Lee Van Cleef Photo

Lee Van Cleef

Acting

2.1 Popularity Jan 09, 1925 (64 years old) Somerville, New Jersey, USA

Clarence LeRoy "Lee" Van Cleef Jr. 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, Hig...

Biography

Clarence LeRoy "Lee" Van Cleef Jr. 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".

Filmography 165

2024
The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout Movie

as Self (archive footage)

2014
Peter Baumgartner, Filmkameramann Movie

as (archive footage)

2000
Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor Movie

as Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage)

1990
Thieves of Fortune Movie

as Sergio Danielo Christophero

1990
The Best of the Martial Arts Films Movie

as Self (archive footage)

1989
Speed Zone Movie

as Grandfather

1988
The Commander Movie

as Col. Mazzarini

1986
Armed Response Movie

as Burt Roth

1985
Jungle Raiders Movie

as Warren

1985
The Master Ninja 5 Movie

as John Peter McAllister

1984
Code Name: Wild Geese Movie

as Archie 'China' Travers

1984
Killing Machine Movie

as Julot

1984
Master Ninja Movie

as John Peter McAllister

1984
Master Ninja II Movie

as John Peter McAllister

1984
The Master TV

as John Peter McAllister

1981
Escape from New York Movie

as Police Commissioner Bob Hauk

1980
The Octagon Movie

as McCarn

1980
The Hard Way Movie

as McNeal

Photos 8

Lee Van Cleef Photo
Lee Van Cleef Photo
Lee Van Cleef Photo
Lee Van Cleef Photo
Lee Van Cleef Photo
Lee Van Cleef Photo
Lee Van Cleef Photo
Lee Van Cleef Photo

Personal Details

Known For Acting
Gender Not specified
Birthday January 09, 1925 (64 years old)
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
Years Active 1949 - 2024
Popularity 2.1
Career Stats
165 Total Credits
94 Movie Roles
71 TV Roles
8 Photos