Robert Todd Duncan (February 12, 1903 – February 28, 1998) was an American baritone opera singer and actor.
As Robert Todd Duncan, he was born 12 February 1903 in Danville, Kentucky to John and Lettie (Cooper) Duncan. They were married in Danville 1901, he being born in Danville, and she born in Frankfort. John was a garage owner and Lettie was a music teacher. He obtained his musical training at Butler University in Indianapolis with a B.A. in music followed by an M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College.
In 1933, Duncan debuted in Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana at the Mecca Temple in New York with the Aeolian Opera, a black opera company.
Duncan was George Gershwin's personal choice as the first performer of the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess in 1935 and played the role more than 1,800 times. He led the cast during the Washington run of Porgy and Bess at the National Theatre in 1936, to protest the theatre's policy of segregation. Duncan stated that he "would never play in a theater which barred him from purchasing tickets to certain seats because of his race." Eventually management would give into the demands and allow for the first integrated performance at National Theatre. Duncan was also the first performer for the role of Stephen Kumalo in Kurt Weill's Lost in the Stars.
Todd Duncan is an American author and speaker. He founded the The Duncan Group, a mortgage sales consulting company, in 1992. According to CNN, Duncan is "the Tony Robbins of the mortgage industry."
Duncan has authored 14 books, including two New York Times bestsellers. Duncan is also the organizer and host of the annual Sales Mastery event.
Todd Duncan is a retired American soccer defender who spent two seasons in the USL A-League.
Duncan graduated from Bellarmine High School. He attended San Jose State University as a two-sport athlete in baseball and soccer. His soccer skills brought him to the attention of the San Jose Clash who selected him in the third round (27th overall) of the 1999 MLS College Draft. The San Francisco Bay Seals also drafted Duncan, in the 1999 USL A-League draft. Duncan signed with the Seals and played for them in 1999 and 2000.