Skip to content
Lee Van Cleef

File:Lee_Van_Cleef_-_Death_Rides_A_Horse_(1).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ193278· pop 59· linked from 352 articles

Lee Van Cleef

Sign in to save

Also known as Clarence Leroy Van Cleef Jr.

American actor (1925–1989)

AI overview

Lee Van Cleef was an American actor known for his distinctive appearance and roles in Western films and television shows during the 1950s through 1980s. He became particularly famous for his performances in spaghetti Westerns and action films, making him an iconic figure in the genre during his career from 1925 until his death in 1989.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Person · Open Library

Works
1

Top works

  • Commandos / Storm Rider

via Open Library + Wikidata

Music · MusicBrainz

Type
Group
Origin
Australia

via MusicBrainz · CC0

Listeners · Last.fm

Listeners
2,981
Total plays
22,695

Tags

rockStoner RockreggaePsychedelic Rockpost-rock

There are at least two music artists by this name (not to mention the actor): (1) Lee Van Cleef (a.k.a. Lee Van Cliff) is a dancehall reggae DJ: see Lee Van Cleef @ Discogs and/or Lee Van Cliff @ Roots Archives. (2) Lee Van Cleef is a loud 3-guitarist, 1 bass player, and 1 drummer onslaught of rock 'n roll form Louisville, KY. More info can be found at http://www.louisvillehardcore.com/ <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Lee+Van+Cleef">Read more on Last.fm</a>

via Last.fm · Lee Van Cleef

Wikidata facts

Image
Lee Van Cleef - Death Rides A Horse (1).jpg
Height
188
Show 6 more facts
Commons category
Lee Van Cleef
date of birth
1925-01-09
date of death
1989-12-16
start of work period
1952-00-00
name in native language
Lee Van Cleef
end of work period
1989-00-00
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~13 min read

Article

Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef Jr. (January 9, 1925 – December 16, 1989) was an American actor. He appeared in over 170 film and television roles in a career spanning nearly 40 years, but is best known as a star of spaghetti Westerns, holding starring roles in the Sergio Leone-directed Dollars Trilogy films, For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). In 1983, he received a Golden Boot Award for his contribution to the Western film and television genre.

Van Cleef served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the minesweeper USS Incredible, earning a Bronze Star for his actions. After acting on stage in regional theatre, he made his film debut in the Oscar-winning Western High Noon (1952) in a non-speaking outlaw cast role. With distinctive, angular features and a taciturn screen persona, Van Cleef was typecast as minor villain and supporting player in Westerns, film noir, and crime dramas. After suffering serious injuries in a car crash, Van Cleef's acting career started to decline. He achieved stardom when Leone gave him the co-leading role in For a Few Dollars More (1965).

Gallery (6)

Connections

Categories