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Photo of Lee Van Cleef

Lee Van Cleef

Actor
Died December 16, 1989 (64 years)
Clarence LeRoy "Lee" Van Cleef Jr. was an American actor best known for his roles in Spaghetti Westerns such as For A Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Hatchet-faced with piercing eyes, he had declined to have his nose altered to play a sympathetic character in his film debut, High Noon, and was relegated to a non-speaking outlaw as a result. For a decade he was typecast as a minor villain, his sinister features overshadowing his acting skills. After suffering serious injuries in a car crash, Van Cleef began to lose interest in his apparently waning career by the time Sergio Leone gave him a major role in For a Few Dollars More. The film made him a box-office draw, especially in Europe.

Military service:

After basic training and further training at the Naval Fleet Sound School, Van Cleef was assigned to a submarine chaser and then to a minesweeper, USS Incredible, on which he worked as a sonarman.

After leaving the Navy, Van Cleef read for a part in Our Town at the Little Theater Group in Clinton, New Jersey and received his first stage role. From there, he continued to meet with the group and audition for parts. The next biggest part was that of the boxer, Joe Pendleton, in the play Heaven Can Wait. During this time, he was observed by visiting talent scouts, who were impressed by Van Cleef's stage presence and delivery. One of these scouts later took him to New York City talent agent Maynard Morris of the MCA agency, who then sent him to the Alvin Theater for an audition.

Van Cleef's screen debut came in High Noon. During a performance of Mister Roberts in Los Angeles, he was noticed by film director Stanley Kramer, who offered Van Cleef a role in his upcoming film. Kramer originally wanted Van Cleef for the role of the deputy Harvey Pell, but as he wanted Van Cleef to have his "distinctive nose" fixed, Van Cleef declined the role in favor of the part of the silent gunslinger Jack Colby. He was then cast mostly in villainous roles, due to his sharp cheeks and chin, piercing eyes, and hawk-like nose, from the part of Tony Romano in Kansas City Confidential (1952), culminating 14 years later in Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Despite suffering from heart disease from the late 1970s and having a pacemaker installed in the early 1980s, Van Cleef continued to work in films until his death on December 16, 1989, at age 64. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Hollywood Hills, California, with an inscription on his grave marker referring to his many acting performances as a villain: "BEST OF THE BAD". Description above from the Wikipedia article Lee Van Cleef, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Escape from New York
  • Bonanza
  • Death Rides a Horse
  • The Big Combo
  • Kansas City Confidential
  • Ride Lonesome
  • Day of Anger
  • The Rifleman
  • The Grand Duel
  • The Lone Ranger
  • Wanted: Dead or Alive
  • Return of Sabata
  • God's Gun
  • Beyond the Law
  • The Real McCoys
  • Death Valley Days
  • Commandos
  • Bad Man's River
  • Captain Apache
  • Vengeance
  • Fury
  • Annie Oakley
  • The Gene Autry Show
  • Four Star Playhouse
Known For
  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
  • Escape from New York
  • Death Rides a Horse
  • The Big Gundown
  • Day of Anger
  • The Grand Duel
  • The Magnificent Seven Ride!
  • It Conquered the World
  • Return of Sabata
  • Barquero
  • The Octagon
  • The Big Combo
  • Kansas City Confidential
  • God's Gun
  • The Master
  • Beyond the Law
  • The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
  • El Condor
  • Ride Lonesome
  • Commandos
  • The Stranger and the Gunfighter
  • Bad Man's River
  • Captain Apache
  • The Young Lions

