British leading man who achieved some success in American films, as well. Born in Ireland as the son of a British officer, Todd grew up in Devon and attended Shrewsbury Public School. His interest in theatre led him to small roles in stock in England and Scotland, following which he helped found the Dundee Repertory Theatre in 1939. He served with ...
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British leading man who achieved some success in American films, as well. Born in Ireland as the son of a British officer, Todd grew up in Devon and attended Shrewsbury Public School. His interest in theatre led him to small roles in stock in England and Scotland, following which he helped found the Dundee Repertory Theatre in 1939. He served with distinction as a paratrooper in the Second World War and returned to considerably more prominent theatre roles, culminating in the role of "Lachie" in John Patrick's "The Hasty Heart", in which he followed Richard Basehart in the Broadway production. He made his first film in 1948, and the next year was again cast as "Lachie", this time in the film version of The Hasty Heart (1949). His performance, a truly star-making and moving piece of work, earned him an Oscar nomination as Best Actor. He followed it with a role in Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright (1950), but although he continued to play leading roles, often in quite good films, he never again achieved the prominence and acclaim he had had with The Hasty Heart (1949). He was quite effective in such roles as "Robin Hood" and "Rob Roy", and very touching as "Peter Marshall" in A Man Called Peter (1955). Ultimately, however, his starring roles dwindled, but he continued as a stalwart character actor, primarily in British films. Show less «
I am not going around saying, 'Why me? Why me?' What helps me is accepting it, getting on with thing...Show more »
I am not going around saying, 'Why me? Why me?' What helps me is accepting it, getting on with things. You can't let yourself go on wallowing. -- in a 2006 interview regarding the suicide deaths of two of his sons. Show less «
I wish I had half the courage of some of those chaps I've played on the screen.
I wish I had half the courage of some of those chaps I've played on the screen.
You don't consciously set out to do something gallant. You just do it because that is what you are t...Show more »
You don't consciously set out to do something gallant. You just do it because that is what you are there for. -- referring to his heroism during WWII Show less «
I let myself become a willing workhorse. The roles were good, bad and indifferent, but I always gave...Show more »
I let myself become a willing workhorse. The roles were good, bad and indifferent, but I always gave a part my best shot and tried to enjoy it. Show less «
I have no idea why but acting was in my blood. God knows how I managed it, but none of it was spille...Show more »
I have no idea why but acting was in my blood. God knows how I managed it, but none of it was spilled in the war. Show less «