Lee Van Cleef
Biography
Lee Van Cleef was an American actor whose screen career lasted nearly four decades, best known for his roles in spaghetti Westerns after Sergio Leone cast him alongside Clint Eastwood in For a Few Dollars More (1965). Born in Somerville, New Jersey, he served in the Navy during World War II, acted on regional stages, and made his film debut in High Noon (1952) as a silent gunslinger. His angular features and taciturn manner brought a steady stream of villain and supporting parts in Westerns, film noir and crime dramas. Leone used him again as Angel Eyes in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), and he went on to lead The Big Gundown (1967), Death Rides a Horse (1967), Day of Anger (1967), Sabata (1969) and Return of Sabata (1971). Later work included The Octagon (1980), Escape from New York (1981) and the television series The Master. In 1983 he received a Golden Boot Award.
64years old at death
- Born Somerville
- Died Oxnard
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Also credited as Clarence Leroy Van Cleef Jr.
Movie Career
- Films
- 42
- Career span
- 29 years1952 to 1981
First and latest
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
First role
Van Cleef's first acting role was George in the play Our Town at the Little Theater Group in Clinton, New Jersey, after he returned home from the Navy.
Big break
In 1965, Leone cast Van Cleef as a main protagonist in For a Few Dollars More, playing alongside Clint Eastwood, at a time when Van Cleef's career had not yet taken off.
A change of course
During World War II, Van Cleef was in the United States Navy and served aboard a minesweeper. His actions earned him a Bronze Star.
Lee Van Cleef movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Gianfranco Parolini directed three of these films, Sergio Leone two. Three actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
James Bell's page
Benito Stefanelli's page
Ricardo Palacios's page
Neville Brand's page
Jim Brown's page
Ted de Corsia's page
Gianfranco ParoliniDirector, 3 films, 1969 to 1976
All films by Sergio Leone
Also three films together5 more actors
- Aldo SambrellBad Man's River (1971), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and For a Few Dollars More (1965)
- Harry LauterBarquero (1970), Posse from Hell (1961) and Raiders of Old California (1957)
- Romano PuppoSabata (1969), Commandos (1968) and The Big Gundown (1967)
- John BarthaReturn of Sabata (1971), Sabata (1969) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
- Luigi PistilliDeath Rides a Horse (1967), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and For a Few Dollars More (1965)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Lee Van Cleef's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$174 million
12 of the 42 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 42 films: 12 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 26 figure not found.
- 12Worldwide figure
- 4US gross only
- 26Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 92% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$50M28.9% of the total
- 2$39M22.4% of the total
- 3$19M10.9% of the total
- 4$15M8.6% of the total
- 5$12M6.8% of the total
- 6$9.0M5.2% of the total
- 7$8.0M4.6% of the total
- 8$8.0M4.6% of the total
$13.9 millionfrom the other 4 films with a worldwide figure, 8% of the total
Awards
Seven awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1983 | Golden Boot Awards | Won | |
| American Campaign Medal | Won | ||
| Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal | Won | ||
| Bronze Star Medal | Won | ||
| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | Won | ||
| Good Conduct Medal | Won | ||
| World War II Victory Medal | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.