BIO

Thelma Todd was born Thelma Alice Todd in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1905.   She was winner of the Miss Massachusetts beauty contest and went on to compete in the Miss America pageant.   Although she did not win, she was soon noticed by Hollywood talent agents and whisked off to the Los Angeles.

Todd made her silent film debut for Paramount Pictures in 1926 at the age of 21.   She moved to the Hal Roach Studios in 1929 and with her first ‘talkie’ became a comedy short-reel star appearing opposite the likes of Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, Charley Chase and Harry Langdon.

In 1931, in an effort to create a female comedic duo, Roach teamed her up with Zasu Pitts for a series of 16 comedic short-reels through 1933.   She was then paired with comedienne Patsy Kelly for another series of 19 short-reels through 1936.

Todd also appeared in more than 50 feature films through 1936.

She was married to Hollywood agent Pat DiCicco (1909-1978) between 1932 and 1934.

Todd died under mysterious circumstances in Los Angeles, in 1935, at the age of 29.   She had been dating Hollywood director Roland West (1885-1952) when she was found dead in a car having suffocated from carbon monoxide in the garage of her lover’s former wife.   No charges were ever filed.

Additional biographical information is available at:

NOTED FILMS

Full filmography at: