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".
Known for
Acting145
movieThe Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout
2024
Self (archive footage)
Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor
2000
Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage)
movieThieves of Fortune
1990
Sergio Danielo Christophero
movieSpeed Zone
1989
Grandfather
movieThe Commander
1988
Col. Mazzarini
movieArmed Response
1986
Burt Roth
movieJungle Raiders
1985
Warren
movieThe Master Ninja 5
1985
John Peter McAllister
movieCode Name: Wild Geese
1984
Archie 'China' Travers
movieMaster Ninja
1984
John Peter McAllister
movieMaster Ninja II
1984
John Peter McAllister
tvThe Master
1984
John Peter McAllister
movieEscape from New York
1981
Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
movieThe Octagon
1980
McCarn
movieThe Hard Way
1980
McNeal
movieThe Squeeze
1978
Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan
movieThe Perfect Killer
1977
Harry Chapman
movieNowhere to Hide
1977
Ike Scanlon
movieKid Vengeance
1976
McClain
movieGod's Gun
1976
Father John / Lewis
movieThe Grand Duel
1972
Sheriff Clayton
movieThe Magnificent Seven Ride!
1972
Marshal Chris Adams
movieCaptain Apache
1971
Capt. Apache
movieBad Man's River
1971
Roy King
movieReturn of Sabata
1971
Sabata / Major
movieBarquero
1970
Travis
movieEl Condor
1970
Jaroo
movieSabata
1969
Sabata
movieCommandos
1968
MSgt. Sullivan
movieBeyond the Law
1968
Billy Joe Cudlip
movieDay of Anger
1967
Frank Talby
movieThe Big Gundown
1967
Jonathan Corbett
movieThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly
1966
Sentenza / Angel Eyes
movieFor a Few Dollars More
1965
Col. Douglas Mortimer
movieHow the West Was Won
1962
River Pirate
tvStagecoach West
1960
Lin Hyatt
tvMr. Lucky
1959
Kruger
tvThe Untouchables
1959
Frank Diamond
tvThe Twilight Zone
1959
Steinhart
tvRiverboat
1959
Luke Cragg
tvThe Deputy
1959
Cherokee Kid
tvBonanza
1959
Appling
tvBlack Saddle
1959
Frank Sandoe
tvRawhide
1959
Fred Grant / Deck Sommers
movieGuns Girls and Gangsters
1959
Mike Bennett
movieMachete
1958
Miguel
tv77 Sunset Strip
1958
Majeski
tvLawman
1958
Deputy Clyde Wilson / Ned Scott
tvYancy Derringer
1958
Ike Milton
tvBronco
1958
Shanghai Williams
tvWanted: Dead or Alive
1958
Jumbo Kane
movieThe Bravados
1958
Alfonso Parral
movieThe Young Lions
1958
1st Sgt. Rickett
movieDay of the Badman
1958
Jake Hayes
movieThe Tin Star
1957
Ed McGaffey
movieRaiders of Old California
1957
Damon Pardee
movieJoe Dakota
1957
Adam Grant
tvTombstone Territory
1957
Sam Carver
tvCasey Jones
1957
Mort Clio
tvTrackdown
1957
Ben Fraser
tvPerry Mason
1957
Edward Doyle
tvWagon Train
1957
Rufe Beal
tvHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
Golias / Corbin
movieThe Quiet Gun
1957
Doug Sadler
movieLast Stagecoach West
1957
Steve Margolies
tvRichard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
Ed Murdock
movieGunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
Ed Bailey
movieChina Gate
1957
Maj. Cham
movieThe Badge of Marshal Brennan
1957
Shad Donaphin
movieAccused of Murder
1956
Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey
tvWire Service
1956
Al Sanders
State Trooper
1956
Frank Parnessa
movieIt Conquered the World
1956
Dr. Tom Anderson
movieTribute to a Bad Man
1956
Fat Jones
movieThe Conqueror
1956
Chepei
movieThe Vanishing American
1955
Jay Lord
movieA Man Alone
1955
Clanton
tvCheyenne
1955
Braden / Harry Bittercreek Bartender
tvGunsmoke
1955
Rad / John Hooker / Ike Jeffords
movieThe Naked Street
1955
Harry Goldish (uncredited)
movieThe Road to Denver
1955
Pecos Larry
movieI Cover the Underworld
1955
Flash Logan
movieTen Wanted Men
1955
Al Drucker
movieTreasure of Ruby Hills
1955
Frank Emmett
tvStudio 57
1954
Tommy
movieDawn at Socorro
1954
Earl Ferris
moviePrincess of the Nile
1954
Hakar (uncredited)
movieThe Desperado
1954
Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton
movieThe Yellow Tomahawk
1954
Fire Knife
movieArrow In The Dust
1954
Tillotson Henchman
movieRails Into Laramie
1954
Ace Winton
tvStories of the Century
1954
Jesse James
tvAnnie Oakley
1954
Amos Belcher / Tim Brennan
movieThe Nebraskan
1953
Pvt. Reno Benton
movieJack Slade
1953
Bolt Mackay
movieVice Squad
1953
Pete Monty
movieArena
1953
Smitty
movieThe Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
1953
Corp. Stone
movieWhite Lightning
1953
Brutus Allen
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Dave Rudabaugh
movieThe Lawless Breed
1952
Dirk Hanley
movieKansas City Confidential
1952
Tony Romano
tvThe Ford Television Theatre
1952
Stanley Perrin
tvCavalcade of America
1952
1st Mate Hawl Finch
tvFour Star Playhouse
1952
Bob Wheeler aka Sonora Kid
movieUntamed Frontier
1952
Dave Chittun
movieHigh Noon
1952
Jack Colby
tvSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Dallas Clancy / Sheriff / Larkin / Wink / Cowboy
tvBoston Blackie
1951
Captain Jansen / Lou
tvThe Gene Autry Show
1950
Hod - Henchman / Henchman Ray
tvThe Lone Ranger
1949
Bull Harper / Jango