Last update:Nov 09, 2024, 16:21 IST

Tony Todd passed away on November 6 at his home in Marina del Rey, California.

Tony Todd once credited his aunt for guiding him towards acting. (Photo credits: X)

Tony Todd, best known for his role as the killer in Candyman and its 2021 sequel, as well as his appearances in the series Final Destination, died on November 6 at the age of 69. His wife, Fátima, shared that at the time of Passing By, the actor was surrounded by family at his home in Marina del Rey, California.

In addition to appearing in iconic films, Todd was also the voice behind Venom in Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 game. Following his death, the team behind the game expressed their sadness, while remembering how much happiness he used to bring during production and touched fans around the world with his unique voice and presence.

His wife confirmed the news with The Hollywood Reporter, but did not reveal the exact reason for his death. Meanwhile, the game studio wrote on X: “Insomniac Games is heartbroken by the passing of our friend Tony Todd. He brought much joy to our studio during the production of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and to many fans around the world with his inimitable voice and presence. We are Venom, forever.”

Tony Todd was born on December 4, 1954, and learned acting at the Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute and Trinity Rep Conservatory. Surprisingly, acting was not his first career choice. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, he shared that it was his aunt, Clara Elliston, who guided him toward acting. He moved from Washington DC to Hartford, Connecticut, where his aunt worked as a maid and it was her influence that led him to enter the entertainment industry.

The late actor said: “My mother was going through some problems. Then the family intervened. And, you know, my mother doesn’t remember it to this day, and I respect her as the woman who gave birth to me. But I’m also glad that my aunt stepped in and set me on the right path. She would take me to some of her places and I would stay in the library while she cleaned the house. “I loved books at a young age, so I was happy.”

Elliston enrolled him in summer courses and encouraged his passion for theater. She even helped him financially during his early days as a young actor in New York. Although Todd had reconnected with his mother, he shared that dealing with the difficult experiences of his early years motivated him throughout his career.

Along with his wife Fatima, Tony Todd is survived by his two children, Alex and Ariana.