Richard Todd (1919-2009)

Richard Todd OBE (11th June 1919 - 3rd December 2009) was an Irish-born British stage and film actor and former soldier. During the Second World War, Todd joined the British Army receiving a commission in 1941. Initially, he served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry before joining the Parachute Regiment and being assigned to the 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion as part of the British 6th Airborne Division. On 6th June 1944, as a captain, he participated in the British Airborne Operation Tonga during the D-Day landings. Todd was among the first British officers to land in Normandy as part of Operation Overlord. His battalion were reinforcements that parachuted in after glider forces had landed and completed the main assault against Pegasus Bridge near Caen. He later met up with Major John Howard on Pegasus Bridge and helped repel several German counter attacks. As an actor, Todd would later play Howard in the 1962 film The Longest Day. Todd died in his sleep on 3rd December 2009. He had been suffering from cancer. A great actor and a very brave soldier. PUBLIC DOMAIN News item.

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• (1919-2009)

[SqnCommanderG]

A gentleman, as British gentleman should be. A real war hero and star.

[593OLYMPUS]

Richard was always the epitome of the "Great" in "Great Briton" for me. As you say a complete gentleman - never forgotten.

[avrovulcan617]

A great hero a great actor & a true gent and sadly missed.

[TeddyTodd111]

he was my second cousin ;'( x R.I.P

[bootsamou]

Wow ~ he was SO handsome !

[pegasuswatersports]

was a friend of my uncle (dennis fox} they served together at pegasus bridge

[ObltKG4]

Sad but celebratory. Great person.

[brubakerhenry]

brilliant - well done for catching this - absolutely superb. He's the guy we needed in charge of the bloody country!!

[bcoy17sqn]

what a fantastic man,a hero in the field and on the screen.

[Demilich84]

It's guys like this that make me proud to be an Irishman or Dubliner even. A well decent bloke, it shows regardless of what anyone thinks not all Irish people sat on the fence during WWII. We did our part.

[TalentSpotter83]

What a man. For all the stout hearts and courage found amongst young men today. None are of the same calibre as Richard Todd and other men who served in World War II. A great loss to us all and his untimely passing only makes us mourn for the "man" of yestercentury [sic]. Be at peace good sir.

[lyx6897]

Rest in Peace