Thelma Todd (Dead Blondes Part 2)

Thelma Todd (Dead Blondes Part 2)

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.
Thelma Todd - a curvaceous white-blonde who predated Jean Harlow - was a sparkling comedienne who began in the silent era and flourished in the talkies, both holding her own opposite the Marx Brothers and playing straight woman in one of cinema’s first all-girl comedy teams. She was also an early celebrity entrepreneur, opening a hopping restaurant/bar with her name above the door. But today, Thelma is best remembered for her shocking 1935 death, which was deemed an accident but still sparks conspiracy theories that it was really murder.