Thelma Todd

Acting

Born Jul 29, 1906

From Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA

Died Dec 16, 1935

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Thelma Alice Todd (July 29, 1906 – December 16, 1935) was an American actress. Appearing in about 120 pictures between 1926 and 1935, she is best remembered for her comedic roles in films such as Marx Brothers' Monkey Business and Horse Feathers, a number of Charley Chase's short comedies, and co-starring with Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante in Speak Easily. She also had roles in Wheeler and Woolsey farces, several Laurel and Hardy films, the last of which (The Bohemian Girl) featured her in a part that was truncated by her suspicious death at the age of 29. During the silent film era, Todd appeared in numerous supporting roles that made full use of her beauty but gave her little chance to act. With the advent of the talkies, Todd was given opportunity to expand her roles when producer Hal Roach signed her to appear with such comedy stars as Harry Langdon, Charley Chase, and Laurel and Hardy. In 1931, Roach cast Todd in her own series of slapstick comedy shorts, running 17 to 27 minutes each. In an attempt to create a female version of Laurel and Hardy, Roach teamed Todd with ZaSu Pitts for 17 shorts, from "Let's do Things" (June 1931) through "One Track Minds" (May 1933). When Pitts left in 1933, she was replaced by Patsy Kelly, appearing with Todd in 21 shorts, from "Beauty and the Bus" (September 1933) through "An All American Toothache" (January 1936). These Roach shorts often cast Todd as a working girl having all sorts of problems, and trying her best to remain poised and charming despite the embarrassing antics of her sidekick. Todd also appeared successfully in such dramas as the original 1931 film version of The Maltese Falcon starring Ricardo Cortez as Sam Spade, in which she played Miles Archer's treacherous widow. During her career she appeared in 119 films although many of these were short films, and was sometimes publicized as "The Ice Cream Blonde." Todd continued her short-subject series through 1935, and was featured in the full-length Laurel and Hardy comedy The Bohemian Girl. This was her last film; she died after completing all of her scenes, but most of them were re-shot. Producer Roach deleted all of Todd's dialogue and limited her appearance to one musical number.

Thelma Todd

Known For

Mary Stevens, M.D.

Monkey Business

Horse Feathers

The Devil's Brother

On the Loose

Nevada

Bottoms Up

This Is the Night

The Maltese Falcon

The Shield of Honor

Filmography — Acting

Mary Stevens, M.D.

Monkey Business

Horse Feathers

The Devil's Brother

On the Loose

Nevada

Bottoms Up

This Is the Night

The Maltese Falcon

The Shield of Honor

Hips, Hips, Hooray!

Corsair

Yesterday and Today

Follow Thru

The Nickel Nurser

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Another Fine Mess

Heart to Heart

The Noose

Son of a Sailor

Counsellor at Law

Klondike

Seven Footprints to Satan

Aloha

Rubber Heels

The King

No Limit

Hurdy Gurdy

Sealskins

Palooka

God Gave Me Twenty Cents

Call Her Savage

The Bohemian Girl

The Head Guy

Her Man

Broadminded

Fascinating Youth

Maids a la Mode

The Poor Rich

Two for Tonight

Love Fever

Babes in the Goods

Cockeyed Cavaliers

After the Dance

Death Scenes

Careers

Speak Easily

Hot Money

An All American Toothache

Bum Voyage

House of Horror

Command Performance

War Mamas

Whispering Whoopee

Dollar Dizzy

Crazy Feet

High C's

Her Private Life

Catch-As Catch-Can

Rough Seas

Chickens Come Home

The Tin Man

Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files

The Soilers

Red Noses

I'll Be Suing You

The Fighting Parson