Date of Birth

11 June 1919, Dublin, Ireland

Date of Death

3 December 2009, Little Humby, Lincolnshire, England, UK

British leading man who achieved some success in American films as well. Born in Ireland the son of a British officer, Todd grew up in Devon and attended Shrewsbury Public School. His interest in theatre led him to small roles in stock in England and Scotland, following which he helped found the Dundee Repertory Theatre in 1939. He served with distinction as a paratrooper in the Second World War and returned to considerably more prominent theatre roles, culminating in the role of Lachie in John Patrick's "The Hasty Heart", in which he followed Richard Basehart in the Broadway production. He made his first film in 1948, and the next year was again cast as Lachie, this time in the film version of The Hasty Heart. His performance, a truly star-making and moving piece of work, earned him an Oscar nomination as Best Actor. He followed it with a role in Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright (1950), but although he continued to play leading roles, often in quite good films, he never again achieved the prominence and acclaim he had had with The Hasty Heart. He was quite effective in such roles as Robin Hood and Rob Roy, and very touching as Peter Marshall in A Man Called Peter (1955). Ultimately, however, his starring roles dwindled, but he continued as a stalwart character actor, primarily in British films.

He was an officer in the 7th Battalion (LI) The Parachute Regiment. On D-Day this Battalion made contact with Major Howard at the Orne Bridge now called Pegasus Bridge. Todd was the officer who made contact. In the The Longest Day (1962) he played Major Howard and the meeting with Todd was one scene. In D-Day the Sixth of June (1956) he played the commander of his Battalion in the filming of the same scene.

The Cadbury World museum has a small exhibit about their film unit which reveals a publicity film made in 1940, entitled "Romance in the Making", featured a young Richard Todd. It appears to be a "how we make chocolate" documentary with some sort of romantic plot shoehorned in.

Son, Seamus Palethorpe-Todd, 1977-1997. He committed suicide.

Head of jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1963

In his 1986 autobiography 'Caught in the Act', Richard Todd recalled that whilst at the Italia Conti School he appeared in the crowd scenes for two Will Hay movies and also in A Yank at Oxford (1938) as an extra in the university athletics meeting. He also made a government film called The Gap in 1937.

He was named a Disney Legend in 2002.

Attended the Drama School "The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts" - other actors that have attended Italia Conti include Kelly Brook, 'Noel Coward', Stephen Manwaring & Martine McCutcheon.

He was a vocal supporter of the British Conservative Party.

In 1997 Seamus Palethorpe-Todd, his son from his second marriage, shot himself in the head. Then on 21 September 2005, Todd's eldest son from his first marriage, Peter, killed himself with a shotgun.

In 1970 he founded Triumph Theatre Productions, with which he toured extensively abroad in many plays.

Replaced Richard Basehart in the Broadway production of "The Hasty Heart". His authentic Scottish burr would help him secure the movie role when it transferred to film.

First had ambitions to become a playwright but discovered his love for performing on the stage after helping found the Dundee Repertory Company in Scotland in 1939.

Was Ian Fleming's outright choice to play James "007" Bond in the film Dr. No (1962). Todd had turn down the role due to scheduling conflicts.

Eldest son Peter committed suicide in 2005 after the deterioration of his marriage.

Has four children: Peter and Flora from his first marriage, and Seumas and Andrew from his second.

He is survived by his daughter, Fiona Todd, from his first marriage and his son, Andrew Todd, from his second marriage.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1993 for his services to drama.

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