Actor. Born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of a British Army officer, he was raised in Devon, was educated at the Shrewsbury School and began appearing on stage at the age of 18. In 1939 he co-founded the Dundee Repertory Theatre. During World War II, he served as a Captain with the Parachute Regiment and was one of the first British officers to land in Normandy in advance of the June 4, 1944 D-Day invasion, helping glider force commander Major John Howard capture Pegasus Bridge near Caen. His exploits would be re-created in the 1962 film "The Longest Day", in which he played Major Howard. After the war Todd made motion picture debut in "For Them That Trespass" (1949), and garnered an Academy Award nomination for his performance as 'Lachlan' (a role originated by Richard Basehart on Broadway) in the film adaptation of "The Hasty Heart" (1949). For several years he was one of Britain's biggest stars at the box office. His other memorable credits include "Stage Fright" (1950), "The Venetian Bird" (1952), "A Man Called Peter" (1955), "The Dam Busters" (1955), "The Virgin Queen" (1955), and "Subterfuge" (1968). He was author Ian Fleming's original choice to play James Bond in "Dr. No" (1962), but scheduling problems led to his being replaced by Sean Connery.
Actor. Born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of a British Army officer, he was raised in Devon, was educated at the Shrewsbury School and began appearing on stage at the age of 18. In 1939 he co-founded the Dundee Repertory Theatre. During World War II, he served as a Captain with the Parachute Regiment and was one of the first British officers to land in Normandy in advance of the June 4, 1944 D-Day invasion, helping glider force commander Major John Howard capture Pegasus Bridge near Caen. His exploits would be re-created in the 1962 film "The Longest Day", in which he played Major Howard. After the war Todd made motion picture debut in "For Them That Trespass" (1949), and garnered an Academy Award nomination for his performance as 'Lachlan' (a role originated by Richard Basehart on Broadway) in the film adaptation of "The Hasty Heart" (1949). For several years he was one of Britain's biggest stars at the box office. His other memorable credits include "Stage Fright" (1950), "The Venetian Bird" (1952), "A Man Called Peter" (1955), "The Dam Busters" (1955), "The Virgin Queen" (1955), and "Subterfuge" (1968). He was author Ian Fleming's original choice to play James Bond in "Dr. No" (1962), but scheduling problems led to his being replaced by Sean Connery.
Bio by: C.S.
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Husband of Virginia and Kitty
Loving Father of Peter and Fiona, Andrew, Seumas and Jeremy
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