Commander Mondays: Tony Todd

Once veteran actor Tony Todd stepped off the stage and into the 1986 film Sleepwalk, it was only a matter of time before he slipped into our nightmares through Clive Barker’s terrifying Candyman and became one of the most recognizable icons of horror films worldwide.

TonyToddHands

As William Bludworth in the Final Destination series, he shared with wide-eyed viewers his vast knowledge of death and offered up a few tips about how to cheat the Reaper himself. In the 1990 remake of Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead, Tony came face to face with the shambling horde for the first time, awarding him first-hand knowledge and experience that would prove invaluable for the future. It is this knowledge and experience that makes him more than qualified for leadership in the Zombie Survival Crew. Tony’s versatility, charisma and quiet nature directly contrast his powerful presence, and one cannot help but wonder what lurks beneath the surface, or what hides behind the chilling, intelligent smile.

Towering over just about everybody at a statuesque 6 feet 5 inches, the imposing Tony Todd hails from our nation’s capital. He put in two years at the University of Connecticut before starting on a new path with a scholarship from the renowned Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute. Tony appeared in scores of theater  performances with the Hartman Conservatory in Stamford, Connecticut and the Trinity Square Repertory Theatre Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island. He also taught playwriting to high school students in the Hartford public school system. Tony has appeared in films, stage performances and TV series almost too numerous to mention, including Oliver Stone’s Academy Award-winning film Platoon, the title role in award-winning playwright August Wilson’s King Hedley II, and co-starring alongside Brandon Lee and Michael Wincott in the 1994 cult classic The Crow. On the smaller screen, we’ve seen Tony  on Boston Public, NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Crossing Jordan, and The X-Files. He has had recurring roles in all three Star Trek franchises, episodes of CSI: Miami, and many other acclaimed television series.

While waiting for the Z-pocalypse to begin and the call to arms from the ZSC, Tony continues to work hard, honing his skills and developing his already considerable talents in preparation for the inevitable. He has a LOT coming up in the near future, as he has been working on multiple film projects for some time. Recently completed work includes Agoraphobia, The Witching Hour, and Vanish. Currently in post-production are Cowboy’s Girl, Beyond the Game, Live-Evil, Frankenstein and an as of yet untitled project from director Livi Zheng. Tony is currently filming Beast Mode and is slated to appear in more upcoming films including Broken Cross, Crimson Saints.

Tony also assumed the role of the Starfleet Commander in Chief in the indie-budgeted  Star Trek: Axanar alongside veteran actors Richard Hatch, Kate Vernon and Gary Graham:

If you’re just joining us for this series, please be sure to check out our previous Commander Monday reports!