Mike Todd

Michael "Mike" Todd was an Oscar winning American film and theatre producer. He is best remembered for producing the blockbuster hit American epic adventure-comedy film ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ that earned him an Academy Award for Best Picture. Todd commenced his career in construction business, however had a hard luck. Moving on, he strived with failed ventures and became bankrupt several times. Eventually he forayed into showbiz and found success on Broadway where he produced 17 shows. Two of his most successful shows were the American musical revues ‘Star and Garter’ and ‘Michael Todd's Peepshow’. He played instrumental role in technical innovation in film industry during the 1950s. He formed Cinerama Company with Lowell Thomas and Fred Waller, to put to use the widescreen film process called Cinerama invented by Waller. Todd later left Cinerama Company and developed the widescreen, 70 mm film format called Todd-AO along with American Optical Company. He later sold his interest in the Todd-AO format to aid in financing ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. He succumbed to a private plane accident while he was married to famous British-American actress Elizabeth Taylor. He was her third husband among seven.