Richard Todd's Height
5ft 7 ½ (171.5 cm)
Irish-born British actor best remembered for roles in films such as The Dambusters, The Longest Day, The Hasty Heart, Dorian Gray, A Man Called Peter, Asylum, Stage Fright, Never Let Go, The Yangtse Incident and The Virgin Queen.
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Add a Comment23 comments
Average Guess (9 Votes)
5ft 7in (170.2cm)
5ft 7in (170.2cm)
Gerald S said on 2/Oct/24
Can you see a flat 5’7” for Todd, Rob?
In Never Let Go, there was over an inch between Sellers and Todd IMO, and both men wore lifts in that film.
Editor Rob
Can you see a flat 5’7” for Todd, Rob?
In Never Let Go, there was over an inch between Sellers and Todd IMO, and both men wore lifts in that film.
Editor RobI am not sure about it.
Gerald S said on 30/Sep/24
Maybe more 5'7", Rob?
I recall sub 5'8" Herbert Lom edging him out in Dorian Gray.
Editor Rob
Maybe more 5'7", Rob?
I recall sub 5'8" Herbert Lom edging him out in Dorian Gray.
Editor RobMaybe sub 5ft 8 is likelier.
James Harris said on 29/May/21
Struggling to see Todd at 5'8". Obviously well below average height
Struggling to see Todd at 5'8". Obviously well below average height
Rastus said on 2/Oct/20
5'7" max and probably more like 5'6". He walks into a room of 20 odd people in Dambusters and he's quite easily the shortest one there.
5'7" max and probably more like 5'6". He walks into a room of 20 odd people in Dambusters and he's quite easily the shortest one there.
Roland Freig said on 25/Oct/17
My father owned a restaurant in Kings Road, Chelsea, where Todd was a regular customer during the 1960s. One of the waiters was rather short, at around 5'6''. The other waiters would joke that if he stood on his toes, he could be taller than Todd, who during the summer months wore flat canvas casual shoes. My father knew many British actors in his lifetime and clearly remembers Todd being around 5'7''. My father at 5'10'' often stood near him of course, so could judge his height very accurately.
My father owned a restaurant in Kings Road, Chelsea, where Todd was a regular customer during the 1960s. One of the waiters was rather short, at around 5'6''. The other waiters would joke that if he stood on his toes, he could be taller than Todd, who during the summer months wore flat canvas casual shoes. My father knew many British actors in his lifetime and clearly remembers Todd being around 5'7''. My father at 5'10'' often stood near him of course, so could judge his height very accurately.
Bloggsy said on 21/Aug/17
I saw him for real once and he was no taller than my Dad who was only 5ft 6in
I saw him for real once and he was no taller than my Dad who was only 5ft 6in
Arch Stanton said on 20/Jun/16
It goes to show you that a lot of these stars really were height conscious on screen. Even guys close to 6 ft like Niven felt he had to wear lifts in a lot of his films! Niven's ego appearing with Peck and Heston couldn't tolerate that, though with Peck in Guns of Navarone he did look 3-4 inches shorter!
It goes to show you that a lot of these stars really were height conscious on screen. Even guys close to 6 ft like Niven felt he had to wear lifts in a lot of his films! Niven's ego appearing with Peck and Heston couldn't tolerate that, though with Peck in Guns of Navarone he did look 3-4 inches shorter!
Arch Stanton said on 20/Jun/16
Editor Rob said on 22/Sep/15
Here is a funny tidbit from an actor David Lodge about Todd wearing lifts:
"I did a film with Richard and Peter Sellers. Everyone knows Richard wore lifts in his shoes or stood on a box to give him extra height, making him the same height as Sellers, who got upset so he started wearing lifts."
"I was taller than both of them so for fun I wore lifts, until one day the lighting cameraman exploded, saying: “What the hell is happening in this film - everyone is growing in each scene."
Only just sene this quote. That's one of the best quotes ever, great find ;-) I suspect that Sellers had the bigger lifts of the two though because at times he made Todd look just 5 ft 7!! I've seen a few Todd films where he his footwear seemed normal and if anything he could seem taller than this. Around 5 ft 8 is probably OK.
