Tony Todd, star of Candyman and Final Destination, dies aged 69

Tony Todd, the prolific actor who starred in films like Candyman And Final destinationHe died at the age of 69.

Todd, best known for his work across the horror genre, died at home in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening (November 6) after a long illness. His wife Fatima confirmed the news The Hollywood Reporter.

Todd's other best-known projects include The rock, Train, The crowAnd Transformers: Rise of the Fallen.

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1954, Todd studied theater at the Eugene O'Neill National Actors Theater Institute and Trinity Repertory Company in Rhode Island.

He made his breakthrough with Oliver Stone's war epic Trainin which Todd played a heroin-addicted army sergeant. The film won Best Picture at the 1986 Academy Awards.

Other notable early films include the 1986 jazz biopic directed by Clint Eastwood Birdand the 1990 remake Night of the Living Dead.

Todd's most indelible performance came in the 1992 horror film Candymanin which he played the title character, a hook-handed murderer who appears when his name is spoken five times into a mirror.

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Candyman was celebrated for its incisive social commentary and innovative take on horror. The film later spawned three sequels – Candyman: Farewell to the flesh (1995), Candyman 3: Day of the Dead (1999) and Candyman (2021), all starring Todd.

In 1994, Todd starred in the cult horror film starring Brandon Lee The crowplays the character of Grange, the right-hand man of crime boss Top Dollar (Michael Wincott).

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He played a Marine Corps captain in the 1994 thriller “Nic Cage.” The rockand funeral home owner William Bludworth in the hit 2000 horror film Final destination. He also appeared in three sequels to Final Destination and will appear posthumously in the upcoming sequel Final Destination: Bloodlineswhich is currently in post-production.

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Todd also worked extensively in television (including series). 21 Jump Street, Night court, MacGyver, Matlock, law and order, The X-Files, NYPD Blue, Star Trek: The Next Generation And Murder: Life on the Street) and as a voice actor in projects like Transformers: Rise of the Fallen.

Additionally, he enjoyed a prolific career on the stage, starring in Broadway productions of Aida and August Wilsons King Hedley II among other things.

On Instagram New Line Cinema, the studio behind it Final destination Franchise wrote: “The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a valued friend. Rest in peace, Tony, your final destined family.”