Richard Todd
A British war hero turned actor who brought a grounded, everyman valor to some of cinema's most famous military roles.
1919–2009 (age 90)·British actor·Birthday: June 11·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Richard Todd's path to stardom was forged in the crucible of World War II. As a young paratrooper captain, he fought in the D-Day landings, an experience that would later lend undeniable authenticity to his screen performances. Discovered on the London stage, his rugged sincerity and clean-cut looks made him a perfect leading man for postwar British cinema. He shot to fame playing a wounded soldier in 'The Hasty Heart,' a role that earned him an Oscar nomination, but it was his portrayals of real-life war heroes that cemented his legacy. He played Wing Commander Guy Gibson in 'The Dam Busters' and later returned to Normandy to portray Major John Howard, the man who led the capture of the Pegasus Bridge, in 'The Longest Day.' Todd's career was a unique bridge between the actual events of the war and their cinematic memorialization, performed by a man who had been there.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Richard was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Died at 90
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his first major film role in 'The Hasty Heart' (1949).
- Portrayed two iconic British war heroes: Wing Commander Guy Gibson in 'The Dam Busters' (1955) and Major John Howard in 'The Longest Day' (1962).
- Won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer in 1950.
- Served as a captain in the British Army's Parachute Regiment and participated in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.
Did You Know?
On D-Day, his unit of the 7th Parachute Battalion was tasked with securing a bridge near Ranville, just hours before he later portrayed the officer who led that same mission.
He was the first choice to play James Bond in 'Dr. No' but had to turn it down due to a scheduling conflict.
He founded his own theatre company, the Dundee Repertory Theatre, in Scotland.
He published two volumes of autobiography, 'Caught in the Act' and 'In Camera.'
“I was in the first wave of glider troops to land in Normandy.”