Editor Rob
Editor Rob said on 22/Sep/15
Here is a funny tidbit from an actor David Lodge about Todd wearing lifts:
"I did a film with Richard and Peter Sellers. Everyone knows Richard wore lifts in his shoes or stood on a box to give him extra height, making him the same height as Sellers, who got upset so he started wearing lifts."
"I was taller than both of them so for fun I wore lifts, until one day the lighting cameraman exploded, saying: “What the hell is happening in this film - everyone is growing in each scene."
Only just sene this quote. That's one of the best quotes ever, great find ;-) I suspect that Sellers had the bigger lifts of the two though because at times he made Todd look just 5 ft 7!! I've seen a few Todd films where he his footwear seemed normal and if anything he could seem taller than this. Around 5 ft 8 is probably OK.
Editor Rob this is the issue sometimes with films, some actors will wear lifts or have beneficial angles by the Director (or if you are Sly, create your own angles to benefit).
Editor Rob said on 22/Sep/15
Here is a funny tidbit from an actor David Lodge about Todd wearing lifts:
"I did a film with Richard and Peter Sellers. Everyone knows Richard wore lifts in his shoes or stood on a box to give him extra height, making him the same height as Sellers, who got upset so he started wearing lifts."
"I was taller than both of them so for fun I wore lifts, until one day the lighting cameraman exploded, saying: “What the hell is happening in this film - everyone is growing in each scene."
Here is a funny tidbit from an actor David Lodge about Todd wearing lifts:
"I did a film with Richard and Peter Sellers. Everyone knows Richard wore lifts in his shoes or stood on a box to give him extra height, making him the same height as Sellers, who got upset so he started wearing lifts."
"I was taller than both of them so for fun I wore lifts, until one day the lighting cameraman exploded, saying: “What the hell is happening in this film - everyone is growing in each scene."
Shane said on 14/Apr/15
He was no less than 5'8, see old Bristish Parachute regiment photos.
In any event he was the real thing in WWII.
"You don't consciously set out to do something gallant. You just do it because that is what you are there for."
- Richard Todd
OBE, D-Day Parachute Regiment Captain, Irish born British actor originally chosen to play Bond in "Dr No".
He was no less than 5'8, see old Bristish Parachute regiment photos.
In any event he was the real thing in WWII.
"You don't consciously set out to do something gallant. You just do it because that is what you are there for."
- Richard Todd
OBE, D-Day Parachute Regiment Captain, Irish born British actor originally chosen to play Bond in "Dr No".
Arch Stanton said on 24/Mar/15
Yes, he looks 5'7" with Sellers but I have a feeling that Sellers wore lifts in films like Never Let Go and I'm Alright Jack, playing arrogant intimidating boss types. He gained weight clearly for them, so I wouldn't be surprised if he wore lifts to make him look a bit more imposing.
Yes, he looks 5'7" with Sellers but I have a feeling that Sellers wore lifts in films like Never Let Go and I'm Alright Jack, playing arrogant intimidating boss types. He gained weight clearly for them, so I wouldn't be surprised if he wore lifts to make him look a bit more imposing.
Tigon Man said on 8/Jan/15
Shorter than Sellers. I'd say 5'7 maximum.
Shorter than Sellers. I'd say 5'7 maximum.
Arch Stanton said on 7/Jan/15
Stage Fright was one of Hitchcock's weakest films though Gonzalo. Check out Never Let Go on the tube. A Man Called Peter IMO he was Oscar worthy but I suspect that you won't like that film.
Stage Fright was one of Hitchcock's weakest films though Gonzalo. Check out Never Let Go on the tube. A Man Called Peter IMO he was Oscar worthy but I suspect that you won't like that film.
Gonzalo said on 5/Jan/15
He gave horrible performances in Lightning strikes twice and in Stage Fright
He gave horrible performances in Lightning strikes twice and in Stage Fright
Arch Stanton said on 30/Dec/14
How was he a horrible actor Gonzalo? I thought his performance in A Man Called Peter was worthy of an Oscar nom.
How was he a horrible actor Gonzalo? I thought his performance in A Man Called Peter was worthy of an Oscar nom.
