‘Candyman’ Actor Tony Todd Was Compensated $1K Per Bee Sting While Filming The Movie: I Had A Great Lawyer At The Time & We Got Paid

Tony Todd

‘Candyman’ Actor Tony Todd Was Compensated $1K Per Bee Sting While Filming The Movie: I Had A Great Lawyer At The Time & We Got Paid

Tony Todd’s paycheck for “Candyman” was one he’ll always remember. 

Tony Todd

Actor Tony Todd is known for his appearance as the sinister titular villain in the horror film “Candyman,” who turned 30 recently after its origination in 1992. Fans of the movie can recall the bees playing a huge role during the edge-of-your-seat scene where Tony Todd’s Candyman is kissing Virginia Madsen’s Helen Lyle with a mouth full of bugs. In a recent interview, Tony, who starred in two sequels in 1995 and 1999, shared that he was paid almost $1,000 every time he was stung by a bee while shooting the scene.

The 67-year-old said:

“The bees were the worst nemesis.” 

Being that the sting-payment was embedded in his contract, he reflected:

“I didn’t mind it. I’m going like, ‘Bring it on!’”

The D.C. native added:

“I had a great lawyer at the time and we got paid.” 

The actor revealed that he was stung about 27 times while shooting the movie. However 61-year-old, Virginia Madsen, is extremely allergic to bees. The crew members had “paramedics on the set,” just in case, which triggered Virginia Madsen’s confidence. The actress, who stars as Helen, shared:

“But the bees that were on me were baby bees so they can sting but they said they are less likely to. Then you had to sit for a good 20-25 minutes while [the bee wrangler] vacuums them off you.”

While Madsen did not star alongside Tony in 1995’s Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and 1999’s direct-to-video Candyman 3: Day of the Dead, she repeated her role of Helen via a voice and archive-image cameo in 2021’s Candyman.

Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen

What are your thoughts on Tony Todd getting paid 1K per bee sting while filming “Candyman?” Share it with us in the comments below.

[VIA]