Versatile, charismatic actor Cleavon Little was born
on June 1, 1939, in Oklahoma but grew up in California and attended San
Diego College. He earned a scholarship to Juilliard and moved to New
York, then trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and was soon
appearing off-Broadway. Classically trained ("Hamlet" "A Midsummer
Night's Dream"), he won the Tony award for a less weighty musical,
"Purlie", which took him west. A few film roles came his way with
Hochzeitsnacht vor Zeugen (1968), John und Mary (1969), Wenn es Nacht wird in Manhattan (1970), and the cult film Grenzpunkt Null (1971) but it was the
1972 sitcom Temperatures Rising (1972) that finally got him some leverage in Hollywood.
The by-now popular actor caught the eye of film producers. With his sly
charm and appeal, he was a natural for comedy and hit the apex of his
career after winning a co-starring role opposite Gene Wilder in the Mel Brooks
western spoof Der wilde wilde Westen (1974). He never matched that success but did continue
with important stage roles ("I'm Not Rappaport") and other TV series
work (Bagdad Cafe (1990)). A hard-working, heavily driven man, Little was plagued
by ulcers and stomach disorders for much of his life. He died at age 53
of colon cancer in 1992.
