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Cleavon Little

Acting Born Jun 1, 1939 Died Oct 22, 1992 Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA 59 credits

Biography

Cleavon Jake Little was an American film and theatre actor born on June 1, 1939, and he died on October 22, 1992. He is recognized for his lead performance as Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles. On television, he portrayed the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland in the early 1970s sitcom Temperatures Rising. His filmography includes the role of Super Soul in the 1971 movie Vanishing Point, the character of the Prince of Darkness in the 1978 radio station comedy FM, and a role in the 1984 action film Toy Soldiers. His career spanned various genres across both the big screen and television throughout his life.

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Known for

Film

Snow Country

as Robert L. 'Bob' Carter

True Colors

as Ron Freeman

Bagdad Cafe

as Sal

Tales from the Crypt

as Pack Brightman (segment "This'll Kill Ya")
Film

Fletch Lives

as Calculus Entropy
Film

Dracula 3000

as Tony Larkin

Tanner '88

as Rev. Billy Crier

Lincoln

as Frederick Douglass

ALF

as George Foley

MacGyver

as Frank Colton
Film

Angel Face

1953
Film

Once Bitten

as Sebastian

Frequent co-stars

Stephanie Faracy 2 shared titles
Richard Mulligan 2 shared titles
James Gammon 2 shared titles
Gene Wilder 1 shared title
Slim Pickens 1 shared title
Harvey Korman 1 shared title
Madeline Kahn 1 shared title
Mel Brooks 1 shared title
Burton Gilliam 1 shared title
Alex Karras 1 shared title

Career timeline

Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Back in the Saddle
Separate but EqualSeparate but EqualIn the Nick of TimePerfect Harmony
True ColorsBagdad CafeMurder by NumbersGoin' to Chicago
Tales from the CryptFletch Lives
Dear JohnTanner '88Lincoln
ALF
MacGyver227Once BittenThe Gig
Toy SoldiersSurf 2E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind
American PlayhouseDouble ExposureA House Divided: Denmark Vesey's RebellionJimmy the Kid
Simon & SimonThe SalamanderHigh RiskDon't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
The Sky Is Gray
SupertrainScavenger Hunt
FM
The Love BoatGreased LightningOnce Upon a Brothers Grimm
The Tony Randall Show
The Rockford FilesBlazing SaddlesThe Day the Earth Moved
Police StoryMoney to Burn
The WaltonsThe RookiesTemperatures Rising
All in the FamilyVanishing PointThe Homecoming: A Christmas Story
Cotton Comes to Harlem
The Mod SquadWhat's So Bad About Feeling Good?
Felony Squad
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Merv Griffin Show
The Mike Douglas Show
Tony Awards

Full filmography

  • Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West (2014) as Self (archive footage)
  • Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013) as Self (archive footage)
  • Back in the Saddle (2001) as Self (archive footage)
  • Separate but Equal (1991) as Robert L. 'Bob' Carter
  • Separate but Equal (1991) as Robert L. 'Bob' Carter
  • In the Nick of Time (1991) as Freddy
  • Perfect Harmony (1991) as Pastor Clarence Johnson
  • True Colors (1990) as Ron Freeman
  • Bagdad Cafe (1990) as Sal
  • Murder by Numbers (1990) as David Selby
  • Goin' to Chicago (1990)
  • Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Pack Brightman (segment "This'll Kill Ya")
  • Fletch Lives (1989) as Calculus Entropy
  • Dear John (1988) as Tony Larkin
  • Tanner '88 (1988) as Rev. Billy Crier
  • Lincoln (1988) as Frederick Douglass
  • ALF (1986) as George Foley
  • MacGyver (1985) as Frank Colton
  • 227 (1985)
  • Once Bitten (1985) as Sebastian
  • The Gig (1985) as Marshall WIlson
  • Toy Soldiers (1984) as Buck
  • Surf 2 (1984) as Daddy O
  • E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind (1984) as Edmundo
  • American Playhouse (1982) as Ned Shaw
  • Double Exposure (1982) as Police Chief
  • A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion (1982) as Rolla
  • Jimmy the Kid (1982) as Herb
  • Simon & Simon (1981)
  • The Salamander (1981) as Major Carl Malinowski, USMC
  • High Risk (1981) as Rockney
  • Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige (1981) as Rabbit Thompson
  • The Sky Is Gray (1980) as Monsieur Bayonne
  • Supertrain (1979) as Preacher Ross
  • Scavenger Hunt (1979) as Jackson
  • FM (1978) as Prince
  • The Love Boat (1977) as Andrew Hopkins
  • Greased Lightning (1977) as Peewee
  • Once Upon a Brothers Grimm (1977) as Wolf
  • The Tony Randall Show (1976)
  • The Rockford Files (1974) as Billy Merrihew
  • Blazing Saddles (1974) as Bart
  • The Day the Earth Moved (1974) as Harley Copeland
  • Police Story (1973)
  • Money to Burn (1973) as Calvin Baker
  • The Waltons (1972)
  • The Rookies (1972)
  • Temperatures Rising (1972) as Jerry Noland
  • All in the Family (1971) as Coke
  • Vanishing Point (1971) as Super Soul
  • The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) as Hawthorne Dooley
  • Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) as Lo Boy
  • The Mod Squad (1968)
  • What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968) as Phil
  • Felony Squad (1966)
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
  • The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Performer