# Diane Todd

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**Diane Todd** (4 June 1937 – 18 April 2010) was a British-born and South African naturalized stage, film, television and stage actress and singer. She is best known for her illustrious stage career.

## Personal life

Todd was born in Edinburgh and at the age of ten, she moved with her family to London where her father, Eric continued a music career, joining the Billy Ternent Orchestra and appearing on [BBC radio](/source/BBC_radio).[1]

She later married the diamond heir, Douglas Cullinan, great-grandson of [Thomas Cullinan](/source/Sir_Thomas_Cullinan). The couple settled in Cullinan's native South Africa in 1965. The couple separated but later reunited. In 1975, Cullinan died of a heart attack. Todd later married a fellow stage actor, Robin Dolton. They were in the midst of getting a divorce when Dolton died during their legal proceedings.[2]

In 2000, she announced her engagement to Andrew Finlay in the [Port Elizabeth](/source/Port_Elizabeth) press. She was soon alerted by her fiancé's ex-wives and creditors that he had used a false name and lied about his profession and background. Todd later left South Africa and settled in England in 2007. She died of [leukemia](/source/Leukemia) on 18 April 2010.[2]

## Career

Todd received singing lessons from Harold Miller, the voice coach for [Julie Andrews](/source/Julie_Andrews) and [Shirley Bassey](/source/Shirley_Bassey).[2] She would make her West End debut at 16 in *A Girl Called Jo*. In 1956 she performed in the original 1956 [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) production of *[My Fair Lady](/source/My_Fair_Lady)* and in the [Drury Lane](/source/Drury_Lane) and Johannesburg productions. She later had the honour of an American national holiday in her name, with the Diane Todd/[Eliza Doolittle](/source/Eliza_Doolittle) Day[3] when she took on the Doolittle role in 1959. She played Doolittle in a touring production across the United States, Canada and South Africa.

She appeared in major South African productions of famous musicals such as *[Guys & Dolls](/source/Guys_%26_Dolls)*, *[Kiss Me, Kate](/source/Kiss_Me,_Kate)*, *[Daddy Long Legs](/source/Daddy_Long_Legs_(musical))*, *[Stop the World I Want to Get Off](/source/Stop_the_World_I_Want_to_Get_Off)* and *[The Merry Widow](/source/The_Merry_Widow)*.[2]

### Filmography

Film and television Year Title Role Notes 1957 O.S.S. Girl Singer 1 episode; Operation Barbecue Dixon of Dock Green Dor 1 episode; Rock, Rattle and Roll 1958 Six-Five Special Anne Castle Dangerous Lady Anne TV film The Dickie Henderson Half-Hour Episode 1.3 1962 Two Guys Abroad

## References

1. [Obituary: Diane Todd](http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-diane-todd-1-803542) Scotsman. 10 May 2010

1. [Obituary: Diane Todd: Star of Broadway, West End - and PE](http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/2010/04/25/obituary-diane-todd-star-of-broadway-west-end---and-pe) Sunday Times (South Africa). 25 April 2010

1. [Allan, Jani](/source/Jani_Allan). *[Face Value](/source/Face_Value_(book))*, 1980s. Longstreet. pp. 19

- [Diane Todd](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865155/) at IMDb

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