Beverly Todd

Beverly Todd (born July 11, 1946) is an American actress, producer and writer. She is known for her roles in films '' Brother John'' (1971), '' Moving'' (1988), '' Lean on Me'' (1989) and ''The Bucket List'' (2007).

On television, Todd appeared in the short lived ''Julie Farr, M.D.'' (1978−79) and '' The Redd Foxx Show'' (1986). She recurred on '' Six Feet Under'' (2002−03) and has appeared in several soap operas, including '' Love of Life'' (1968−70) and ''Days of Our Lives'' (2012). Todd has portrayed Beatrice Carter on ''9-1-1'' on a recurring basis since 2019. Todd has received four NAACP Image Award nominations throughout her career.

Early life

Todd was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Virena Todd. Todd aspired to be an actress from childhood, and performed in school plays.

Career

She began her acting career in the Off-Broadway production of ''Deep Are the Roots'', and later performed in the London productions of '' No Strings'' (replacing Barbara McNair) and '' Blues for Mr. Charlie''.

Todd played the main role in the Broadway comedy play '' Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights'' directed by Sidney Poitier. She later appeared opposite Poitier in four films. In her film debut, '' The Lost Man'' (1969), she appeared as beautician Sally, who uses the assumed name of Dorothy Starr. This was followed by roles in Poitier's '' They Call Me Mister Tibbs!'' (1970), '' Brother John'' (1971) and '' A Piece of the Action'' (1977). In ''Brother John'', Todd was a school teacher named Louisa. A reviewer stated Todd had "natural charm" in the role. She considered Poitier to be her acting mentor.

On television, she was a regular cast member on the daytime soap opera, '' Love of Life'', from 1968 to 1970. She portrayed Monica Nelson, a theater actress who becomes involved with Lincoln Kilpatrick's character. In 1977, she appeared in the educational show '' The Write Channel'' on PBS. Todd received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance in the critically acclaimed PBS production of ''Six Characters in Search of an Author'' (1976). She received her second NAACP Image Award nomination for her role as an adult Fanta in the ABC miniseries, '' Roots''. In the late 1970s, Todd appeared regularly as Kelly Williams in ''Julie Farr, M.D.''. Todd appeared in the ''Barnaby Jones'' episode titled, “The Bounty Hunter” (12/16/1976).

She appeared as Dana in '' The Ghost of Flight 401'' (1978) and played the role of Lahoma, the wife of Satchel Paige, in the 1981 television film '' Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige''. In 1986, Todd was cast as the ex-wife of Redd Foxx's character on '' The Redd Foxx Show''; the series had performed poorly in viewership and was overhauled with the addition of Todd and comedian Sinbad to the cast. The measure failed to improve ratings, and the show was canceled after one season.

Todd played the wife of Richard Pryor's character in '' Moving'' (1988), which garnered her another NAACP Image Award nomination. She portrayed high school vice principal Joan Levias in '' Lean on Me'' (1989) with Morgan Freeman. A film critic believed Todd was "wonderful" in ''Lean on Me''. She received her fourth NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance in the film. Around this time, Todd also acted in the Whoopi Goldberg film '' Clara's Heart''. Todd made appearances on various television series during the 1980s, including ''Lou Grant'', ''St. Elsewhere'', '' Cagney & Lacey'', and ''Magnum, P.I.''.

She did not appear regularly on the screen during the 1990s, only appearing intermittently in ''A Different World'' and other series in guest spots. She returned to acting in 2002, with a recurring role in the HBO series, '' Six Feet Under'' as Mrs. Charles. In 2004, she appeared as Don Cheadle's character's drug addict mother in the critically acclaimed film, '' Crash''. She reunited with Morgan Freeman in the 2007 comedy-drama film, ''The Bucket List''. In the film, Todd portrayed his wife Virginia. Freeman recommended Todd to the film's director, Rob Reiner.

Todd also had supporting roles in the independent films '' The Lena Baker Story'' (2008) and '' I Will Follow'' (2011), playing Amanda, the deceased aunt of Salli Richardson's character. Roger Ebert was favorable of Todd's performance in this film. Todd also guest starred on ''House'', '' The Closer'' and ''Grey's Anatomy'', and, in 2012, had the recurring role in the NBC daytime soap opera, ''Days of Our Lives'' as Celeste Perrault, the mother of Lexie Carver (Renée Jones). As of 2019, Todd had a recurring role as Beatrice on ''9-1-1''.

