Thelma Todd

Thelma Todd

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.

Acting

2003

Murders of Hollywood
Movie

Self (archive footage)

1989

Death Scenes
Movie

Self (archive footage)

1936

The Bohemian Girl
Movie

Gypsy Queen's Daughter

1935

Top Flat
Movie

Thelma Todd

1935

Hot Money
Movie

Miss Thelma Todd

1935

1934

Bottoms Up
Movie

Judith Marlowe

1934

Hips, Hips, Hooray!
Movie

Miss Amelia Frisby

1934

1933

1933

1933

1933

1933

The Devil's Brother
Movie

Lady Pamela Rocburg

1932

1932

Deception
Movie

Lola Del Mont

1932

1932

Horse Feathers
Movie

Connie Bailey

1932

Speak Easily
Movie

Eleanor Espere

1932

This Is the Night
Movie

Claire Mathewson

1931

Corsair
Movie

Alison Corning

1931

Monkey Business
Movie

Lucille Briggs

1931

Broadminded
Movie

Gertie Gardner

1931

Rough Seas
Movie

Antoinette

1931

No Limit
Movie

Betty Royce

1930

Another Fine Mess
Movie

Lady Plumtree (uncredited)

1930

Follow Thru
Movie

Ruth Van Horn

1930

1929

1928

1928

1927

The Gay Defender
Movie

Ruth Ainsworth

1927

The Shield of Honor
Movie

Rose aka Flora Fisher

1927

Nevada
Movie

Hettie Ide

1927

Rubber Heels
Movie

Princess Aline

1926

God Gave Me Twenty Cents
Movie

Dance-Hall Girl (uncredited)

Infos

Full Name
Thelma Todd
Gender
Female
Date of Birth
7/29/1906
Date of Death
12/16/1935
Also Known As

Alison Loyd

Тельма Тодд

Thelma Alice Todd

Hot Toddy

The Ice Cream Blonde