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Lee Van Cleef

Lee Van Cleef

Acting January 9, 1925 (64 years old) December 16, 1989 Somerville, New Jersey, USA

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".

Movies 94

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 8.5

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

as Sentenza / Angel Eyes

1966
For a Few Dollars More 8.0

For a Few Dollars More

as Col. Douglas Mortimer

1965
Escape from New York 7.0

Escape from New York

as Police Commissioner Bob Hauk

1981
High Noon 7.7

High Noon

as Jack Colby

1952
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 7.8

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

as Reese

1962
How the West Was Won 7.0

How the West Was Won

as River Pirate

1962
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 7.0

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

as Ed Bailey

1957
The Big Gundown 7.3

The Big Gundown

as Jonathan Corbett

1967
Death Rides a Horse 7.0

Death Rides a Horse

as Ryan

1967
The Magnificent Seven Ride! 5.7

The Magnificent Seven Ride!

as Marshal Chris Adams

1972
The Conqueror 3.6

The Conqueror

as Chepei

1956
The Bravados 6.6

The Bravados

as Alfonso Parral

1958
Day of Anger 7.1

Day of Anger

as Frank Talby

1967
The Young Lions 6.7

The Young Lions

as 1st Sgt. Rickett

1958
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms 6.6

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

as Corp. Stone

1953
The Stranger and the Gunfighter 5.4

The Stranger and the Gunfighter

as Dakota

1974
Sabata 6.4

Sabata

as Sabata

1969
Ten Wanted Men 5.9

Ten Wanted Men

as Al Drucker

1955
Speed Zone 4.5

Speed Zone

as Grandfather

1989
The Tin Star 7.0

The Tin Star

as Ed McGaffey

1957
The Octagon 5.0

The Octagon

as McCarn

1980
Return of Sabata 5.9

Return of Sabata

as Sabata / Major

1971
The Big Combo 7.0

The Big Combo

as Fante

1955
Bad Man's River 4.8

Bad Man's River

as Roy King

1971
Ride Lonesome 6.7

Ride Lonesome

as Frank

1959
Beyond the Law 5.8

Beyond the Law

as Billy Joe Cudlip

1968
Day of the Badman 6.9

Day of the Badman

as Jake Hayes

1958
The Grand Duel 6.0

The Grand Duel

as Sheriff Clayton

1972
Kansas City Confidential 7.0

Kansas City Confidential

as Tony Romano

1952
Tribute to a Bad Man 7.0

Tribute to a Bad Man

as Fat Jones

1956
A Man Alone 5.8

A Man Alone

as Clanton

1955
Take a Hard Ride 5.3

Take a Hard Ride

as Kiefer

1975
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion

When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion

as Self

1979
Commandos 5.7

Commandos

as MSgt. Sullivan

1968
Pardners 6.7

Pardners

as Gus

1956
The Best of the Martial Arts Films 8.8

The Best of the Martial Arts Films

as Self

1990
Princess of the Nile 7.3

Princess of the Nile

as Hakar (uncredited)

