Todd, Thelma, 1905-1935

Thelma Todd was a silent film actor known for her comedic roles and mysterious death. Born as Thelma Alice Todd on July 29, 1906 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Todd won the title of Miss Massachusetts while attending college in 1925. While she lost the Miss America pageant, Paramount Studios scouted her to perform in the romantic comedy Fascinating Youth (1926). Todd would perform in many other comedic films, as well as the original silent version of Hell's Angels (1930), produced and directed by Howard Hughes. On December 16, 1935, Todd mysteriously died in Pacific Palisades, California, resulting in multiple conspiracy theories attempting to explain her death.

Sources:

"Thelma Todd." Turner Classic Movies. 2022. Accessed April 7, 2022. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/192525%7C146093/Thelma-Todd/#overview

"Thelma Todd." Find a Grave. June 12, 1998. Accessed April 7, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3074/thelma-todd

Sanello, Frank. "Murder of '30s Starlet Thelma Todd No Longer Mystery." Chicago Tribune. May 04, 1991. Accessed April 07, 2022. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-05-05-9102090725-story.html