Filmography

2021
Ennio · as Sentenza
2011
2009
2008
How the West Was Lost · as Sentenza
2005
1992
1990
Thieves of Fortune · as Sergio Danielo Christophero
1989
Speed Zone · as Grandfather
1988
The Commander · as Col. Mazzarini
1986
Armed Response · as Burt Roth
1985
Jungle Raiders · as Warren
1984
Code Name: Wild Geese · as Archie 'china' Travers
1984
Goma-2 · as Julot
1984
Master Ninja · as John Peter Mcallister
1984
Master Ninja II · as John Peter Mcallister
1984
The Master (TV Series) · as John Peter Mcallister
1981
Escape from New York · as Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
1980
The Octagon · as Mccarn
1980
The Hard Way · as Mcneal
1979
The Wild West · as Cast
1978
The Squeeze · as Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan
1977
The Perfect Killer · as Harry Chapman
1977
Nowhere to Hide · as Ike Scanlon
1976
Vengeance · as Mcclain
1976
God's Gun · as Father John / Lewis
1975
Take a Hard Ride · as Kiefer
1974
1973
1972
The Grand Duel · as Sheriff Clayton
1972
The Magnificent Seven Ride! · as Marshal Chris Adams
1971
1971
Captain Apache · as Capt. Apache
1971
Return of Sabata · as Sabata / Major
1970
El Condor · as Jaroo
1970
Barquero · as Travis
1969
Sabata · as Sabata
1968
Commandos · as Msgt. Sullivan
1968
Beyond the Law · as Billy Joe Cudlip
1967
Day of Anger · as Frank Talby
1967
1967
The Big Gundown · as Jonathan Corbett
1966
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly · as Sentenza / Angel Eyes
1965
For a Few Dollars More · as Col. Douglas Mortimer
1965
Laredo (TV Series)
1965
My Mother the Car (TV Series)
1965
Branded (TV Series)
1964
Destry (TV Series) · as Ace Slater
1963
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (TV Series) · as Raoul Volta
1962
How the West Was Won · as River Pirate (uncredited)
1962
The Dakotas (TV Series)
1962
1961
Ripcord (TV Series) · as Henry Kane
1961
The Dick Powell Show (TV Series) · as Salty
1961
The Joey Bishop Show (TV Series) · as Charlie
1961
Posse from Hell · as Leo
1960
Stagecoach West (TV Series) · as Lin Hyatt
1960
The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) · as Skip
1960
1959
Mr. Lucky (TV Series)
1959
Shotgun Slade (TV Series) · as Buck
1959
Hawaiian Eye (TV Series)
1959
The Alaskans (TV Series)
1959
Hotel de Paree (TV Series) · as Thompson
1959
The Twilight Zone (TV Series)
1959
Law of the Plainsman (TV Series) · as Tracey
1959
The June Allyson Show (TV Series) · as Peak
1959
Laramie (TV Series) · as Caleb
1959
Riverboat (TV Series) · as Luke Cragg
1959
Bonanza (TV Series) · as Appling
1959
The Deputy (TV Series) · as Cherokee Kid
1959
1959
The Untouchables (TV Series) · as Frank Diamond
1959
Black Saddle (TV Series) · as Frank Sandoe
1959
Rawhide (TV Series) · as Fred Grant
1959
Guns Girls and Gangsters · as Mike Bennett
1958
Machete · as Miguel
1958
Cimarron City (TV Series) · as Tom
1958
77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) · as Majeski
1958
Lawman (TV Series) · as Deputy Clyde Wilson
1958
Yancy Derringer (TV Series) · as Ike Milton
1958
1958
Bronco (TV Series)
1958
Northwest Passage (TV Series) · as Frank Wade
1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series) · as Jumbo Kane
1958
The Bravados · as Alfonso Parral
1958
The Young Lions · as 1st Sgt. Rickett
1958
Day of the Badman · as Jake Hayes
1957
The Tin Star · as Ed Mcgaffey
1957
Raiders of Old California · as Damon Pardee
1957
Joe Dakota · as Adam Grant
1957
1957
Colt .45 (TV Series) · as Devery
1957
Tombstone Territory (TV Series) · as Sam Carver
1957
Zorro (1957) (TV Series)
1957
Casey Jones (TV Series) · as Mort Clio
1957
Trackdown (TV Series) · as Ben Fraser
1957
