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.
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".
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0001812
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193278
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Filmography (Movies)
The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:28/06/2024
Peter Baumgartner, Filmkameramann
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/2014
Octagon : le combat des maîtres
Character:
Release Date:01/01/2003
Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor
Character:Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage)
Release Date:21/05/2000
Thieves of Fortune
Character:Sergio Danielo Christophero
Release Date:31/05/1990
Speed Zone
Character:Grandfather
Release Date:21/04/1989
The Commander
Character:Col. Mazzarini
Release Date:28/04/1988
Armed Response
Character:Burt Roth
Release Date:03/10/1986
Jungle Raiders
Character:Warren
Release Date:01/08/1985
The Master Ninja 5
Character:John Peter McAllister
Release Date:01/01/1985
Code Name: Wild Geese
Character:Archie 'China' Travers
Release Date:05/10/1984
Killing Machine
Character:Julot
Release Date:10/05/1984
Master Ninja
Character:John Peter McAllister
Release Date:20/01/1984
Master Ninja II
Character:John Peter McAllister
Release Date:20/01/1984
Escape from New York
Character:Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
Release Date:23/05/1981
The Octagon
Character:McCarn
Release Date:14/08/1980
The Hard Way
Character:McNeal
Release Date:19/02/1980
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Character:Self
Release Date:05/06/1979
The Squeeze
Character:Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan
Release Date:25/10/1978
The Perfect Killer
Character:Harry Chapman
Release Date:30/11/1977
Nowhere to Hide
Character:Ike Scanlon
Release Date:05/06/1977
Kid Vengeance
Character:McClain
Release Date:01/12/1976
God's Gun
Character:Father John / Lewis
Release Date:01/02/1976
Take a Hard Ride
Character:Kiefer
Release Date:29/10/1975
The Stranger and the Gunfighter
Character:Dakota
Release Date:01/01/1974
Mean Frank and Crazy Tony
Character:Frankie
Release Date:23/11/1973
The Grand Duel
Character:Sheriff Clayton
Release Date:29/12/1972
The Magnificent Seven Ride!
Character:Marshal Chris Adams
Release Date:01/08/1972
Captain Apache
Character:Capt. Apache
Release Date:27/10/1971
Bad Man's River
Character:Roy King
Release Date:14/10/1971
Return of Sabata
Character:Sabata / Major
Release Date:03/09/1971
Barquero
Character:Travis
Release Date:29/07/1970
El Condor
Character:Jaroo
Release Date:19/06/1970
Sabata
Character:Sabata
Release Date:16/09/1969
Commandos
Character:MSgt. Sullivan
Release Date:19/11/1968
Beyond the Law
Character:Billy Joe Cudlip
Release Date:10/04/1968
Day of Anger
Character:Frank Talby
Release Date:19/12/1967
Death Rides a Horse
Character:Ryan
Release Date:31/08/1967
The Big Gundown
Character:Jonathan Corbett
Release Date:03/03/1967
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Character:Sentenza / Angel Eyes
Release Date:22/12/1966
For a Few Dollars More
Character:Col. Douglas Mortimer
Release Date:18/12/1965
How the West Was Won
Character:River Pirate (uncredited)
Release Date:02/11/1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Character:Reese
Release Date:13/04/1962
Posse from Hell
Character:Leo
Release Date:01/03/1961
The Slowest Gun in the West
Character:Sam Bass
Release Date:07/05/1960
Ride Lonesome
Character:Frank
Release Date:01/02/1959
Guns, Girls and Gangsters
Character:Mike Bennett
Release Date:01/01/1959
Machete
Character:Miguel
Release Date:01/12/1958
The Bravados
Character:Alfonso Parral
Release Date:25/06/1958
The Young Lions
Character:1st Sgt. Rickett
Release Date:02/04/1958
Day of the Badman
Character:Jake Hayes
Release Date:29/01/1958
The Tin Star
Character:Ed McGaffey
Release Date:06/11/1957
Raiders of Old California
Character:Damon Pardee
Release Date:01/11/1957
Joe Dakota
Character:Adam Grant
Release Date:27/10/1957
Gun Battle at Monterey
Character:Kirby
Release Date:27/10/1957
The Quiet Gun
Character:Doug Sadler
Release Date:18/07/1957
Last Stagecoach West
Character:Steve Margolies
Release Date:16/07/1957
The Lonely Man
Character:Faro
Release Date:21/06/1957
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Character:Ed Bailey
Release Date:30/05/1957
China Gate
Character:Maj. Cham
Release Date:22/05/1957
The Badge of Marshal Brennan
Character:Shad Donaphin
Release Date:14/04/1957
Accused of Murder
Character:Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey
Release Date:21/12/1956
Pardners
Character:Gus
