Lee Van Cleef
Acting
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".
Media of
Lee Van Cleef
Photos (21)
Filmography of
Lee Van Cleef
Self (archive footage)
... 2024
(archive footage)
... 2014
... 2003
Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage)
... 2000
Sergio Danielo Christophero
... 1990
Grandfather
... 1989
Col. Mazzarini
... 1988
Burt Roth
... 1986
Warren
... 1985
John Peter McAllister
... 1985
Archie 'China' Travers
... 1984
Julot
... 1984
John Peter McAllister
... 1984
John Peter McAllister
... 1984
Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
... 1981
McCarn
... 1980
McNeal
... 1980
... 1979
Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan
... 1978
Harry Chapman
... 1977
Ike Scanlon
... 1977
McClain
... 1976
Father John / Lewis
... 1976
Kiefer
... 1975
... 1974
Frankie
... 1973
Sheriff Clayton
... 1972
Marshal Chris Adams
... 1972
Capt. Apache
... 1971
Roy King
... 1971
Sabata / Major
... 1971
Travis
... 1970
Jaroo
... 1970
Sabata
... 1969
MSgt. Sullivan
... 1968
Billy Joe Cudlip
... 1968
Frank Talby
... 1967
Ryan
... 1967
Jonathan Corbett
... 1967
Sentenza / Angel Eyes
... 1966
Col. Douglas Mortimer
... 1965
River Pirate (uncredited)
... 1962
... 1962
Leo
... 1961
Sam Bass
... 1960
Frank
... 1959
Mike Bennett
... 1959
Miguel
... 1958
Alfonso Parral
... 1958
1st Sgt. Rickett
... 1958
Jake Hayes
... 1958
Ed McGaffey
... 1957
Damon Pardee
... 1957
Adam Grant
... 1957
Kirby
... 1957
Doug Sadler
... 1957
Steve Margolies
... 1957
Faro
... 1957
Ed Bailey
... 1957
Maj. Cham
... 1957
Shad Donaphin
... 1957
Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey
... 1956
Gus
... 1956
Dr. Tom Anderson
... 1956
Fat Jones
... 1956
Chepei
... 1956
Jay Lord
... 1955
Clanton
... 1955
Harry Goldish (uncredited)
... 1955
Pecos Larry
... 1955
Flash Logan
... 1955
Fante
... 1955
Al Drucker
... 1955
Frank Emmett
... 1955
Earl Ferris
... 1954
Hakar (uncredited)
... 1954
Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton
... 1954
Fire Knife
... 1954
Tillotson Henchman
... 1954
Ace Winton
... 1954
Hank
... 1954
Pvt. Reno Benton
... 1953
Marv
... 1953
Bolt Mackay
... 1953
Pete Monty
... 1953
Smitty
... 1953
Corp. Stone
... 1953
Brutus Allen
... 1953
Nerva
... 1953
Dirk Hanley
... 1952
Tony Romano
... 1952
Dave Chittun
... 1952
Jack Colby
... 1952