Name: Cleavon Jake Little
Born: 1 June 1939
P lace: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA
Died: 22 October 1992
Place: Sherman Oaks, California, USA.
Cause: colon cancer
Versatile African-American actor Cleavon Little was born on June 1, 1939 in Oklahoma
but grew up in California and attended San Diego College. He earned a scholarship to
Juilliard and moved to New York, then trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and
was soon appearing off-Broadway.
Classically trained ("Hamlet" "A Midsummer Night's Dream"), he won the
Tony award for a less weighty musical,
"Purlie", which took him west. A few film roles came his way with What's So Bad
About Feeling Good? (1968), John and Mary (1969), Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and the
cult film Vanishing Point (1971) but it
was the 1972 sitcom _"Temperature's Rising" (1972)_ that finally got him some
leverage in Hollywood. The by-now popular actor caught the eye of film producers. With his
sly charm and appeal, he was a natural for comedy and hit the apex of his career after
winning a co-starring role opposite Gene Wilder in the Mel Brooks western spoof Blazing Saddles (1974). He never matched
that success but did continue with important stage roles ("I'm Not Rappaport")
and other TV series work ("Bagdad
Cafe" (1990)). A hard-working, heavily driven man, Little was plagued by ulcers
and stomach disorders for much of his life. He died at age 53 of colon cancer in 1992.
Trivia
Tony 1970 "Purlie" Guest star Cleavon won the lead role of Sheriff Bart in
"Blazing Saddles" over Richard Pryor, who co-wrote the script intending to play
the role himself. Studio execs were apparently nervous over Pryor's reputation as a racy
comedian and thought Cleavon would be a safer choice.
He was a talented Shakespearean but was forced at the time to accept comedy parts when few
black actors were considered for such important and serious roles. His passion remained
for the classics, and he returned frequently to play such parts.
Starring Roles
True Colors
(1990) - Ron Freeman (1991-1992)
Temperatures
Rising (1972) - Dr. Jerry Noland
Another World
(1964) - Cpt. Hancock
Guest Starring Roles
Tales from the
Crypt - Pack Brightman - This'll
Kill Ya (1992)
MacGyver -
Frank Colton - The
Coltons (1991)
Bagdad Cafe
- Sal - Prisoner
of Love (1991)
Bagdad Cafe
- Sal - This
Bird Has Flown (1990)
Bagdad Cafe
- Sal - Bagdad
Cafe (1990)
Midnight
Caller - Reverend James Allen - The
Reverend Soundbite (1990)
MacGyver -
Frank Colton - The
Black Corsage (1989)
227 - Abner
Neal - For
Richer, For Poorer (1989)
ALF - Mr.
Foley - ALF's
Special Christmas (2) (1987)
ALF - Mr.
Foley - ALF's
Special Christmas (1) (1987)
Fantasy Island
- Charles Raines - Basin
Street / The Devil's Triangle (1981)
The Love Boat
- Andrew Hopkins - Rent a
Romeo/Matchmaker, Matchmaker/Y' Gotta Have Heart (1980)
Supertrain
- Preacher Ross - The
Green Girl (1979)
The Rockford
Files - Billy Merrihew - Sticks
and Stones May Break Your Bones, but Waterbury Will Bury You (1977)
Police Story
- - A
Community of Victims (1975)
The Tonight
Show Starring Johnny Carson - Guest - 750302
(1975)
All in the
Family - - Edith
Finds an Old Man (1973)
The Mod Squad
- - The
Connection (1) (1972)
The Mod Squad
- - The
Connection (2) (1972)
All in the
Family - Coke - Edith
Writes a Song (1971)
The Felony
Squad - Jesse Hawkins - The
Nowhere Man (2) (1968)
The Felony
Squad - Jesse Hawkins - The
Nowhere Man (1) (1968)
Movie/Mini-Series/Special Roles
Blazing
Saddles (1974) - Black Bart
Blazing
Saddles (1974) - ?
View
actors filmography at IMDb
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