Release Date:01/08/1956
It Conquered the World
Character:Dr. Tom Anderson
Release Date:14/07/1956
Tribute to a Bad Man
Character:Fat Jones
Release Date:30/03/1956
The Conqueror
Character:Chepei
Release Date:28/03/1956
The Vanishing American
Character:Jay Lord
Release Date:17/11/1955
A Man Alone
Character:Clanton
Release Date:17/10/1955
The Naked Street
Character:Harry Goldish (uncredited)
Release Date:01/08/1955
The Road to Denver
Character:Pecos Larry
Release Date:15/06/1955
I Cover the Underworld
Character:Flash Logan
Release Date:19/05/1955
The Big Combo
Character:Fante
Release Date:13/02/1955
Ten Wanted Men
Character:Al Drucker
Release Date:01/02/1955
Treasure of Ruby Hills
Character:Frank Emmett
Release Date:23/01/1955
Dawn at Socorro
Character:Earl Ferris
Release Date:01/09/1954
Princess of the Nile
Character:Hakar (uncredited)
Release Date:01/07/1954
The Desperado
Character:Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton
Release Date:20/06/1954
The Yellow Tomahawk
Character:Fire Knife
Release Date:01/05/1954
Arrow In The Dust
Character:Tillotson Henchman
Release Date:25/04/1954
Rails Into Laramie
Character:Ace Winton
Release Date:14/04/1954
Gypsy Colt
Character:Hank
Release Date:02/04/1954
The Nebraskan
Character:Pvt. Reno Benton
Release Date:02/12/1953
Tumbleweed
Character:Marv
Release Date:01/12/1953
Jack Slade
Character:Bolt Mackay
Release Date:08/11/1953
Vice Squad
Character:Pete Monty
Release Date:31/07/1953
Arena
Character:Smitty
Release Date:24/06/1953
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
Character:Corp. Stone
Release Date:13/06/1953
White Lightning
Character:Brutus Allen
Release Date:08/03/1953
The Bandits of Corsica
Character:Nerva
Release Date:27/02/1953
The Lawless Breed
Character:Dirk Hanley
Release Date:28/12/1952
Kansas City Confidential
Character:Tony Romano
Release Date:11/11/1952
Untamed Frontier
Character:Dave Chittun
Release Date:23/07/1952
High Noon
Character:Jack Colby
Release Date:09/06/1952
Television Appearances
The Master
Character:John Peter McAllister
Laredo
Character:
My Mother the Car
Character:
Branded
Character:
The Dakotas
Character:
Stagecoach West
Character:Lin Hyatt
The Andy Griffith Show
Character:Skip
Mr. Lucky
Character:Kruger
The Untouchables
Character:Frank Diamond
Hawaiian Eye
Character:
The Alaskans
Character:
The Twilight Zone
Character:Steinhart
Law of the Plainsman
Character:Tracey
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Character:Peak
Riverboat
Character:Luke Cragg
The Deputy
Character:Cherokee Kid
Bonanza
Character:Appling
Black Saddle
Character:Frank Sandoe
Rawhide
Character:Fred Grant
Rawhide
Character:Deck Sommers
77 Sunset Strip
Character:
77 Sunset Strip
Character:Majeski
Lawman
Character:
Lawman
Character:Deputy Clyde Wilson
Yancy Derringer
Character:Ike Milton
The Rifleman
Character:
Bronco
Character:
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Character:Jumbo Kane
Tombstone Territory
Character:Sam Carver
Zorro
Character:
Casey Jones
Character:Mort Clio
Trackdown
Character:Ben Fraser
Maverick
Character:
Perry Mason
Character:Edward Doyle
Wagon Train
Character:Rufe Beal
Have Gun, Will Travel
Character:Golias
Have Gun, Will Travel
Character:Corbin
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Character:Ed Murdock
Wire Service
Character:Al Sanders
State Trooper
Character:Frank Parnessa
The Adventures of Champion
Character:Frank
Cheyenne
Character:Braden
Cheyenne
Character:Harry Bittercreek Bartender
Gunsmoke
Character:Rad
Gunsmoke
Character:John Hooker
Gunsmoke
Character:Ike Jeffords
Buffalo Bill Jr.
Character:
Studio 57
Character:
Studio 57
Character:Tommy
Stories of the Century
Character:Jesse James
Annie Oakley
Character:Amos Belcher
Annie Oakley
Character:Tim Brennan
City Detective
Character:
General Electric Theater
Character:Dave Rudabaugh
The Ford Television Theatre
Character:
The Ford Television Theatre
Character:Stanley Perrin
Cavalcade of America
Character:
Cavalcade of America
Character:1st Mate Hawl Finch
Four Star Playhouse
Character:Bob Wheeler aka Sonora Kid
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Dallas Clancy
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Wink
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Sheriff
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Larkin
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Cowboy
Boston Blackie
Character:Captain Jansen
Boston Blackie
Character:Lou
The Adventures of Kit Carson
Character:
The Gene Autry Show
Character:Hod - Henchman
The Gene Autry Show
Character:Henchman Ray
The Lone Ranger
Character:Bull Harper
The Lone Ranger
Character:Jango
Images
