biography

Sally Todd Born in Missouri on June 7, 1934, Sally Todd grew up in Tucson, Arizona and was an attractive and athletic child. Growing into a beautiful woman, with encouragement her mother Todd entered the 1952 Miss Tucson Beauty Contest and won first prize, which was a trip to Hollywood. Upon arriving in Hollywood, she took a job modeling swimwear for Cole of California. She then moved to New York City for an on-camera role on The Johnny Carson Show, which was a 30 minute prime time series airing on CBS on Thursday nights. The show lasted just one season, and Todd then moved back to Hollywood. Soon she did a screen test for 20th Century-Fox Studios, and executives liked her test so much that they offered her a contract.

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LEFT: Todd with her brother, Jeff, in 1957. CENTER A: Mid 1950s Fox Studio shot. CENTER B: Modeling portfolio shot taken in the mid 1950s. RIGHT: Todd in a 1959 photo


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Photos of Sally Todd appeared in a number of men's magazines in the 1950s, and she was Playboy Playmate of the Month in February 1957. These photos are from the December 1956 issue of Focus

Todd began her acting career playing smaller parts in films and television; among the television shows in which she appeared are Love that Bob, Dobie Gillis, The Untouchables, Dragnet, and Gunsmoke. However, she's best remembered for her horror and science fiction films, some of which are now cult classics including The Unearthly (1957; with Allison Hayes, John Carradine, and Tor Johnson), Frankenstein's Daughter (1958; with John Ashley), and Viking Women and the Sea Serpent (1958; with Susan Cabot and Gary Conway). Both Viking Women and the Sea Serpent and The Unearthly aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Todd took roles in these films "until something better comes along."

the films of sally todd

The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956)

Sally Todd and Agnes Moorehead

With Agnes Moorehead in the Jane Russell vehicle The Revolt of Mamie Stover, released by 20th Century Fox

The Unearthy (1957)

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LEFT: Photo of Sally Todd used for the poster of The Unearthly. CENTER: Lobby card featuring Todd. RIGHT: With Tor Johnson

Frankenstein's Daughter (1958)

Sally Todd

From the low budget horror flick Frankenstein's Daughter

Viking Women and the Sea Serpent (1958)

Abby Dalton, Sally Todd, and Susan Cabot

From the American International Pictures (AIP) film Viking Women and the Sea Serpent with Abby Dalton and Susan Cabot

later years

While her acting career was going well, Todd retired from the screen in 1961 with her marriage to musician Charles Cochran, but the marriage quickly ended, and Todd remarried in 1963. Todd moved to Big Sur following the end of her second marriage and tended to her antique shop and kept in touch with a few old friends, such as Kim Novak, from her Hollywood days. Sadly, Sally Todd passed away on November 21, 2022 at age 88. It is unknown if there were surviving family members.

filmography

FILM
G.I. Blues (1960) with Elvis Presley, Juliet Prowse, John Hudson, and Jeremy Slate
Frankenstein's Daughter (1958) with John Ashley and Sandra Knight
Viking Women and the Sea Serpent (1958) with Susan Cabot, Abby Dalton, Jonathan Haze, and Gary Conway
The Unearthly (1957) with Allison Hayes, Myron Healy, John Carradine, and Tor Johnson
The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956) with Jane Russell, Richard Egan, Agnes Moorehead, and Joan Leslie

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Holiday Lodge, episode Johnny's Good Deed, originally aired July 23, 1961
The Tab Hunter Show, episode Happily Unmarried, originally aired December 25, 1960
77 Sunset Strip, episode The Duncan Shrine, originally aired November 18, 1960
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, episode Competition Is the Life of Trade, originally aired May 24, 1960
Johnny Ringo, episode Soft Cargo, originally aired May 5, 1960
The Untouchables, episode The Unhired Assassin, originally aired February 25, 1960
M Squad, episode Ghost Town, originally aired March 27, 1959
Dragnet, episode The Big Smart Girl, originally aired January 13, 1959
Dragnet, episode The Big Hot Rod, originally aired December 2, 1958

sally todd links

The Astounding B Monster Archive has an interview with Frankenstein's Daughter director Richard Cunha (1922-2005).

sally todd trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Sally Todd's 1958 horror flick Frankenstein's Daughter

sally todd film now showing

Watch Sally Todd's 1958 horror film Frankenstein's Daughter
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This page premiered February 15, 1999.
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