Cleavon Little

Biography

Cleavon Jake Little (June 1, 1939 – October 22, 1992) was an American actor, best known for his lead role in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles and as the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland in the early seventies series Temperatures Rising. He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, grew up in California, attended college at San Diego State University, and then trained as an actor in New York at Juilliard and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He also played a notable part in the 1971 road movie Vanishing Point as the Afro-American disc jockey, Super Soul. He starred in the stage musical Purlie in 1970, winning a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He guest starred regularly on the TV show Macgyver as bounty hunter Frank Colton. He has a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died of colon cancer at the age of 53.

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