Lee Van Cleef was born on January 9, 1925 in Somerville,
New Jersey. On December 16, 1989 Lee Van Cleef passed away
in Oxnard, California from a heart attack.
Trying to face know on the big screeen Lee Van Cleef took
a couple uncredited roles. In 1962 playing a river pirate
in HOW THE WEST WAS WON and in 1960 with the role of Frank
Diamond in THE GUN OF ZANGARA.
In the 50's Lee Van Cleef was in 49 movies his 3 busiest
year would have to be in 1953 with 11 movies in 1957 with
10 movies and 1955 with 9 movies. Doing in one decade what
some actor do in a life time. Cleef was a great actor usually
found playing a villian.
Usually Lee Van Cleef was casted into supporting roles, in
1965 he moved up to leading man or should we say villian opposite
Clint Eastwood in two Sergio Leone-directed films, FOR A FEW
DOLLARS MORE and in 1967 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY.
It was Lee Van Cleef role in a touring company that gave
him, his big break. Stanley Kramer, saw Cleef in the play
and cast him as henchman Jack Colby in HIGH NOON in 1952.
In a short-lived martial arts series, Lee Van Cleef was a
costar in THE MASTERS in 1984.
The 1952 hit and his first big break in HIGH NOON, was the
role that gave his fame and recognition despite the fact that
he had no dialogue.
Lee Van Cleef's other notable credits include...
