Lee Van Cleef. The Good, the Bad, the Determined

Yahoo/Ac ^ | Feb. 9th, 2011 | Sherry Tomfeld

[stillafreemind]

Van Cleef didn't just play bad guys in the westerns but also in detective and crime movies. But it is his work in the westerns that brought him fame. This accountant/U.S. Navy man who served on mine sweepers and sub chasers in WW2 ended up being a super star in Europe! In the Clint Eastwood movie "A Few Dollars More", we had a glimpse of Van Cleef as a nicer character.

[stillafreemind]

I'm glad to see that Encore is having a special afternoon of his movies. I am a huge fan of this guy but I didn't realize he had been so severely injured earlier in his career.

[struggle]

[miss marmelstein]

Years ago I saw an hour interview with him on Brian Lamb’s old show. He was a true gentleman during the interview - telling Lamb that he would never harm a woman or child in any movie he made. I was so impressed!

I love him in High Noon and How the West was Won.

[bcsco]

February 26th. I’ll be watching...

[ClearCase_guy]

I always enjoy his movies. Today’s actors don’t have the gravitas.

[stillafreemind]

Wish I’d seen that interview. He seems like someone I’d like to have a beer with and shoot the breeze.

[RikaStrom]

I have and will always have a HUGE crush on Lee Van Cleef. (sigh)

[KeyLargo]

Good actor. I liked him in 'Escape from NY'

Lee Van Cleef died from a heart attack in Oxnard, California and was interred in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. His gravestone says "Lee Van Cleef Jan 9, 1925 - Dec 16, 1989 'Best of the Bad' Love and Light".

[ladyvet]

Probably my husbands favorite actor. No channel surfing allowed if he's on.

[J40000]

Angel Eyes! ...I bet dey don’ call you sergeant Angel Eyes, ehh?...

[chopperman]

My favorite movie. I immediately became an Eli Wallach fan.

[Tupelo]

Excellent actor. Great badman. But my favorite bad man of all time is the late great Roy Barcroft. He got beat up by everyone from the Lone Ranger to Roy Rogers.

[max americana]

I watched by coincidence btw the BR version of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK 2 weeks ago and he almost stole the movie from Snake Plissken aka Kurt Russell. You know an ass-kicker heterosexual when u see one in Lee on-screen.

Unlike today’s metrosexual liberal pukes like cLooney, Damon etc..

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Lee Van Cleef was a class act. I really enjoy his Sabata movies. He died way too young. His hometown of Somerset, New Jersey still celebrates Lee Van Cleef day.

[Snickering Hound]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtER2E34Ptk

And had a cameo in The Kink’s “Do it Again” music video back in the 80’s.

[Towed_Jumper]

For your consideration as we examine the life and work of “Angel Eyes.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLgJ7pk0X-s

...enjoy

[ReneeLynn]

One of my favorites!

[BlueLancer]

There was an off-hand tribute to Lee Van Cleef in the movie “Shanghai Noon”. One of the principal villains was a renegade marshal named “Nathan Van Cleef” played by Xander Berkeley. To some extent, his appearance and mannerisms seemed to be an echo .. albeit a somewhat pale one .. of Lee Van Cleef. A fitting tribute to the ultimate western movie villain.

[miss marmelstein]

Yeah! A real gent. So maybe a glass of white wine?!

[miss marmelstein]

I’m not far from Somerset. Do you have any details on the celebration?