Lee Van Cleef
Acting
Biography
Clarence LeRoy "Lee" Van Cleef Jr. (January 9, 1925 – December 16, 1989) 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. 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".
Born: January 9, 1925
Place of Birth: Somerville, New Jersey, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Self (archive footage)
as Sergio Danielo Christophero
as Grandfather
as Col. Mazzarini
as Burt Roth
as Warren
as John Peter McAllister
as Archie 'China' Travers
as Julot
as John Peter McAllister
as John Peter McAllister
as John Peter McAllister
as Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
as McCarn
as McNeal
as Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan
as Harry Chapman
as Ike Scanlon
as McClain
as Father John / Lewis
as Kiefer
as Dakota
as Frankie
as Sheriff Clayton
as Marshal Chris Adams
as Capt. Apache
as Roy King
as Sabata / Major
as Travis
as Jaroo
as Sabata
as MSgt. Sullivan
as Billy Joe Cudlip
as Frank Talby
as Ryan
as Jonathan Corbett
as Sentenza / Angel Eyes
as Col. Douglas Mortimer
as River Pirate (uncredited)
as Reese
as Leo
as Lin Hyatt
as Skip
as Sam Bass
as Frank Diamond
as Steinhart
as Tracey
as Luke Cragg
as Appling
as Cherokee Kid
as Frank
as Frank Sandoe
as Fred Grant
as Deck Sommers
as Mike Bennett
as Miguel
as Majeski
as Deputy Clyde Wilson
as Ike Milton
as Jumbo Kane
as Alfonso Parral
as 1st Sgt. Rickett
as Jake Hayes
as Ed McGaffey
as Damon Pardee
as Adam Grant
as Kirby
as Sam Carver
as Mort Clio
as Ben Fraser
as Edward Doyle
as Rufe Beal
as Golias
as Corbin
as Doug Sadler
as Steve Margolies
as Ed Murdock
as Faro
as Ed Bailey
as Maj. Cham
as Shad Donaphin
as Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey
as Al Sanders
as Gus
as Dr. Tom Anderson
as Fat Jones
as Chepei
as Jay Lord
as Clanton
as Frank
as Braden
as Harry Bittercreek Bartender
as Rad
as John Hooker
as Ike Jeffords
as Harry Goldish (uncredited)
as Pecos Larry
as Flash Logan
as Fante
as Al Drucker
as Frank Emmett
as Tommy
as Earl Ferris
as Hakar (uncredited)
as Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton
as Fire Knife
as Tillotson Henchman
as Ace Winton
as Hank
as Jesse James
as Amos Belcher
as Tim Brennan
as Pvt. Reno Benton
as Marv
as Bolt Mackay
as Pete Monty
as Smitty
as Corp. Stone
as Brutus Allen
as Nerva
as Dave Rudabaugh
as Dirk Hanley
as Tony Romano
as Stanley Perrin
as 1st Mate Hawl Finch
as Dave Chittun
as Jack Colby
as Dallas Clancy
as Wink
as Sheriff
as Larkin
as Cowboy
as Captain Jansen
as Lou
as Hod - Henchman
as Henchman Ray
as Bull Harper
as Jango