Tony Todd

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.

One of the things that motion capture and/or voice acting does is allow you to continue your career, change it, or bring a new aspect to it.

I hustled my way through college playing pinball.

I collect Gottlieb games, and I play classic pinball.

I remember watching 'Abbott and Costello vs Frankenstein' continuously as a kid and being amazed that my horror legends were making a comedy.

Dude, I've been a gamer ever since Intellivision.

I grew up on video games. When I was in college, even during snowstorms, I would go the half-mile to the drugstore to play 'Millipede.'

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.

When I was a kid I really loved Humphrey Bogart. But when I was in theater school, Robert DeNiro was my go-to guy.

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.

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.

The black community has always been a fan of horror films, but in terms of the participants, they've been few and far between.

I'm a big fan of advertising during sports events.

I almost did 'Doctor Strange.' I went in to do a session to play Dormammu.

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.

Worth' was a script that was sent to me, and I felt it was something different and important to do.

I was a 'Trekkie' growing up.

I've played four roles on 'Star Trek.' My favorite episode was 'The Visitor' on 'Deep Space Nine.'

My first assignment was a curtain-puller for 'The Curious Savage.'

When you do a good theatrical production, sometimes you dream about that 8 o'clock curtain call for six months.

It's like going back home... It really is a family on '24.'

I can't speak to what makes people think that I'm scary.

I tried the swimming team, but nobody came to the matches. But they did show up for the plays.

I had a great childhood. My priorities were straight.

But the people who give me the best reality check are my children.

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.'

But you have to be told you're special first before you believe it yourself. I was first told I was special by my aunt. The second person was my scoutmaster.

Duane Jones is a personal hero of mine.

Sunset Boulevard' is my favorite film.

I love film noir, so Billy Wilder is like my favorite director of all time.

Chicago's a great city for filming. The city is so rich architecturally. I think that's part of what made 'Candyman' special.

Working on 'Candyman' in Chicago was probably the - I absolutely love this city, this city is so funky.

The work I did with Artists Collective led me to a scholarship at Uconn... It led to me getting a scholarship at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and a scholarship at Trinity Rep in Providence.

In my mind, I'm not scary at all. I'm channeling my inner Cary Grant!

Most actors do that. They fill in the blanks. You don't want to play a cipher.

Although we're all in this to make a living, why not make something to make an impact? One day, I'll make a horror film. I think I know what the audience wants.

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.

So I grew up watching film noir, you know the classic stuff. William Holden, Richard Widmark, Robert Mitchum, all those.

I wish I could do a black and white film.

Even if you do a great performance, if you have a weak link in the film, that's all anyone remembers.

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.

My love is the theater.

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 think you have a responsibility as an artist to continually reach a hand out and try and inspire people.

Whenever I can make it work out, and schedule permitting, I like to help young filmmakers.

I'm just happy that as an African-American man, that 'Candyman' has once again been given the nod to enter people's consciousness.

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.

True story - When 'Candyman' first came out, my daughter and I were Christmas shopping, and people were harassing us. Finally my daughter puts down her shopping bag and said 'That's not Candyman! That's my dad!' I will never forget that, because that's when we really bonded.

I'm also a blues musician, and all blues artists can trace their pain to the slavery fields of the Mississippi Delta.

But my career's so much deeper than just horror.