The Real McCoys (TV Series) · as 1st Sentry
1957
Maverick (TV Series)
1957
Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Edward Doyle
1957
Wagon Train (TV Series) · as Rufe Beal
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel (TV Series) · as Corbin
1957
Last Stagecoach West · as Steve Margolies
1957
The Lonely Man · as Faro
1957
1957
China Gate · as Maj. Cham
1957
The Badge of Marshal Brennan · as Shad Donaphin
1957
Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) · as Cherokee Bob
1957
The Quiet Gun · as Doug Sadler
1956
Frontier Doctor (TV Series) · as Bill Dalton
1956
Richard Diamond, Private Detective (TV Series) · as Ed Murdock
1956
Accused of Murder · as Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey
1956
The Sheriff of Cochise (TV Series) · as Hackett
1956
Pardners · as Gus
1956
It Conquered the World · as Dr. Tom Anderson
1956
Tribute to a Bad Man · as Fat Jones
1956
The Conqueror · as Chepei
1956
State Trooper (TV Series) · as Frank Parnessa
1955
The Road to Denver · as Pecos Larry
1955
The Vanishing American · as Jay Lord
1955
Fury (TV Series) · as Race Collins
1955
Crossroads (1955) (TV Series) · as Charlie
1955
Brave Eagle (TV Series) · as Great Bear
1955
The Adventures of Champion (TV Series) · as Frank
1955
Cheyenne (TV Series) · as Harry Bittercreek Bartender
1955
Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Rad
1955
A Man Alone · as Clanton
1955
The Naked Street · as Harry Goldish (uncredited)
1955
Buffalo Bill Jr. (TV Series)
1955
1955
Ten Wanted Men · as Al Drucker
1955
1955
The Millionaire (TV Series) · as Howard Branch
1955
TV Reader's Digest (TV Series) · as Mike
1955
Soldiers of Fortune (TV Series) · as Sgt. Bucheroff
1955
The Star and the Story (TV Series) · as Cast
1954
Dawn at Socorro · as Earl Ferris
1954
Rails Into Laramie · as Ace Winton
1954
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (TV Series) · as Ed Mccleod
1954
The Lineup (TV Series) · as Cast
1954
Studio 57 (TV Series) · as Tommy
1954
Medic (TV Series) · as Dr. Frank Strauss
1954
Princess of the Nile · as Hakar (uncredited)
1954
The Desperado · as Paul Clayton/buck Clayton
1954
The Yellow Tomahawk · as Fire Knife
1954
Arrow in the Dust · as Tillotson Henchman
1954
Gypsy Colt · as Hank
1954
Waterfront (TV Series) · as Ed
1954
Stories of the Century (TV Series) · as Jesse James
1954
Annie Oakley (TV Series) · as Amos Belcher
1953
The Nebraskan · as Pvt. Reno Benton
1953
Tumbleweed · as Marv
1953
Jack Slade · as Bolt Mackay
1953
The Man Behind the Badge (TV Series) · as Floyd
1953
Vice Squad · as Pete Monty
1953
Arena · as Smitty
1953
1953
White Lightning · as Brutus Allen
1953
Bandits of Corsica · as Nerva
1953
General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Dave Rudabaugh
1952
The Lawless Breed · as Dirk Hanley
1952
1952
Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Stanley Perrin
1952
Cavalcade of America (TV Series) · as 1st Mate Hawl Finch
1952
Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) · as Bob Wheeler Aka Sonora Kid
1952
Untamed Frontier · as Dave Chittun
1952
High Noon · as Jack Colby
1952
Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Brogger
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Larkin
1951
Sky King (TV Series) · as Mark
1951
Boston Blackie (TV Series) · as Captain Jansen
1951
1951
The Range Rider (TV Series) · as El Latigo
1950
Ashley Banjo’s Big Town Dance (TV Series) · as Jack Coleman
1950
The Gene Autry Show (TV Series) · as Henchman Ray
1950
Space Patrol (TV Series) · as Herrick
1949
The Lone Ranger (TV Series) · as Bull Harper

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