Lee Van Cleef
Photo from TMDB

Person

Lee Van Cleef

Known for
Acting
Born
January 9, 1925
Died
December 16, 1989
Place of birth
Somerville, New Jersey, USA
Also known as
Clarence Leroy Van Cleef Jr., 李·范克里夫, 리 밴 클리프

IMDb

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".

Biography from TMDB, which often draws on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

In Catlg

2 Works in the catalog credit them.

Acting (2)

Filmography

  • The Conqueror: Hollywood FalloutFilm · 2024 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Peter Baumgartner, FilmkameramannFilm · 2014 · as (archive footage)
  • Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actorFilm · 2000 · as Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage)
  • The Best of the Martial Arts FilmsFilm · 1990 · as Self
  • Thieves of FortuneFilm · 1990 · as Sergio Danielo Christophero
  • Speed ZoneFilm · 1989 · as Grandfather
  • The CommanderFilm · 1988 · as Col. Mazzarini
  • Armed ResponseFilm · 1986 · as Burt Roth
  • Jungle RaidersFilm · 1985 · as Warren
  • The Master Ninja 5Film · 1985 · as John Peter McAllister
  • Code Name: Wild GeeseFilm · 1984 · as Archie 'China' Travers
  • Killing MachineFilm · 1984 · as Julot
  • Master NinjaFilm · 1984 · as John Peter McAllister
  • Master Ninja IIFilm · 1984 · as John Peter McAllister
  • The MasterTV · 1984 · as John Peter McAllister · 13 episodes
  • Escape from New YorkFilm · 1981 · as Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
  • The Hard WayFilm · 1980 · as McNeal
  • The OctagonFilm · 1980 · as McCarn
  • When the West Was Fun: A Western ReunionFilm · 1979 · as Self
  • The SqueezeFilm · 1978 · as Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan
  • Nowhere to HideFilm · 1977 · as Ike Scanlon
  • The Perfect KillerFilm · 1977 · as Harry Chapman
  • God's GunFilm · 1976 · as Father John / Lewis
  • Kid VengeanceFilm · 1976 · as McClain
  • Take a Hard RideFilm · 1975 · as Kiefer
  • The Stranger and the GunfighterFilm · 1974 · as Dakota
  • Mean Frank and Crazy TonyFilm · 1973 · as Frankie
  • The Grand DuelFilm · 1972 · as Sheriff Clayton
  • The Magnificent Seven Ride!Film · 1972 · as Marshal Chris Adams
  • Bad Man's RiverFilm · 1971 · as Roy King
  • Captain ApacheFilm · 1971 · as Capt. Apache
  • Return of SabataFilm · 1971 · as Sabata / Major
  • BarqueroFilm · 1970 · as Travis
  • El CondorFilm · 1970 · as Jaroo
  • SabataFilm · 1969 · as Sabata
  • Beyond the LawFilm · 1968 · as Billy Joe Cudlip
  • CommandosFilm · 1968 · as MSgt. Sullivan
  • Day of AngerFilm · 1967 · as Frank Talby
  • Death Rides a HorseFilm · 1967 · as Ryan
  • The Big GundownFilm · 1967 · as Jonathan Corbett
  • The Good, the Bad and the UglyFilm · 1966 · as Sentenza / Angel Eyes
  • BrandedTV · 1965 · Acting · 4 episodes
  • For a Few Dollars MoreFilm · 1965 · as Col. Douglas Mortimer
  • LaredoTV · 1965 · Acting · 1 episode
  • My Mother the CarTV · 1965 · Acting · 1 episode
  • The DakotasTV · 1963 · Acting · 1 episode
  • How the West Was WonFilm · 1962 · as River Pirate
  • The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceFilm · 1962 · as Reese
  • Posse from HellFilm · 1961 · as Leo
  • Stagecoach WestTV · 1960 · as Lin Hyatt · 1 episode
  • The Andy Griffith ShowTV · 1960 · as Skip · 1 episode
  • The Slowest Gun in the WestFilm · 1960 · as Sam Bass
  • Black SaddleTV · 1959 · as Frank Sandoe · 1 episode
  • BonanzaTV · 1959 · as Appling · 1 episode
  • Guns Girls and GangstersFilm · 1959 · as Mike Bennett
  • Hawaiian EyeTV · 1959 · Acting · 1 episode
  • Law of the PlainsmanTV · 1959 · as Tracey · 1 episode
  • Mr. LuckyTV · 1959 · as Kruger · 1 episode
  • RawhideTV · 1959 · as Fred Grant · 1 episode
  • Ride LonesomeFilm · 1959 · as Frank
  • RiverboatTV · 1959 · as Luke Cragg · 1 episode
  • The AlaskansTV · 1959 · Acting · 1 episode
  • The DeputyTV · 1959 · as Cherokee Kid · 1 episode
  • The DuPont Show with June AllysonTV · 1959 · as Peak · 1 episode
  • The Twilight ZoneTV · 1959 · as Steinhart · 1 episode
  • The UntouchablesTV · 1959 · as Frank Diamond · 2 episodes
  • 77 Sunset StripTV · 1958 · as Majeski · 1 episode
  • BroncoTV · 1958 · as Shanghai Williams · 1 episode
  • Day of the BadmanFilm · 1958 · as Jake Hayes
