Beverly Todd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beverly Todd
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Beverly Todd at the 2008 MovieGuide Faith and Values Awards Gala
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| Born | July 11, 1946 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, producer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse(s) | Kris Keiser (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
Beverly Todd (born July 11, 1946) is an American actress, producer, and writer. She is famous for her roles in movies like Brother John (1971), Moving (1988), Lean on Me (1989), and The Bucket List (2007).
On television, Beverly Todd appeared in shows such as Julie Farr, M.D. (1978−79) and The Redd Foxx Show (1986). She also had a regular role on Six Feet Under (2002−03). She has been in several soap operas, including Love of Life (1968−70) and Days of Our Lives (2012). Since 2019, Todd has played Beatrice Carter on the show 9-1-1. Throughout her career, she has been nominated four times for the NAACP Image Awards.
Early Life and Acting Dreams
Beverly Todd was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother's name was Virena Todd. From a young age, Beverly dreamed of becoming an actress. She often performed in school plays, which helped her start her journey in acting.
Starting Her Acting Career
Beverly Todd began her acting career in theater. She performed in an Off-Broadway play called Deep Are the Roots. Later, she acted in London productions of No Strings and Blues for Mr. Charlie.
Working with Sidney Poitier
Todd played a main role in the Broadway comedy Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights. This play was directed by the famous actor Sidney Poitier. She later worked with Poitier in four movies.
- Her first movie was The Lost Man (1969). She played a beautician named Sally.
- She then appeared in Poitier's films They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970), Brother John (1971), and A Piece of the Action (1977).
- In Brother John, she played a school teacher named Louisa. Critics said she had "natural charm" in the role.
- Beverly Todd looked up to Sidney Poitier as her acting mentor.
Television Roles and Awards
From 1968 to 1970, Todd was a regular on the daytime soap opera Love of Life. She played Monica Nelson, a theater actress. In 1977, she was on the educational show The Write Channel on PBS.
Todd earned her first NAACP Image Award nomination for her role in the PBS show Six Characters in Search of an Author (1976). She received her second NAACP Image Award nomination for playing an adult Fanta in the miniseries Roots. In the late 1970s, she regularly appeared as Kelly Williams in Julie Farr, M.D..
Movies in the 1980s and Beyond
In 1988, Todd played the wife of Richard Pryor's character in the movie Moving. This role earned her another NAACP Image Award nomination. She also played high school vice principal Joan Levias in Lean on Me (1989) alongside Morgan Freeman. A film critic called her performance "wonderful" in Lean on Me. She received her fourth NAACP Image Award nomination for this film. Around this time, Todd also acted in the Whoopi Goldberg movie Clara's Heart.
Todd took a break from regular acting in the 1990s. She returned in 2002 with a recurring role in the HBO series Six Feet Under. She worked again with Morgan Freeman in the 2007 movie The Bucket List, where she played his wife, Virginia. Freeman himself suggested Todd for the role to the director.
Todd also had supporting roles in independent films like The Lena Baker Story (2008) and I Will Follow (2011). In I Will Follow, she played Amanda, the aunt of Salli Richardson's character. Film critic Roger Ebert praised Todd's acting in this movie. She also made guest appearances on popular TV shows like House, The Closer, and Grey's Anatomy. In 2012, she had a recurring role on the soap opera Days of Our Lives as Celeste Perrault. Since 2019, she has been a recurring character, Beatrice, on the show 9-1-1.
Personal Life
Beverly Todd was married to film producer-director Kris Keiser. They had a son named Malik Smith. Sadly, Malik passed away at age 18 in 1989. This experience led Todd to work towards making laws stronger to prevent similar tragedies.
Todd is also a co-founder of the Sunshine Circle preschool. This school uses the Montessori teaching method, which focuses on helping children learn through exploration and self-directed activities.
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 The Surgeon 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
