[Sharon]

Thelma Todd is one of my favourite actresses - noticably for me her funny, goofy, loveable supporting roles in the Marx Brothers films.

I was upset on hearing of her premature death/murder in 1935:

"Thelma Todd is remembered for two reasons: she was a supporting lady in the Marx Brothers' comedies, and she died a mysterious death. But Thelma was much more than some "bit player" and was a comedic phenomenon in her own right. Discovered after winning the Miss Massachusetts Beauty Contest-- which she did NOT want to enter-- she found herself in Hollywood starring opposite legends like Laurel and Hardy and Charley Chase. Her natural talent and immediate likability made her an instant star. Too beautiful and funny to be stuck in the background, she effortlessly drew the audience's attention. Before long, she was partnered up with Zasu Pitts and later Patsy Kelly in female buddy films. This was really saying something in a genre where men were always given the lead and women were an afterthought, generally only there to move the plot along.

Sadly, her luminosity is clouded by her macabre death. On Dec. 16, 1935, Thelma was found dead in the garage above her Pacific Palisades restaurant: Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe. Hastily ruled a suicide, the police at first didn't even pretend to investigate-- she had died of carbon monoxide poisoning, case closed. However, the bruises on her face raised questions, and her disbelieving mother and friends got the media in a tizzy, so DA Buron Fitts was forced to order an investigation. It was commonly known that Thelma was linked to the downright evil Lucky Luciano, and there was a lot of evidence implicating his involvement, yet the finger of blame was never placed upon him. Witnesses were bullied into keeping their mouths shut, and while Roland West, Thelma's ex-paramour and business partner, was temporarily used as a scapegoat, no real evidence could be found against him. Her death was finally ruled "accidental." In one fell swoop, Thelma and her place in the public consciousness was killed.

The thing that makes Thelma's overshadowed career the most tragic is that she was just plain fun! Watching her movies, you wish you had known her personally and could kick back and laugh it up with her. To her friends, she was the kindest and warmest pal they could ask for. Humble, utterly lacking in vanity, witty as they come, and girlishly vulnerable, hers is an endearing soul that continues to draw viewers in long after her untimely demise. Goofy and not afraid to make an ass of herself, Thelma still maintained her beauty and sex appeal. She was the whole package and a true gift to all of us."

[Pelle]

Wow she was beautiful

[Faline]

good post

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Pelle ↗

Wow she was beautiful

She was eh? Poor soul

[Airbornemama]

I loved those old movie's,and yes she was A knock-out!! Nice story with pic's Sharon!!Thank's

[MonsterMetal]

how sad

[PsychodelicTurtle]

Of course Luciano did it! No one needs to say more. Shit doesn't stick to most of 'em. No matter how obvious it is that the turd in question belongs to them.

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by EarthBoundBaby ↗

Of course Luciano did it! No one needs to say more. Shit doesn't stick to most of 'em. No matter how obvious it is that the turd in question belongs to them.

[BooshLover]

Yes, she was beautiful and funny all in one. What a terrible loss of a tremendous actress.

[BooshLover]

I believe she was murdered as well.