Cleavon Little
American actor (1939-1992) · United States · On the map · Actors · Died at 53
Cleavon Jake Little was an American actor. He began his career in the late 1960s on the stage. In 1970, he starred in the Broadway production of Purlie, for which he earned both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award.
Cleavon Little is read about 671 times a day, in 19 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 10 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 115 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
In the Nick of TimeFilm, Freddy1990
True ColorsSeries, Ron FreemanGoin' to ChicagoFilm1989Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesAward1988
Dear JohnSeries, Tony Larkin1985
227Series
Once BittenFilm, 1985Sebastian1984
E. Nick: A Legend in His Own MindFilm, Edmundo1982
A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's RebellionFilm, Rolla1981
Simon & SimonSeries1980
The Sky Is GrayFilm, Monsieur Bayonne1979
Scavenger HuntFilm, Jackson1978
FMFilm, Prince1977
The Love BoatSeries, Andrew Hopkins1976NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesAward1974
The Rockford FilesSeries, Billy Merrihew
Blazing SaddlesFilm, 1974Bart1973
Money to BurnFilm, Calvin Baker1972
Temperatures RisingSeries, Jerry Noland1970Tony Award for Best Actor in a MusicalAward
Cotton Comes to HarlemFilm, 1970Lo Boy1968
The Mod SquadSeries
What's So Bad About Feeling Good?Film, 1968Phil1962
The Merv Griffin ShowSeries1956
Tony AwardsSeries1939Born1 June 1939People around Cleavon
Close ties
Stan Lathan Directed True Colors- Carol Wayne Also in Scavenger Hunt (1979)
Michael Schultz Directed Scavenger Hunt (1979)
Samuel Goldwyn Jr. Produced Cotton Comes to Harlem (1972)
Anthony Quinn Also in The Salamander and High Risk
Richard Pryor Also in Greased Lightning (1977)
Ruth Gordon Also in Scavenger Hunt and Jimmy the Kid
Richie Havens Also in Greased Lightning and Perfect Harmony
Ossie Davis Directed Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)
Peter Yates Directed John and Mary (1973)
William Windom Also in The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
Alex Karras Also in FM and Blazing Saddles
Michael Ritchie Directed Fletch Lives (1989)
George T. Miller Directed In the Nick of Time (1991)
Stephanie Faracy Also in True Colors and Scavenger Hunt
John McMartin Also in What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968)
Peter Bonerz Directed True Colors- Peter Zinner Directed The Salamander (1981)
Stewart Raffill Directed High Risk (1982)
Hal Williams Also in The Sky Is Gray (1980)
Avery Schreiber Also in Scavenger Hunt and Jimmy the Kid
Arlene Sanford Directed True Colors
Howard Storm Directed Once Bitten (1986)
Jeff Bleckner Directed Mr. Dugan
Known for
View all 32 titles
Blazing Saddles 1974
Vanishing Point 1971
Cotton Comes to Harlem 1970
Fletch Lives 1989
Once Bitten 1985
Filmography 32
59 credits on file
Television 24
Media & music
Awards
About this person
His first leading television role was that of the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland on the ABC sitcom Temperatures Rising (1972-1974). While starring in the sitcom, Little appeared in what has become his signature role, portraying Sheriff Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy film Blazing Saddles.