  • LawmanTV · 1958 · as Deputy Clyde Wilson · 1 episode
  • MacheteFilm · 1958 · as Miguel
  • The BravadosFilm · 1958 · as Alfonso Parral
  • The RiflemanTV · 1958 · Acting · 4 episodes
  • The Young LionsFilm · 1958 · as 1st Sgt. Rickett
  • Wanted: Dead or AliveTV · 1958 · as Jumbo Kane · 1 episode
  • Yancy DerringerTV · 1958 · as Ike Milton · 1 episode
  • Casey JonesTV · 1957 · as Mort Clio · 1 episode
  • China GateFilm · 1957 · as Maj. Cham
  • Gun Battle at MontereyFilm · 1957 · as Kirby
  • Gunfight at the O.K. CorralFilm · 1957 · as Ed Bailey
  • Have Gun, Will TravelTV · 1957 · as Golias · 1 episode
  • Joe DakotaFilm · 1957 · as Adam Grant
  • Last Stagecoach WestFilm · 1957 · as Steve Margolies
  • MaverickTV · 1957 · Acting · 1 episode
  • Perry MasonTV · 1957 · as Edward Doyle · 1 episode
  • Raiders of Old CaliforniaFilm · 1957 · as Damon Pardee
  • Richard Diamond, Private DetectiveTV · 1957 · as Ed Murdock · 1 episode
  • The Badge of Marshal BrennanFilm · 1957 · as Shad Donaphin
  • The Lonely ManFilm · 1957 · as Faro
  • The Quiet GunFilm · 1957 · as Doug Sadler
  • The Tin StarFilm · 1957 · as Ed McGaffey
  • Tombstone TerritoryTV · 1957 · as Sam Carver · 1 episode
  • TrackdownTV · 1957 · as Ben Fraser · 1 episode
  • Wagon TrainTV · 1957 · as Rufe Beal · 1 episode
  • ZorroTV · 1957 · Acting · 1 episode
  • Accused of MurderFilm · 1956 · as Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey
  • It Conquered the WorldFilm · 1956 · as Dr. Tom Anderson
  • PardnersFilm · 1956 · as Gus
  • State TrooperTV · 1956 · as Frank Parnessa · 1 episode
  • The ConquerorFilm · 1956 · as Chepei
  • Tribute to a Bad ManFilm · 1956 · as Fat Jones
  • Wire ServiceTV · 1956 · as Al Sanders · 1 episode
  • A Man AloneFilm · 1955 · as Clanton
  • Buffalo Bill Jr.TV · 1955 · Acting · 2 episodes
  • CheyenneTV · 1955 · as Braden · 1 episode
  • GunsmokeTV · 1955 · as Rad · 1 episode
  • I Cover the UnderworldFilm · 1955 · as Flash Logan
  • Ten Wanted MenFilm · 1955 · as Al Drucker
  • The Adventures of ChampionTV · 1955 · as Frank · 1 episode
  • The Big ComboFilm · 1955 · as Fante
  • The Naked StreetFilm · 1955 · as Harry Goldish (uncredited)
  • The Road to DenverFilm · 1955 · as Pecos Larry
  • The Vanishing AmericanFilm · 1955 · as Jay Lord
  • Treasure of Ruby HillsFilm · 1955 · as Frank Emmett
  • Annie OakleyTV · 1954 · as Amos Belcher · 1 episode
  • Arrow In The DustFilm · 1954 · as Tillotson Henchman
  • Dawn at SocorroFilm · 1954 · as Earl Ferris
  • Gypsy ColtFilm · 1954 · as Hank
  • Princess of the NileFilm · 1954 · as Hakar (uncredited)
  • Rails Into LaramieFilm · 1954 · as Ace Winton
  • Stories of the CenturyTV · 1954 · as Jesse James · 1 episode
  • Studio 57TV · 1954 · as Tommy · 1 episode
  • The DesperadoFilm · 1954 · as Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton
  • The Yellow TomahawkFilm · 1954 · as Fire Knife
  • ArenaFilm · 1953 · as Smitty
  • City DetectiveTV · 1953 · Acting · 1 episode
  • General Electric TheaterTV · 1953 · as Dave Rudabaugh · 1 episode
  • Jack SladeFilm · 1953 · as Bolt Mackay
  • The Bandits of CorsicaFilm · 1953 · as Nerva
  • The Beast from 20,000 FathomsFilm · 1953 · as Corp. Stone
  • The NebraskanFilm · 1953 · as Pvt. Reno Benton
  • TumbleweedFilm · 1953 · as Marv
  • Vice SquadFilm · 1953 · as Pete Monty
  • White LightningFilm · 1953 · as Brutus Allen
  • Cavalcade of AmericaTV · 1952 · as 1st Mate Hawl Finch · 2 episodes
  • Four Star PlayhouseTV · 1952 · as Bob Wheeler aka Sonora Kid · 1 episode
  • High NoonFilm · 1952 · as Jack Colby
  • Kansas City ConfidentialFilm · 1952 · as Tony Romano
  • The Ford Television TheatreTV · 1952 · as Stanley Perrin · 1 episode
  • The Lawless BreedFilm · 1952 · as Dirk Hanley
  • Untamed FrontierFilm · 1952 · as Dave Chittun
  • Boston BlackieTV · 1951 · as Captain Jansen · 1 episode
  • Schlitz Playhouse of StarsTV · 1951 · as Dallas Clancy · 1 episode
  • The Adventures of Kit CarsonTV · 1951 · Acting · 6 episodes
  • Space PatrolTV · 1950 · as Ward · 1 episode
  • The Gene Autry ShowTV · 1950 · as Hod - Henchman · 1 episode
  • The Lone RangerTV · 1949 · as Bull Harper · 1 episode

Filmography from TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Sources