Quick Facts
Biography
Michael Todd, Jr. (October 8, 1929 – May 5, 2002) was the son of movie producer and cinema pioneer Mike Todd and his first wife, Bertha Freshman Todd. He was also a stepson of Elizabeth Taylor even though he was older than his famous stepmother through his father's third marriage. Todd Jr. was vice president of his father's company, Cinerama, and was responsible for filming the famous roller-coaster scene from the company's debut film, This is Cinerama (1952).
Todd, Jr. is also known for introducing the short-lived movie format Smell-o-vision, used solely in the 1960 film Scent of Mystery, which he produced.
Following in his father's footsteps of producing attractions for World's Fairs, Todd, Jr. produced a racially integrated minstrel show for the 1964 New York World's Fair, called "America, Be Seated". It closed after two performances.
In 1983, Todd, Jr. and his wife Susan McCarthy wrote a biography of Todd, Sr. called A Valuable Property: The Life Story of Michael Todd (ISBN 0-87795-491-7)
Todd, Jr. was first married to Sarah Jane Weaver (1953–1972) and they had six children by the names of Cyrus, Susan, Sarah, Eliza Haselton, Daniel and Oliver Todd. Later, when married to Susan McCarthy (1972–2002), Todd, Jr. had two more children, Del and James.
In May 5, 2002, Michael Todd, Jr. died in Ireland of lung cancer, at the age of 72 with all of his children and his second wife surviving him.