1954
Arrow In The Dust 6.2

Arrow In The Dust

as Tillotson Henchman

1954
God's Gun 5.0

God's Gun

as Father John / Lewis

1976
Joe Dakota 6.7

Joe Dakota

as Adam Grant

1957
Guns Girls and Gangsters 5.9

Guns Girls and Gangsters

as Mike Bennett

1959
Jungle Raiders 4.4

Jungle Raiders

as Warren

1985
It Conquered the World 4.8

It Conquered the World

as Dr. Tom Anderson

1956
Captain Apache 4.7

Captain Apache

as Capt. Apache

1971
Raiders of Old California 5.4

Raiders of Old California

as Damon Pardee

1957
Posse from Hell 6.2

Posse from Hell

as Leo

1961
The Road to Denver 7.0

The Road to Denver

as Pecos Larry

1955
Vice Squad 6.1

Vice Squad

as Pete Monty

1953
Master Ninja 4.4

Master Ninja

as John Peter McAllister

1984
Code Name: Wild Geese 5.3

Code Name: Wild Geese

as Archie 'China' Travers

1984
China Gate 6.2

China Gate

as Maj. Cham

1957
The Lawless Breed 6.7

The Lawless Breed

as Dirk Hanley

1952
The Lonely Man 6.1

The Lonely Man

as Faro

1957
Rails Into Laramie 6.5

Rails Into Laramie

as Ace Winton

1954
Mean Frank and Crazy Tony 4.6

Mean Frank and Crazy Tony

as Frankie

1973
The Squeeze 5.9

The Squeeze

as Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan

1978
Barquero 6.2

Barquero

as Travis

1970
I Cover the Underworld 6.5

I Cover the Underworld

as Flash Logan

1955
Last Stagecoach West 5.5

Last Stagecoach West

as Steve Margolies

1957
Master Ninja II 7.2

Master Ninja II

as John Peter McAllister

1984
The Yellow Tomahawk 6.6

The Yellow Tomahawk

as Fire Knife

1954
Kid Vengeance 5.4

Kid Vengeance

as McClain

1976
Gun Battle at Monterey 5.2

Gun Battle at Monterey

as Kirby

1957
The Commander 5.6

The Commander

as Col. Mazzarini

1988
The Desperado 7.2

The Desperado

as Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton

1954
El Condor 5.4

El Condor

as Jaroo

1970
Tumbleweed 6.2

Tumbleweed

as Marv

1953
Untamed Frontier 7.3

Untamed Frontier

as Dave Chittun

1952
Armed Response 5.1

Armed Response

as Burt Roth

1986
The Badge of Marshal Brennan 6.5

The Badge of Marshal Brennan

as Shad Donaphin

1957
Treasure of Ruby Hills 5.0

Treasure of Ruby Hills

as Frank Emmett

1955
The Perfect Killer 4.2

The Perfect Killer

as Harry Chapman

1977
Blade Rider, Revenge of the Indian Nations

Blade Rider, Revenge of the Indian Nations

as Charlie Yates

1966
The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout 5.3

The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout

as Self (archive footage)

2024
The Naked Street 6.2

The Naked Street

as Harry Goldish (uncredited)

1955
The Bandits of Corsica 6.4

The Bandits of Corsica

as Nerva

1953
Killing Machine 4.6

Killing Machine

as Julot

1984
Accused of Murder 4.8

Accused of Murder

as Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey

1956
Dawn at Socorro 7.2

Dawn at Socorro

as Earl Ferris

1954
The Quiet Gun 6.4

The Quiet Gun

as Doug Sadler

1957
The Hard Way 6.1

The Hard Way

as McNeal

1980
Gypsy Colt 7.2

Gypsy Colt

as Hank

1954
The Slowest Gun in the West 4.5

The Slowest Gun in the West

as Sam Bass

1960
The Vanishing American 6.7

The Vanishing American

as Jay Lord

1955
The Master Ninja 5 10.0

The Master Ninja 5

as John Peter McAllister

1985
Machete 6.7

Machete

as Miguel

1958
Jack Slade 7.0

Jack Slade

as Bolt Mackay

1953
The Nebraskan 3.8

The Nebraskan

as Pvt. Reno Benton

1953
Arena 5.0

Arena

as Smitty

1953
White Lightning 7.5

White Lightning

as Brutus Allen

1953
Thieves of Fortune 3.8

Thieves of Fortune

as Sergio Danielo Christophero

1990
Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor

Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor

as Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage)

2000
Nowhere to Hide 7.5

Nowhere to Hide

as Ike Scanlon

1977
Peter Baumgartner, Filmkameramann

Peter Baumgartner, Filmkameramann

as (archive footage)

