Richard Todd

Richard Todd

 

British actor Richard Todd (1919-2009) made three live-action movies for Walt Disney and became close friends with the legendary filmmaker. Below is Todd with Walt Disney and Joan Rice while filming The Story of Robin Hood in 1951. 

Walt Disney, Richard Todd and Joan Rice

Todd served as a member of the British parachute regiment during World War II. At one point he served as adjutant and was responsible for writing the letters home notifying families that their sons fathers and brothers had been killed.

Todd would star in two of the greatest World War II films.

He portrayed Wing Commander Guy Gibson in the 1955 movie The Dam Busters which told the story of Operation Chastise.

The final scene has Gibson notify Dr Barnes Wallis he has letters to write. Todd later commented he hated filming that scene because it brought back memories of all the letters he had written during the war.

For the 1962 film The Longest Day, Todd was cast to portray Major John Howard who led the glider attack on the Orne River bridges on June 6th 1944. Todd had been one of the relief unit paratroopers who had jumped and met with Howard's glider unit. In his portrayal of Howard Todd wore the pin and Beret he had worn on June 6th 1944 (photo above).

Aware of Todd's history the filmmakers feature a moment when the relief group arrives Howard gives a slight nod to an actor portraying paratrooper Richard Todd.