| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cleavon Litte as "Sheriff Bart" in the Mel Brooks' film "Blazing Saddles" (1974) | ||||
| Personal Information | ||||
| Gender: | Male | |||
| Born: | June 1, 1939 | |||
| Birthplace: | Chickasha, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||
| Died: | October 22, 1992 (aged 53) | |||
| Deathplace: | Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, CA, U.S. | |||
| Occupation/ Career: |
Actor | |||
| Character/Series involvement | ||||
| Series: | All in the Family | |||
| Episodes appeared in: | "Edith Writes a Song" (Season 2) | |||
| Character played: | cat burglar Horace | |||
Cleavon Little guest starred on All in the Family as Horace, one on two black burglars who "visit" the Bunker home in "Edith Writes a Song" in Season 2 (episode #4).
Career[]
A Tony-award winning African-American actor, Cleavon is best known for his role as Sheriff Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks' film Blazing Saddles and the his first leading television role, that of the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland on the ABC sitcom Temperatures Rising (1972–1974).
In the 1980s, Little continued to appear in stage productions, films, and in guest spots on television series. In 1989, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for his appearance on the NBC sitcom Dear John. He later starred on the Fox sitcom True Colors (1991–1992).
Cleavon's television guest appearances included The Love Boat, ALF, The Mod Squad and his All in the Family appearance. On Broadway, Little appeared in Purlie and I'm Not Rappaport (with Judd Hirsch).
Death/Legacy[]
Often afflicted by ulcers and general stomach problems throughout his life, Little died of colorectal cancer on October 22, 1992.[1] His body was cremated and the ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean... although his death certificate states they were scattered in New York harbor.
Posthumous honors[]
For Little's contribution to motion pictures, he was honored with a star February 1, 1994, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[2] The star is located on the south side of Hollywood Blvd., near El Cerrito Place.[3]
Selected Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | True Colors (TV series) | Ron Freeman | 11 episodes |
| 1989-1991 | MacGyver | Frank Colton | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | 227 | Abner Neff | in episode "For Richer, For Poorer" |
| Goin' to Chicago | Edward, Sr. | Film role | |
| Dear John (TV series) | Tony Larkin | in episode "Stand By Your Man" | |
| 1987 | Alf | George Foley | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Once Bitten | Sebastian | Film role |
| 1983 | Simon & Simon (TV series) | Bookkeeper Jared Swope | in episode "Red Dog Blues" |
| 1982 | Double Exposure | Police Chief | Film role |
| 1981 | Fantasy Island | Charlie Raines | in episode "Basin Street/The Devil's Triangle" |
| High Risk | Rodney | Film role | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Sheriff Bart | Film Role |
| 1972-1974 | The New Temperatures Rising Show (TV series) | Dr. Jerry Noland | 46 episodes |
| 1971 | All in the Family | Coke | in episode "Edith Writes a Song" |
| Vanishing Point | Super Soul | Film role |
References[]
- ↑ "Cleavon Little, Award-Winning Actor, Dies at 53", New York Times (.com), October 23, 1992. Retrieved on 2010-10-28. “Cleavon Little, the actor best remembered for his role as a black sheriff hired to save a redneck town in Mel Brooks's 1974 comedy Blazing Saddles, died yesterday at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif. He was 53 years old. He died of colon cancer, said David C. Pollick, his publicity agent in Los Angeles.”
- ↑ Cleavon Little | Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved on 2015-11-11.
- ↑ Cleavon Little - Hollywood, CA - Citizen Memorials on Waymarking.com. Retrieved on 2015-11-11.
External Links[]
Cleavon Little at the Internet Movie Database- Cleavon Little article at Wikipedia
