RIP Tony Todd, Horror’s Candyman and All-Around Beloved Actor

Tony Todd, chiefly known for the Candyman and Final Destination films, passed away from an undisclosed illness on November 6 at age 69, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Born December 4, 1954, Todd made his acting debut with the 1986 films Platoon and Sleepwalk. From there, he had a healthy career in both mediums, and much of his storied resume consisted of genre fare. On TV, you’d see him on Star Trek (Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager), MacGyver, or Smallville; then he’d be on the big screen in films such as Night of the Living Dead, The Crow, and Wishmaster. Horror was particularly kind to him: as Ben in the Night of the Living Dead remake, Todd achieved stardom, which led to him becoming a much bigger name as the titular killer in the Candyman series, which he reprised in Nia DaCosta’s 2021 sequel.

Todd also lent his talents to voice work. Most recently, he voiced the Venom symbiote in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and his final voice role will be MachineGames’ Indiana Jones & the Great Circle. His other voice credits include Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (the Fallen), the Half-Life series (Vortiguants), several Star Trek games (including Star Trek Online), Dota 2 (Dragon Knight and Night Stalker), and Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Admiral Briggs). Outside of games, you could hear his voice in Dota: Dragon’s Blood (Slyrak), Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Scare Glow), The Flash (Zoom), and Transformers Prime (Dreadwing).

Prior to his passing, Tony Todd appeared in the 2024 horror films Stream and The Bunker. His final on-screen role will be 2025’s Final Destination: Bloodlines, where he’ll play the series’ expert on death, William Bludworth, one final time. New Line Cinema, which owns the Destination franchise, wrote: “The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a cherished friend. Rest in peace, Tony.” Jeffrey Reddick, creator of the series, separately called the actor “a dear friend who had the biggest heart, a joyful spirit, and a generous soul. I’m sending love and prayers to his family, friends and fans. He’s at peace and his legacy will never be forgotten.”

Virginia Madsen, his Candyman costar, remembered him as “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.”

“We’re heartbroken by the passing of our friend Tony Todd,” wrote Insomniac Games.  “He brought so much joy during the production of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and many players around the world with his inimitable voice and presence.”

Todd is survived by his two children and sister Monique Dupree, and our thoughts are with their family at this time.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.