Thelma Todd
Biography
Thelma Todd was an American actress and businesswoman who made around 120 features and shorts between 1926 and 1935. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, she won the title of Miss Massachusetts in 1925, was spotted by a Hollywood talent scout, trained at the Paramount Players School, and reached Hal Roach Studios in 1929. Supporting roles in silent films gave way to comedy once sound arrived, and in 1931 Roach gave her her own series of short slapstick comedies, first with ZaSu Pitts and then, from 1933, with Patsy Kelly, usually as a poised working girl coping with a scatterbrained partner. She appeared opposite the Marx Brothers in Monkey Business (1931) and Horse Feathers (1932), with Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante in Speak Easily (1932), and in the 1931 drama The Maltese Falcon. Her last role was in The Bohemian Girl (1936). She died in 1935.
29years old at death
- Born Lawrence
- Died Pacific Palisades
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as Thelma Alice Todd
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 7 years1929 to 1936
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First role
As a student, Todd modeled and entered beauty pageants in her late teens, becoming 1925 Miss Lawrence and 1925 Miss Massachusetts. A Hollywood talent scout noticed her while she represented her home state, and she got a place at the Paramount Players School in Astoria, Queens.
Early training
Todd trained at the Paramount Players School in Astoria, Queens, where Paramount put would-be actors through acting, diction, athletics and manners; of her 16-person cohort, only Charles "Buddy" Rogers also reached Hollywood.
A first
Hal Roach built a female version of Laurel and Hardy around Todd, pairing her with ZaSu Pitts for 17 slapstick shorts from Let's Do Things in June 1931 through One Track Minds in May 1933.
Thelma Todd movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Norman Z. McLeod directed two of these films, Hal Roach two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Oliver Hardy's page
Stan Laurel's page
Henry Armetta's page
Theresa Harris's page
Groucho Marx's page
James Finlayson's page
Norman Z. McLeodDirector, 2 films, 1931 to 1932
All films by Norman Z. McLeod
All films by Hal Roach
Also two films together6 more actors
- Ricardo CortezThe Maltese Falcon (1931) and Her Man (1930)
- Chico MarxHorse Feathers (1932) and Monkey Business (1931)
- Harpo MarxHorse Feathers (1932) and Monkey Business (1931)
- Mae BuschThe Bohemian Girl (1936) and Unaccustomed as We Are (1929)
- Bebe DanielsCounsellor at Law (1933) and The Maltese Falcon (1931)
- Zeppo MarxHorse Feathers (1932) and Monkey Business (1931)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.