Renowned actor Tony Todd who is mostly known for starring in the Candyman horror films, has died at the age of 69.
According to reports given, the actor passed away on Wednesday night at his home in Los Angeles.
Tony Todd starred as the title character in the horror series, depicting the ghostly Candyman character with a hook for a hand, summoned by saying his name five times in front of a mirror.
He continued as Candyman from the first film in 1992 through follow-ups in 1995 and 1999, and reprised the role in 2021 for a fourth film serving as a direct sequel to the original.
Tony Todd moreover featured in hundreds of films, stage productions and television dramas, including roles in the Transformers and Final Destination films.
In 2019 while speaking to the Guardian, Tony Todd recalled the film’s famous scene that sees Candyman swarmed with bees, during which he was stung 23 times and apparently paid a $1,000 bonus each time.
“Everything that’s worth making has to involve some sort of pain.”
Many actors have paid tribute including actor Virginia Madsen, who starred as student Helen Lyle in Candyman.
“Now he is an angel. As he was in life. Truly poetic man with a deep knowledge of the arts. I will miss him so much and hope he haunts me once in a while. But I will not summon him in the mirror!”
The original film’s sequel Candyman Farewell to the Flesh set three years later sees Todd’s iconic lead appear again in New Orleans, encountering a descendant of his daughter.
The third film of Candyman, Day of the Dead was released in 1999, but set in 2020 Los Angeles.
Before Candyman, one of Tony Todd’s earliest roles in film was in 1986 as Sgt Warren in war drama Platoon.
