Lee Van Cleef
Acting Born Jan 9, 1925 Died Dec 16, 1989 Somerville, New Jersey, USA 166 credits
Biography
Lee Van Cleef was an American actor known for his roles in Spaghetti Westerns. He was born on January 9, 1925, in Somerville, New Jersey, USA. Van Cleef's film debut was in High Noon, where he declined to have his nose altered to play a sympathetic character and was relegated to a non-speaking outlaw as a result. He was typecast as a minor villain for a decade, with his sinister features overshadowing his acting skills. Van Cleef's career was revived by Sergio Leone, who gave him a major role in For a Few Dollars More.
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Career overview
Lee Van Cleef began his acting career with a film debut in High Noon, where he chose not to alter his appearance to play a sympathetic character. As a result, he was relegated to a non-speaking outlaw. For a decade, he was typecast as a minor villain, with his sinister features overshadowing his acting skills.
Van Cleef's career appeared to be waning, and he had lost interest in acting after suffering serious injuries in a car crash. However, he was given a major role by Sergio Leone in the film For a Few Dollars More.
Van Cleef went on to be known for his roles in Spaghetti Westerns, including For A Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout
Peter Baumgartner, Filmkameramann
Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor
Thieves of Fortune
Speed Zone
The Commander
Armed Response
The Master Ninja 5Jungle Raiders
The MasterMaster Ninja IIMaster NinjaCode Name: Wild GeeseKilling Machine
Escape from New York
The OctagonThe Hard Way
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
The Squeeze
Nowhere to HideThe Perfect Killer
God's GunKid Vengeance
Take a Hard Ride
The Stranger and the Gunfighter
Mean Frank and Crazy Tony
The Magnificent Seven Ride!The Grand Duel
Bad Man's RiverReturn of SabataCaptain Apache
BarqueroEl Condor
Sabata
Beyond the LawCommandos
Death Rides a HorseThe Big GundownDay of Anger
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
LaredoBrandedFor a Few Dollars MoreMy Mother the Car
The Dakotas
The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceHow the West Was Won
Posse from Hell
The Andy Griffith ShowStagecoach WestThe Slowest Gun in the West
Full Filmography
166 titles- The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Peter Baumgartner, Filmkameramann (2014) as (archive footage)
- Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor (2000) as Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage)
- Thieves of Fortune (1990) as Sergio Danielo Christophero
- Speed Zone (1989) as Grandfather
- The Commander (1988) as Col. Mazzarini
- Armed Response (1986) as Burt Roth
- The Master Ninja 5 (1985) as John Peter McAllister
- Jungle Raiders (1985) as Warren
- The Master (1984) as John Peter McAllister
- Master Ninja II (1984) as John Peter McAllister
- Master Ninja (1984) as John Peter McAllister
- Code Name: Wild Geese (1984) as Archie 'China' Travers
- Killing Machine (1984) as Julot
- Escape from New York (1981) as Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
- The Octagon (1980) as McCarn
- The Hard Way (1980) as McNeal
- When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion (1979) as Self
- The Squeeze (1978) as Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan
- Nowhere to Hide (1977) as Ike Scanlon
- The Perfect Killer (1977) as Harry Chapman
- God's Gun (1976) as Father John / Lewis
- Kid Vengeance (1976) as McClain
- Take a Hard Ride (1975) as Kiefer
- The Stranger and the Gunfighter (1974) as Dakota
- Mean Frank and Crazy Tony (1973) as Frankie
- The Magnificent Seven Ride! (1972) as Marshal Chris Adams
- The Grand Duel (1972) as Sheriff Clayton
- Bad Man's River (1971) as Roy King
- Return of Sabata (1971) as Sabata / Major
- Captain Apache (1971) as Capt. Apache
- Barquero (1970) as Travis
- El Condor (1970) as Jaroo
- Sabata (1969) as Sabata
- Beyond the Law (1968) as Billy Joe Cudlip
- Commandos (1968) as MSgt. Sullivan
- Death Rides a Horse (1967) as Ryan
- The Big Gundown (1967) as Jonathan Corbett
- Day of Anger (1967) as Frank Talby
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) as Sentenza / Angel Eyes
- Laredo (1965)
- Branded (1965)
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) as Col. Douglas Mortimer
- My Mother the Car (1965)
- The Dakotas (1963)
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Reese
- How the West Was Won (1962) as River Pirate
- Posse from Hell (1961) as Leo
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Skip
- Stagecoach West (1960) as Lin Hyatt
- The Slowest Gun in the West (1960) as Sam Bass
- Bonanza (1959) as Appling
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Steinhart
- Rawhide (1959) as Fred Grant
- Rawhide (1959) as Deck Sommers
- The Untouchables (1959) as Frank Diamond
- The Deputy (1959) as Cherokee Kid
- Hawaiian Eye (1959)
- Black Saddle (1959) as Frank Sandoe
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Peak
- Riverboat (1959) as Luke Cragg
- The Alaskans (1959)
- Mr. Lucky (1959) as Kruger
- Law of the Plainsman (1959) as Tracey
- Ride Lonesome (1959) as Frank
- Guns Girls and Gangsters (1959) as Mike Bennett
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Jumbo Kane
- Lawman (1958)
- Lawman (1958) as Deputy Clyde Wilson
- Lawman (1958) as Ned Scott
- Yancy Derringer (1958) as Ike Milton
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Majeski
- Bronco (1958)
- Bronco (1958) as Shanghai Williams
- The Young Lions (1958) as 1st Sgt. Rickett
