Biography
Cleavon Little Biography: All You Need To Know About Hollywood Star Whose Death Came Has A Shock!
Cleavon Little may have passed away, but his work and legacy continue to remain significant today. Born in the late 1930s, Little established himself as a prominent figure on Broadway.
Beyond that, he broadened his horizons, appearing in highly acclaimed movies from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Having excelled in both realms, the prolific actor drew his final breath in the 1990s, at a twilight age, leaving behind a legacy of awards and recognition.
So, who is Cleavon Little, the prolific African-American actor whose presence was felt on both stage and screen throughout his lifetime? Let’s dive into Cleavon Little’s biography.
Here is a table summarizing key information about Cleavon Little, the prolific African-American actor known for his work on both stage and screen
Cleavon Little’s Profile Summary
| Birth Date | June 1, 1939 |
| Death Date | October 22, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Chickasha, Oklahoma |
| Education | – Kearny High School (graduated in 1957) |
| Net Worth (at death) | $2 million (estimated, according to Celebrity Net Worth) |
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Cleavon Little’s Biography
Cleavon Jake (June 1, 1939 – October 22, 1992) was an actor from the United States who was renowned for his roles in stage, film, and television. Little was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Kearny High School and completed his studies in 1957.
He furthered his education at San Diego State College, where he obtained a degree in speech therapy. In 1962, he participated in a performance of “A Raisin in the Sun” at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.
Throughout his college years, Little financially supported himself by working as a janitor while also delivering presentations on Black poetry to various clubs and gatherings.
His talent was recognized by the American Broadcasting Company, which granted him a scholarship to enroll at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. In the class of 1967, he was acclaimed as the top performer.
Cleavon Little’s Career
In February 1967, Little made his off-Broadway debut in the Village Gate, in the first production of Barbara Garson’s play “MacBird.”
Then, in October 1967, he was cast in the play “Scuba Duba,” in which he played the character “Foxtrot.”
He also played the role of “Hamlet” as part of the New York Shakespeare Festival. Little made his debut in the film industry the following year when he starred in “What’s So Bad About Feeling Good?” (1968).
He then appeared in two episodes of “Felony Squad.” He was also featured in films such as “John and Mary” (1969) and “Cotton Comes to Harlem” (1970).
He made his Broadway debut in the 1969 production of “Jimmy Shine,” a musical that was jointly put together by John Sebastian and Murray Schisgal. He also played the role of “Lee Haines” in the title role, Haines.
He returned to Broadway in 1970, playing the lead role in Ossie Davis’s musical “Purlie,” for which he won both the Drama Desk Award and the Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Musical.” The next year, Little joined “The David Frost Revue” TV show and performed on Broadway in “Narrow Road to the Deep North.”
He went on to portray the blind DJ Super Soul in the 1971 film “Vanishing Point.” He also appeared in “The Waltons” and “All in the Family” that same year.
The talented actor found himself in the lead role of the ABC sitcom “Temperatures Rising,” which ran from 1972 to 1974. He also appeared in “The Day the Earth Moved,” a TV catastrophe film, in 1974. In the “Six Million Dollar Man” episode “Population: Zero,” he had a brief cameo as one of the NASA deliverymen who gave Colonel Steve Austin his space suit.
He starred as “Sheriff Bart” in the uproarious “Blazing Saddles,” a 1974 Mel Brooks comedy. His standout performance later earned him a special movie award nomination. In 1975, Little returned to Broadway to undertake the role of “Lewis” in the original rendition of Murray Schisgal’s play “All Over Town,” directed by Dustin Hoffman.
The following year, he appeared as “Willy Stepp” in the original production of Ronald Ribman’s “The Poison Tree” at the Ambassador Theatre.
Over the years, Little graced the TV screens in a variety of guest appearances on shows like “The Mod Squad,” “All in the Family,” “The Rookies,” “Police Story,” “The Rockford Files,” “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” “ABC Afterschool Specials,” “The Fall Guy,” and “MacGyver.”
One of his notable on-screen partnerships was in the racing film “Greased Lightning” (1977), a gripping tale that unfolded the real-life journey of Wendell Scott, the first African-American to conquer the world of stock car racing in the United States.
His journey through the world of cinema also encompassed appearing in productions such as “FM” (1978), “Scavenger Hunt” (1979), “The Salamander” (1981), “High Risk” (1981), “Jimmy the Kid” (1982), “Surf II” (1984), “Toy Soldiers” (1984), “Once Bitten” (1985), “The Gig” (1985), and “Fletch Lives” (1989).
Returning to the bustling New York stage in 1981, Little’s presence was felt in the heart of the off-Broadway scene with his appearance in “The Resurrection of Lady Lester.” In December 1985, Little starred as “Midge” in Herb Gardner’s play “I’m Not Rappaport.”
He subsequently clinched the prestigious Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Play.” In 1989, he appeared in Hirsch’s sitcom, “Dear John,” in which he portrayed a closeted gay individual in the episode, titled “Stand by Your Man.” This particular performance proved to be a turning point for Little as his performance earned him the prestigious Primetime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
” Yet his career journey faced challenges. He was on the verge of headlining the TV series “Mr. Dugan,” playing a black congressman. But the show hit the rocks. Real black congressmen expressed dissatisfaction, causing the show’s cancellation even before airing. This twist of fate could have been disheartening,
But it marked the start of a new phase. In the year 1991, he found himself stepping into the shoes of “Ronald Freeman,” a black dentist entwined in matrimony with a white housewife, in the Fox sitcom “True Colours.” Simultaneously, he embarked on another journey as he appeared in the television series, “Bagdad Cafe.”
His versatile acting prowess shone once again as he donned the persona of a civil-rights attorney in the powerful docudrama, “Separate but Equal.”
Little was featured in the series “MacGyver,” playing the character of “Frank Colton.” His final curtain call occurred in a 1992 episode of the enigmatic TV series, “Tales from the Crypt.”
Cleavon Little movies
- “Blazing Saddles” (1974) – He played the lead role of Sheriff Bart in this classic comedy film.
- “Vanishing Point” (1971) – He had a supporting role in this action film.
- “Scavenger Hunt” (1979) – He played the role of Jackson in this comedy movie.
- “Greased Lightning” (1977) – He portrayed Peewee McCord in this biographical film about the race car driver Wendell Scott.
- “Once Bitten” (1985) – He had a supporting role as Sebastian in this horror-comedy film.
Cleavon Little’s Net Worth
Little had an estimated net worth of $2 million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Cleavon Little’s Family
Little comes from an African-American home. His parents were Malchi
