TONY TODD recreates his original starring role of the film's namesake character after the box-office success of "Candyman." The actor's many other film credits include "The Crow," "Excessive Force," "Keeper of the City," "The Ivory Hunters," "Platoon," "Lean on Me," "Night of the Living Dead," "Enemy Territory," "Bird," "Colors" and "Sleepwalk."

On television, he had a recurring role on "Homicide," "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Jake and the Fatman." Further, he has guest-starred on such shows as "Law and Order," "The X-Files," "Hercules" and "Night Court." On stage, he has appeared in productions of "Zooman and the Sign," "Home," "Playboy of the West Indies," "Othello," "No Place to be Somebody," "The Might Gents," "Sepia Tones," "Camino Real," "Blood Knot" and "The Island."

Todd's first big break occurred when Oliver Stone caught his work in "Johnny Got His Gun" at New York's Westbank Theater. Stone was so impressed by the performance that he went backstage after the show and offered Todd the role of Sergeant Warren in "Platoon."

Born in Washington, DC, Todd was barely three when his parents separated and he was sent to live in Hartford, CT, with his Aunt Clara. She strongly believed that personal success lay in education and literature and, under her guidance, good books became the staples of his early years. Tall for his age -- he now stands 6'5"-- Todd was recruited for his high school basketball team. Instead, he became a star of the school's swimming team.

Simultaneously, he practiced public speaking and debating in the Boy Scouts, paving the way to a life in the theater. He spent two years on a scholarship at the University of Connecticut which, in turn, led to a scholarship offer from the renowned Eugene O'Neill National Theater Institute. It proved to be his foundation and the touchstone for intense stints at the Hartman Conservatory in Stamford, CT and the Trinity Square Repertory Theater Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island. He appeared in dozens of classical and many experimental plays, yet still managed to find time to teach playwriting to high school students in the Hartford public school system.

To that end, and profoundly influenced by his Aunt Clara to be a positive force in the community, he organized and was the artistic director of the Free Me Truth Troupe, which recruits and works with the worst problem children in several cities around the country.