- The Bravados (1958) as Alfonso Parral
- Machete (1958) as Miguel
- Day of the Badman (1958) as Jake Hayes
- Perry Mason (1957) as Edward Doyle
- Wagon Train (1957) as Rufe Beal
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Golias
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Corbin
- Maverick (1957)
- Zorro (1957)
- Tombstone Territory (1957) as Sam Carver
- Tombstone Territory (1957)
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957) as Ed Murdock
- Trackdown (1957) as Ben Fraser
- Casey Jones (1957) as Mort Clio
- Last Stagecoach West (1957) as Steve Margolies
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) as Ed Bailey
- The Tin Star (1957) as Ed McGaffey
- China Gate (1957) as Maj. Cham
- Joe Dakota (1957) as Adam Grant
- The Lonely Man (1957) as Faro
- The Quiet Gun (1957) as Doug Sadler
- The Badge of Marshal Brennan (1957) as Shad Donaphin
- Raiders of Old California (1957) as Damon Pardee
- Gun Battle at Monterey (1957) as Kirby
- State Trooper (1956) as Frank Parnessa
- Wire Service (1956) as Al Sanders
- It Conquered the World (1956) as Dr. Tom Anderson
- Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) as Fat Jones
- The Conqueror (1956) as Chepei
- Pardners (1956) as Gus
- Accused of Murder (1956) as Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey
- Cheyenne (1955) as Braden
- Cheyenne (1955) as Harry Bittercreek Bartender
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Rad
- Gunsmoke (1955) as John Hooker
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Ike Jeffords
- Buffalo Bill Jr. (1955)
- The Adventures of Champion (1955) as Frank
- Treasure of Ruby Hills (1955) as Frank Emmett
- The Big Combo (1955) as Fante
- Ten Wanted Men (1955) as Al Drucker
- A Man Alone (1955) as Clanton
- The Road to Denver (1955) as Pecos Larry
- The Naked Street (1955) as Harry Goldish (uncredited)
- I Cover the Underworld (1955) as Flash Logan
- The Vanishing American (1955) as Jay Lord
- Annie Oakley (1954) as Amos Belcher
- Annie Oakley (1954) as Tim Brennan
- Studio 57 (1954)
- Studio 57 (1954) as Tommy
- Stories of the Century (1954) as Jesse James
- Princess of the Nile (1954) as Hakar (uncredited)
- The Yellow Tomahawk (1954) as Fire Knife
- Dawn at Socorro (1954) as Earl Ferris
- Gypsy Colt (1954) as Hank
- Arrow In The Dust (1954) as Tillotson Henchman
- Rails Into Laramie (1954) as Ace Winton
- The Desperado (1954) as Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton
- City Detective (1953)
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Dave Rudabaugh
- The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) as Corp. Stone
- Vice Squad (1953) as Pete Monty
- The Bandits of Corsica (1953) as Nerva
- Arena (1953) as Smitty
- The Nebraskan (1953) as Pvt. Reno Benton
- Tumbleweed (1953) as Marv
- Jack Slade (1953) as Bolt Mackay
- White Lightning (1953) as Brutus Allen
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Bob Wheeler aka Sonora Kid
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952)
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Stanley Perrin
- High Noon (1952) as Jack Colby
- Cavalcade of America (1952)
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as 1st Mate Hawl Finch
- Kansas City Confidential (1952) as Tony Romano
- The Lawless Breed (1952) as Dirk Hanley
- Untamed Frontier (1952) as Dave Chittun
- The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951)
- Boston Blackie (1951) as Captain Jansen
- Boston Blackie (1951) as Lou
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Dallas Clancy
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Wink
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Sheriff
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Larkin
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Cowboy
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Hod - Henchman
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Henchman Ray
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Bull Harper
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Jango
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lee Van Cleef best known for?
Lee Van Cleef is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Bell Telephone Hour (1959), Speed Zone (1989), The Master (1984), Escape from New York (1981).
When and where was Lee Van Cleef born?
Lee Van Cleef was born on January 9, 1925 in Somerville, New Jersey, USA. They passed away on December 16, 1989.
How many credits does Lee Van Cleef have?
Lee Van Cleef has accumulated over 166 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1949 to 2024.
What is Lee Van Cleef's background in cinema and television?
Lee Van Cleef was an American actor known for his roles in Spaghetti Westerns. He was born on January 9, 1925, in Somerville, New Jersey, USA. Van Cleef's film debut was in High Noon, where he declined to have his nose altered to play a sympathetic character and was relegated to a non-speaking outlaw as a result. He wa...
Lee Van Cleef by the numbers
166credits
92films
74TV series
1949–2024active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) as Sentenza / Angel Eyes — aged about 41
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Steinhart — aged about 34
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) as Col. Douglas Mortimer — aged about 40
- The Untouchables (1959) as Frank Diamond — aged about 34
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Reese — aged about 37
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) — aged about 27
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