Tony Todd is infamously known for his recurring role in the Final Destination horror franchise, as well as starring as Candyman in the 1992 movie. As an actor, he made a name for himself in the horror genre, with his last on-screen role being in Final Destination: Bloodlines.
In 2024, Todd died from a battle with terminal stomach cancer. He died in his home in Marina del Rey, California, on November 6, at the age of 69. While fans remember the actor for his extensive career, the 2025 Emmy Awards didn’t include him in their “In Memorium” segment that pays tribute to television industry figures who have died in the past year.
Todd’s widow, Fatima Cortez Todd, spoke with Entertainment Weekly to express her disappointment over the actor not being included in the tribute.
“Tony had a long list of TV credits but he was not respected as much by the industry he gave his artistic life,” she said.
“He was classically trained and always given great support by his fans. Ultimately, he gave his all because he loved his work. Many times he was told that he should have had a role he didn’t get. He still maintained his generosity of spirit,” Fatima added. “The award shows look over many who should be honored. That’s on them.”
The Television Academy has not commented on why it excluded Todd from the segment, but it’s not uncommon. More often than not, they chalk it up to time constraints, with this year’s Emmys having also omitted Jerry Adler, Jonathan Joss, Danielle Spencer, Polly Holiday, and Terence Stamp.
Todd’s TV credits are just as extensive as his filmography. He starred in the 1995 series Black Fox,Splatter and appeared in multiple guest roles. The actor gained fame beyond the horror genre, voicing Zoom in The CW’s The Flash series, The Young and the Restless, and portraying different characters in Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and The Next Generation.
Todd was also not included in the Oscars’s “In Memorium” segment in March.