Personal life

She was married to film producer-director Kris Keiser. Their son, Malik Smith, died on March 20, 1989 at age 18 after being severely beaten at a teen youth center (no alcohol served or allowed) while on spring break in Utah. Smith's killer was found guilty of negligent homicide and received a one year prison sentence, only serving eight months. Todd was not satisfied with the jury's decision, and sought to have homicide laws in Utah be stricter.

Todd is a co-founder of the Sunshine Circle preschool, which follows a Montessori curriculum.

Filmography

Film

* 1969 '' The Lost Man'' as Sally Carter
* 1969 '' Some Kind of a Nut'' as Policewoman (uncredited)
* 1970 '' They Call Me Mister Tibbs!'' as "Puff"
* 1971 '' Brother John'' as Louisa MacGill
* 1977 '' A Piece of the Action''
* 1982 ''Vice Squad'' as Detective Louise Williams
* 1982 '' Homework'' as Clinic Receptionist
* 1986 ''The Ladies Club'' as Georgiane
* 1987 ''Happy Hour'' as Laura
* 1987 ''Baby Boom'' as Ann Bowen
* 1988 '' Moving'' as Monica Pear
* 1988 '' Clara's Heart'' as Dora
* 1989 '' Lean on Me'' as Mrs. Joan Levias
* 1995 ''Exquisite Tenderness'' as Nurse Burns
* 2004 '' Crash'' as Mrs. Waters, Graham's Mother
* 2005 ''Animal'' as Latreese
* 2007 ''Ascension Day'' as Nancy
* 2007 ''The Bucket List'' as Virginia Chambers
* 2008 '' The Lena Baker Story'' as Annie Baker
* 2011 '' I Will Follow'' as Amanda
* 2018 ''Drive Me to Vegas and Mars'' as Maggie
* 2019 ''Turnover'' as Ruth
* 2020 ''A Dark Foe'' as Mildred
* 2020 ''Broken'' as Grandma Wright

Television

* 1968-1970 '' Love of Life'' as Monica Nelson
* 1969 ''The Wild Wild West'' as Angelique
* 1976 ''Six Characters in Search of an Author'' (TV Movie) as The Stepdaughter
*1976 '' Barnaby Jones'' as Donna G Sanders The Bounty Hunter
* 1977 '' The Write Channel'' as Red Green
* 1977 '' Roots''
* 1978 '' The Ghost of Flight 401'' (TV Movie) as Dana
* 1978 ''Having Babies III'' (TV Movie) as Kelly Williams
* 1978-1979 '' Having Babies'' as Kelly
* 1979 '' The Jericho Mile'' (TV Movie) as Wylene
* 1979-1980 '' Benson'' as Casey Turner / Senator Francine Wade
* 1980 ''Lou Grant'' as Gloria
* 1981 '' Quincy M.E.'' as Gretchen Davis
* 1981 '' Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige'' (TV Movie) as Lahoma Brown
* 1981 ''Please Don't Hit Me, Mom'' (TV Movie) as Louise Hawley
* 1984 ''St. Elsewhere'' as Corrine Close
* 1984 ''A Touch of Scandal'' (TV Movie) as Beatty
* 1985 ''Magnum, P.I.'' as Donna Clemens
* 1985 '' Fraud Squad'' (TV Short)
* 1986 '' The Redd Foxx Show'' as Felicia Clemmons-Hughes
* 1987 ''A Different Affair'' (TV Movie) as Marla
* 1987 ''Hill Street Blues'' as Mrs. Milton
* 1991 ''A Different World'' as Julia Reeves
* 2002-2003 '' Six Feet Under'' as Lucille Charles / Keith's Mother
* 2006 ''Ghost Whisperer'' as Sheri Powell
* 2007 ''House M.D'' as Alicia Foreman
* 2007 '' The Closer'' as Mrs. Richards
* 2010 ''Criminal Minds'' as Susan Anderson
* 2011 '' Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story'' (TV Movie) as Belzora
* 2011 ''Grey's Anatomy'' as Gilda Ruiz
* 2012 ''Days of Our Lives'' as Celeste Perrault
* 2013 ''Royal Pains'' as Bea
* 2017 ''Queen Sugar'' as Mother Olivia Brown
* 2019 ''9-1-1'' as Beatrice Carter

References

Demetria Fulton previewed Todd’s appearance in Barnaby Jones; episode titled, “The Bounty Hunter”(12/16/1976).

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Todd, Beverly
1946 births
Actresses from Chicago
African-American actresses
American film actresses
Screenwriters from Illinois
American television actresses
Television producers from Illinois
American women television producers
Living people
American women screenwriters
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
20th-century African-American women
20th-century African-American people
21st-century African-American women
21st-century African-American people