2014

TV Shows 76

Bonanza 7.5

Bonanza

as Appling

1959
Perry Mason 7.7

Perry Mason

as Edward Doyle

1957
The Andy Griffith Show 7.6

The Andy Griffith Show

as Skip

1960
Wagon Train 6.6

Wagon Train

as Rufe Beal

1957
The Twilight Zone 8.5

The Twilight Zone

as Steinhart

1959
Have Gun, Will Travel 7.3

Have Gun, Will Travel

as Golias

1957
Have Gun, Will Travel 7.3

Have Gun, Will Travel

as Corbin

1957
Maverick 7.1

Maverick

1957
The Rifleman 7.1

The Rifleman

1958
Cheyenne 6.2

Cheyenne

as Braden

1955
Cheyenne 6.2

Cheyenne

as Harry Bittercreek Bartender

1955
Cheyenne 6.2

Cheyenne

as Larry Jackson

1955
The Untouchables 8.1

The Untouchables

as Frank Diamond

1959
Rawhide 7.3

Rawhide

as Fred Grant

1959
Rawhide 7.3

Rawhide

as Deck Sommers

1959
The Lone Ranger 6.7

The Lone Ranger

as Bull Harper

1949
The Lone Ranger 6.7

The Lone Ranger

as Jango

1949
Wanted: Dead or Alive 7.1

Wanted: Dead or Alive

as Jumbo Kane

1958
Four Star Playhouse 6.8

Four Star Playhouse

as Bob Wheeler aka Sonora Kid

1952
Lawman 6.0

Lawman

1958
Lawman 6.0

Lawman

as Deputy Clyde Wilson

1958
Lawman 6.0

Lawman

as Ned Scott

1958
Zorro 7.6

Zorro

1957
Hawaiian Eye 5.6

Hawaiian Eye

1959
Gunsmoke 6.7

Gunsmoke

as Rad

1955
Gunsmoke 6.7

Gunsmoke

as John Hooker

1955
Gunsmoke 6.7

Gunsmoke

as Ike Jeffords

1955
77 Sunset Strip 7.2

77 Sunset Strip

1958
77 Sunset Strip 7.2

77 Sunset Strip

as Majeski

1958
The Ford Television Theatre 7.8

The Ford Television Theatre

1952
The Ford Television Theatre 7.8

The Ford Television Theatre

as Stanley Perrin

1952
Studio 57 7.5

Studio 57

1954
Studio 57 7.5

Studio 57

as Tommy

1954
Laredo 6.4

Laredo

1965
State Trooper 5.7

State Trooper

as Frank Parnessa

1956
Tombstone Territory 6.9

Tombstone Territory

as Sam Carver

1957
Tombstone Territory 6.9

Tombstone Territory

1957
The Gene Autry Show 4.7

The Gene Autry Show

as Hod - Henchman

1950
The Gene Autry Show 4.7

The Gene Autry Show

as Henchman Ray

1950
Richard Diamond, Private Detective 6.8

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

as Ed Murdock

1957
Bronco 6.0

Bronco

1958
Bronco 6.0

Bronco

as Shanghai Williams

1958
Trackdown 6.9

Trackdown

as Ben Fraser

1957
The Deputy 6.5

The Deputy

as Cherokee Kid

1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson 6.8

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

as Peak

1959
Annie Oakley 5.5

Annie Oakley

as Amos Belcher

1954
Annie Oakley 5.5

Annie Oakley

as Tim Brennan

1954
The Adventures of Kit Carson 6.0

The Adventures of Kit Carson

1951
Branded 6.8

Branded

1965
Black Saddle 6.2

Black Saddle

as Frank Sandoe

1959
Riverboat 6.5

Riverboat

as Luke Cragg

1959
Cavalcade of America 4.6

Cavalcade of America

1952
Cavalcade of America 4.6

Cavalcade of America

as 1st Mate Hawl Finch

1952
Boston Blackie 4.0

Boston Blackie

as Captain Jansen

1951
Boston Blackie 4.0

Boston Blackie

as Lou

1951
Space Patrol 6.2

Space Patrol

as Ward

1950
City Detective 7.5

City Detective

1953
Mr. Lucky 6.7

Mr. Lucky

as Kruger

1959
Stagecoach West 6.7

Stagecoach West

as Lin Hyatt

1960
Law of the Plainsman 7.3

Law of the Plainsman

as Tracey

1959
The Alaskans 6.7

The Alaskans

1959
Yancy Derringer 6.2

Yancy Derringer

as Ike Milton

1958
Buffalo Bill Jr. 6.0

Buffalo Bill Jr.

1955
My Mother the Car 4.8

My Mother the Car

1965
Casey Jones 5.8

Casey Jones

as Mort Clio

1957
Wire Service 9.0

Wire Service

as Al Sanders

1956
The Dakotas 6.5

The Dakotas

1963
The Master 5.4

The Master

as John Peter McAllister

1984
The Adventures of Champion 6.2

The Adventures of Champion

as Frank

1955
Stories of the Century 7.2

Stories of the Century

as Jesse James

1954
General Electric Theater 6.8

General Electric Theater

as Dave Rudabaugh

1953
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars 7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Dallas Clancy

1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars 7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Larkin

1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars 7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Sheriff

1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars 7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Wink

1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars 7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Cowboy

1951

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