I love film noir, so Billy Wilder is like my favorite director of all time.
Tony Todd
Everybody loves a horror story because it's a roller coaster ride -you wait for the slow ride to the top then speed down with all the bumps, twists and turns.
Sunset Boulevard' is my favorite film.
I was going to Hartford High School and when the theater bug hit, it hit hard and it saved my life. It gave me focus, direction and purpose.
I've played four roles on 'Star Trek.' My favorite episode was 'The Visitor' on 'Deep Space Nine.'
The ability to be frightening with stillness is what appeals to me.
You know early on when you're given a gift that can keep you sane. That's what acting does for me. It keeps me honest and keeps me sane.
All of my contemporaries in L.A. are all graduates of either Yale, Julliard, Trinity. The best of the bunch come from that.
So I grew up watching film noir, you know the classic stuff. William Holden, Richard Widmark, Robert Mitchum, all those.
October's a busy month for me. I usually find myself working but I also try to do one or two conventions in that period. Then whatever city I'm in, they want to drag me to their local horror theme park.
Everything that's worth making has to involve some sort of pain.
I was a 'Trekkie' growing up.
Worth' was a script that was sent to me, and I felt it was something different and important to do.
I grew up a single kid and so my whole childhood was spent in my backyard dealing with imaginary circumstances and role playing and stuff.
It's not like I wakeup everyday and say, 'You know what, I need to do a horror film.' Statistically it's only like forty percent of my output but it's a great ride and the fan base is really dedicated and that's always cool. When you're lucky enough to be in a good one it's fantastic.
Even if you do a great performance, if you have a weak link in the film, that's all anyone remembers.
I did a film in Nairobi, Kenya called 'The Last Elephant,' with John Lithgow, Isabella Rosallini, and James Earl Jones. So I was in seventh heaven, alright? About a year later I get a call from my agent and he says they want to see you for this project called Candyman. I thought he was joking so I hung up.
I'm a big fan of advertising during sports events.
I remember watching 'Abbott and Costello vs Frankenstein' continuously as a kid and being amazed that my horror legends were making a comedy.
As far as 'Final Destination' and its creator, Jeffrey Reddick, are concerned, whenever Jeffrey calls, because of our friendship, I have to listen.
When Michael Bay called me, I'd worked with him before on 'The Rock,' and he called me and said, 'Tony, I might have something for you.' I said, 'Okay, you haven't called me in ten years!' He said, 'I've been busy!' I said, 'I've been busy too Michael, glad we could make our schedules match!'
Voiceover is probably the toughest of all the markets to get into. Everybody wants to do it because it's again three to five hours work. You can roll in there with your bedroom slippers and robe on if you wanted to. And it's fun.
I'm just happy that as an African-American man, that 'Candyman' has once again been given the nod to enter people's consciousness.
When you do a good theatrical production, sometimes you dream about that 8 o'clock curtain call for six months.
With film sometimes you're thrown in there and you literally hit the ground running, taking your best shot and just leave it up to the editing.
Dude, I've played almost every position except for President. When I did 'The Event,' I was head of the CIA. When I did 'Chuck,' I was head of the NSA. For a guy that's a hippie at heart, I don't know where they think of this.
It's weird how your friends chart things. First it's, 'When are you going to get a job?' Then as soon as things started to happen, it's, 'We're proud of you. You represent us.'
In my mind, I'm not scary at all. I'm channeling my inner Cary Grant!
I remember my first professional paycheck. I couldn't keep it as a memento because I needed the money, but I have kept some of the residuals that I get. I got one the other day that was for two cents. I might put that in a frame.
Dude, I've been a gamer ever since Intellivision.
I'm also a blues musician, and all blues artists can trace their pain to the slavery fields of the Mississippi Delta.
My first assignment was a curtain-puller for 'The Curious Savage.'
I think people are getting more and more - unfortunately - inured to violence. People are like, less sensitive to things they should wake up about.
I grew up a poor kid to a single mom, so as an African-American actor I have a responsibility to hold the mirror up and reflect our stories. I'm living the dream and also escaped the inevitable.
I tried the swimming team, but nobody came to the matches. But they did show up for the plays.
When I was a kid I really loved Humphrey Bogart. But when I was in theater school, Robert DeNiro was my go-to guy.
Yes, I would like to be involved in something that would hopefully be a blockbuster, but I'm interested in seeing new filmmakers telling new stories and to able to help them do that.
Duane Jones is a personal hero of mine.
There was a period where I did do a lot of television, but the luck of the draw worked in my favour, as they were all shows that were either fan-favourites or cultist things.
But 'Hatchet' I only had one day on it. You know, one scene, which I had fun doing. I enjoyed watching it.
I get sent horror scripts every week and most of them are putrid. A lot of people think it's an easy medium but it's not. Not if you want to make ones that last.
Actors are a funny lot. Sometimes they're not satisfied with where they are. I include myself.
I've worked with directors who have done it too much, particularly in television, you know, 'okay we got it, let's move on, next setup.' 'Well what about, we could maybe investigate?' 'Mmm… no, let's go.'
I was raised by my aunt and we bonded over the eight-o-clock movie on TV. We'd watch everything from James Cagney in 'White Heat' to Lon Chaney in 'The Wolf Man' and every Bogart movie.
I'm ready to go up to the Danny Glover level.
I wish I could do a black and white film.
But the people who give me the best reality check are my children.
My love is the theater.
I only do television if it's something really good like '24.'
People who come through television, if they don't get distracted, they learn how to shoot fast. They don't get shocked. And if they know how to adjust to that and they think outside the box, then they'll be fine.
