises, has died aged 69.

The Transformers and Star Trek actor died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California.

The actor also appeared in films such The Crow, Night of the Living Dead, and The Rock.

He also had a great stage career, appearing in the Broadway production of the musical Aida.

Dad-of-two Todd passed away on Wednesday night at his home in the neighbourhood of Marina del Rey.

His wife, Fatima, told The Hollywood Reporter he died after a long illness.

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Tributes have since been pouring in for the star who had a splendid four decade-career.

Virginia Madsen, Todd's co-star in the Candyman horror series, paid tribute to him in an Instagram video, saying, "I don't know what to say right now."

In her caption, she wrote: "My beloved. May you rest in power sweet to the sweet in heaven.

"The great actor Tony Todd has left us and now is an angel. As he was in life. More later but I can't right now. I love you."

Madsen called Todd a "truly poetic man" who had "a gentle soul with a deep knowledge of the arts" in a later post.

Referencing the Candyman film, the actress added: "I will miss him so much and hope he haunts me once in a while.

"But I will not summon him in the mirror!"

New Line Cinema, which produced the Final Destination franchise, wrote on Instagram: “The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a cherished friend. Rest in peace, Tony, -Your Final Destination Family."

Todd's manager Jeff Goldberg also paid a touching tribute, saying: "What an amazing man and I will miss him every single day."

Rel Dowdell, Hampton University's director of Film Studies, who directed Todd in 2012's Changing the Game, said in a statement: “Tony was a masterful actor who was truly chameleonic; he prepared for every role with the utmost meticulousness.

"He was truly one of a kind.”

Tony Todd was born on December 4, 1954, in Washington, DC.

He attended the University of Connecticut for two years before receiving a scholarship to the Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Institute.

His stay there helped build the groundwork for his later work at the Hartman Conservatory in Stamford, Connecticut, and the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island.

Todd began his acting career in 1986 with the film Sleepwalk.

His most well-known performance was as the hook-wielding ghost in the 1992 film Candyman.

He later made a comeback for Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh in 1995 and made an appearance in the 2021 sequel co-written by Jordan Peele.

Todd also played William Bludworth in the films Final Destination (2000), Final Destination 2 (2003), and Final Destination 5 (2011).