The death of actress Thelma Todd contains more Byzantine twists than a David Mamet screenplay. The famous actress from the 1920s and 1930s was found dead on Dec. 16, 1935, slumped over the front seat of her car in her garage above the restaurant that bore her name on the Pacific Coast Highway. Her death was ruled an accident due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The other theories, however, are much more sinister. They range from a mob hit to a jealous lover to suicide.
Thelma Todd was born on July 29, 1905, in Lawrence, Mass. She grew up in the small town and was a good student who aspired to be a teacher. She also happened to be drop-dead gorgeous. Todd, while contemplating a career as an educator, also appeared in several beauty contests. In 1925, she was awarded the "Miss Massachusetts" title and qualified for the "Miss America" pageant, where several talent scouts noticed her.
One of those scouts was Paramount Studios executive Jesse Lasky. He offered Todd a spot in an acting school in Astoria, N.Y. When she graduated, she headed for Hollywood and a short life of fame and respect.
Todd acted in over 100 films from 1926 to 1935. Many of these were comedy shorts, also known as "one reelers," in which she displayed an impeccable knack for comedic timing. She also had an adequate voice that allowed her to make the leap from silent movies to talkies, unlike many of her better-known peers who had less than appealing sounds emanating from their mouths.
Todd’s looks, humor and strong screen presence made her the No. 1 choice for a female lead role in a comedy for some of the top names in the business, including Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers. Indeed, two of her most popular features were shot with the latter comedy troupe, Monkey Business (1931) and Horse Feathers (1932).
Todd knew her looks would not last forever, and she knew she needed to plan for her future. In 1933, she created a partnership with film director Roland West that would hopefully carry her into the next phase of her career.
It also may have led to her death.
Todd and West partnered to open Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Café at 17535 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, between Santa Monica and Malibu. The restaurant and nightclub catered to the Hollywood elite, as well as the growing beach community. It also attracted the Mafia.