Gonzalo said on 29/Dec/14
Horrible actor. Around 1'73
Horrible actor. Around 1'73
Arch Stanton said on 24/Dec/14
That's why I was thinking 5 ft 7 range!! I thought in one scene Sellers looked about 4 cm taller!
That's why I was thinking 5 ft 7 range!! I thought in one scene Sellers looked about 4 cm taller!
Sam said on 23/Dec/14
No, haven't seen it. I'll check it out, thanks for the link. Unlike some of the recent classic British actors, this guy has a familar name and face to me.
No, haven't seen it. I'll check it out, thanks for the link. Unlike some of the recent classic British actors, this guy has a familar name and face to me.
Arch Stanton said on 23/Dec/14
Rob did you also think Sellers seemed taller in the film? Some of the comparisons weren't exactly great though. I still think that Sellers might have been wearing lifts to look more imposing, what do you think?
Editor Rob
Rob did you also think Sellers seemed taller in the film? Some of the comparisons weren't exactly great though. I still think that Sellers might have been wearing lifts to look more imposing, what do you think?
Editor Rob it's tough because at one point I thought he was an inch taller easily, maybe sometimes angles can help one person...I read a bit in the daily mail "He was explaining why he had never complained when his co-stars [Harris/Harvey] both strapping six-footers, made fun of his diminutive stature. Once, during the lunch break, they scooped out a hole where Todd was to stand opposite them in the next scene, making him appear even smaller than his 5ft 8in."
Arch Stanton said on 23/Dec/14
Good little film isn't it. Very basic plot but so was Bicycle Thieves. Sellers and Todd made the film what it was. Seller's accent and demenour was quite believable I thought.
Editor Rob
Good little film isn't it. Very basic plot but so was Bicycle Thieves. Sellers and Todd made the film what it was. Seller's accent and demenour was quite believable I thought.
Editor Rob yeah with good actors and decent writing you can elevate things.
Arch Stanton said on 22/Dec/14
Click Here
That one with 5'6.5" Attenborough and 6' Duke is a bit worrying! He's further from the camera though!
Click Here
That one with 5'6.5" Attenborough and 6' Duke is a bit worrying! He's further from the camera though!
Arch Stanton said on 22/Dec/14
Sam I highly recommend Never Let Go, I doubt you'd seen it, Peter Sellers is really sleazy as the crime boss, a rare straight role. It's a great little film I think, Todd plays a guy obsessed with getting his car back. You can watch it Click Here I thought Todd looked a bit shorter than Sellers in the film but Sellers looked bigger and heavier than normal so might have been wearing lifts to look more imposing.
Sam I highly recommend Never Let Go, I doubt you'd seen it, Peter Sellers is really sleazy as the crime boss, a rare straight role. It's a great little film I think, Todd plays a guy obsessed with getting his car back. You can watch it Click Here I thought Todd looked a bit shorter than Sellers in the film but Sellers looked bigger and heavier than normal so might have been wearing lifts to look more imposing.
Arch Stanton said on 22/Dec/14
Nice one. Can you squeeze in A Man Called Peter (arguably his best performance) and Never Let Go (same director as The Towering Inferno and Death on Nile, really good). Both were cracking performances. 5 ft 8 seems OK I think, although he could look 5'7" range with Sellers in Never Let Go and in the still of Dorian Gray I saw Herbert Lom who I think was 5 ft 8 himself edged out Todd. Still, it's difficult to really see him at 5 ft 7, in walking he could seem like 5'9" range a lot. I could imagine a lot of people confused him with Richard Burton, similar voice too. Better looking than Burton though but shorter.
Editor Rob
Nice one. Can you squeeze in A Man Called Peter (arguably his best performance) and Never Let Go (same director as The Towering Inferno and Death on Nile, really good). Both were cracking performances. 5 ft 8 seems OK I think, although he could look 5'7" range with Sellers in Never Let Go and in the still of Dorian Gray I saw Herbert Lom who I think was 5 ft 8 himself edged out Todd. Still, it's difficult to really see him at 5 ft 7, in walking he could seem like 5'9" range a lot. I could imagine a lot of people confused him with Richard Burton, similar voice too. Better looking than Burton though but shorter.
Editor Rob I did watch Never Let Go, hadn't really heard of it before but it was a good turn from him and Peter.
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