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 RUSSELL TODD INTERVIEWEdited by Tommy Jarvis, re-edited by sCabbOy Questions by Tommy Jarvis and count6string Thank you Russell Todd for your time, it was greatly appreciated! Russell Todd's website  C.L.A.D. How did you get started in acting? Russell Todd I was modeling in NYC with the Zoli Agency and they sent me out on auditions. One day they booked me on a commercial for the fragrance Jovan and I became the Jovan Musk man. That started my acting career. I soon landed a small part in the opening of another horror type film called He Knows You're Alone. I died in the first five minutes almost identically to the way I did in Friday the 13th Part II. I always wanted to be a film director but the modeling and acting sent me in a new and exciting direction. C.L.A.D. How did you get the role of Scott? Russell Todd I saw an audition advertisement in Back Stage and responded. I went to the audition and luckily nailed it. It was Friday the 13th Part II. I had no idea at the time what it was for but was very excited when I learned it was the sequel to the hit. Soon after we were all transported to Kent, CT to make the movie. C.L.A.D. Do you get recognized as Scott? Russell Todd When I did the film I was recognized quite a lot, but today not so much. I get more recognized as Dr. Jamie Frame from the NBC soap opera, Another World. I played him for 3 years in the early 90's. Still, some days people do come up to me and recognize me from the film which, as we know, was released so long ago. It always amazes me. The fans have always been fantastic! 
C.L.A.D. Was it creepy or fun on the set of Friday the 13th Part 2?Russell Todd It was BOTH! We laughed a lot making the film knowing who was actually playing Jason and seeing the various deaths and tension created for the film. It was a wonderful cast and we all got along and we were happy to be part of the saga. There were many scary nights too, walking back from the lake location to our personal cabins. Often other cast or crew members would hide behind the shrubs on the dirt path and either jump out at you or whisper" kill, kill, kill" or other lines from the film. Even though we knew it was just a movie and we were the ones making it, it was still frightening at times! We all had a big laugh about that. C.L.A.D. Did you keep in touch with anyone from Friday the 13th Part 2? Russell Todd I recently saw Stu Charno, Amy Steel, John Furey and Warrington Gillette at a fan gathering for the Friday films in Los Angeles. It was wonderful to see them again and catch up after so many years. They were a great group of people then and remain that way today. C.L.A.D. How long did you have to hang upside down in that tree? Russell Todd I really don't recall how long I was hanging upside down, but being a movie set, I'd say longer than I wanted! Shots take time to set, light and film, and usually it's not accomplished in one take. Though I believe this death was done in one take due to the foam latex appliance around my neck. They were very considerate and helped hold my body up during breaks between shots. It was shot at night on my last night of filming. The next day I went back to NYC with great memories. 
C.L.A.D. A lot of fans say Jason killed you with the wrong side of the blade. What do you think about this? Russell Todd They are absolutely right! Good eyes! I think it was a conscious decision to use the dull side of the blade for safety reasons since it was going to go directly against the foam latex appliance on my neck. The foam was precut so all I had to do was lean my head back as Jason grabbed my hair and that would reveal the slit. The makeup man was in the tree above me pumping the blood through a tube down my leg into the latex appliance. It just ran out of the slit. It eventually ran into my eyes and they cut out of the scene before you see that part. Everyone seems to catch that dullside of the blade against my throat! C.L.A.D. The scene where you stole the clothes from Terri while she was skinny dipping is a great scene! Was Scott anything like yourself in real life? Russell Todd Scott loved to laugh and he was a bit of a mischief maker. I am very much like that. I love to play tricks on friends and can take them just as equally, all in good fun. Watching her skinny dip was a true pleasure for Scott and I'm sure if I saw a beautiful girl in real life doing that, I'd enjoying watching as well! C.L.A.D. After the success of Friday the 13th, what was the feeling going into Friday the 13th Part 2? Russell Todd It was very exciting to be in the sequel. We all knew part 1 did well and there was potential for this one to do well also. Obviously we had no idea the franchise would go on and on a long time beyond us. I think looking back on it is much better than looking forward to making the film. Now we know exactly what we were a part of. Going into it we only had an idea. It's easy to look back and say "Wow, I was part of a series of films that made a mark of some sort in this world" That's very fulfilling and exciting to me. The films will live on forever and Jason will be scaring people for years to come. 
C.L.A.D. One of the things that make Jason iconic was his trademark Hockey Mask. In Friday the 13th Part 2 he wore a sack around his head. He didn't aquire the Hockey mask until Part 3.
Any thoughts on being in the only movie where Jason wears a mask other than his Hockey Mask? Which mask do you prefer?Russell Todd What he wore on his head made no difference to me. I just wish I didn't get caught by him!! I have to look where I'm running next time! I like the hockey mask better. More people can relate to that mask due to the popularity of the sport. Using something so well known and benign and making it so sinister and deadly is great for a horror film. C.L.A.D. Have you watched any other Friday's and if so what is your favorite? Russell Todd I hate to admit it but I haven't seen any of the other Friday films besides Part 1 & 2. Sorry, but next time they run one on TV I'll catch it and see how it compares. C.L.A.D. A lot of the guys at Crystal Lake After Dark dig the girl that played Terri! (Kirsten Baker) We were all rooting for you! How many times did you have to shoot her with the sling shot? Russell Todd We just shot it 2 or 3 times. I actually don't hit her when I launch the rock. I pull it back and fire. We did that a few times. But the stone that hits her was just thrown easily at her from close by. And yes, she was very hot and sexy both in real life and on the screen! 
C.L.A.D. Any final words to your fans?
Russell Todd I just want to thank all of the fans for their amazing support and loyalty to myself and the film. I had no idea how devoted you were to this series of films. Not only was it a pleasure to make the movie, but it has been a pleasure watching the fans maintain their interest and enthusiasm over it throughout the years. It is YOU that keep these things alive and I thank you for that. I was blessed to be part of the Friday series and I will always treasure those days making the film. Wonderful memories of Crystal Lake and the fun I had in those days!!! Thank you again for everything. C.L.A.D. Thank you Russell this was really fun! 
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