CNN
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Tony Todd, the actor who played the eponymous phantom killer in the original horror franchise “Candyman” and other notable roles, has died at the age of 69.

The news was confirmed to CNN on Saturday by Todd’s talent agent, Dede Binder, of the Defining Artist agency. No additional details about the actor’s death were immediately available.

Todd was best known for his portrayal of Daniel Robitaille, also known as the Candyman, a killer who is summoned by saying his name five times in front of a mirror.

Todd portrayed the character, originally based on a 1985 Clive Barker short story, in the original film franchise beginning with the 1992 film, and reprized the role in the 2021 reboot directed by Nia DaCosta.

The actor’s second ever portrayal was the character Warren in the Oliver Stone film ‘Platoon’, which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1987. Other notable film roles for Todd included Clint Eastwood’s 1988 Charlie Parker biopic “Bird,” 1989’s “Lean on Me” and 1996’s “The Rock.”

But Todd most made his mark in the horror genre, playing the character Bludworth in the “Final Destination” franchise and appearing in such films as 1990’s “Night of the Living Dead,” 1994’s “The Crow” and “Hatchet.” 2006.

As for his status as Black horror royalty, Todd told The New York Times in 2020 that he didn’t “mind” it. “You can label me whatever you want. I know who I am.”

“I didn’t get my master’s statement: ‘I want to be a horror movie star.’ I just wanted to be a good actor,” he said, adding: “Horror fans are the most ferocious fanbase there is. That allows for a lot of personal performances and the celebration of a genre that is kind of pushed aside, but also passionately adored.”

Todd also enjoyed a robust career as a television actor, appearing in multi-episode series including MTV’s “Scream: The TV Series,” NBC’s “Chuck,” “24” on Fox and the CBS daytime drama “The Young and the Restless.”

He played Kurn and other characters in multiple titles within the “Star Trek” universe, and also worked as a prolific voice actor in genres such as CW’s “The Flash” and the animated series “Transformers Prime.”

A theater-trained actor who regularly returned to the stage, often in between his film and voice work, Todd earned a master’s degree from the Trinity Repertory Company and studied at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.