Cleavon Little

About Cleavon Little

Cleavon Jake Little (June 1, 1939 – October 22, 1992) was an American film and theatre actor, best known for his lead role as Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles and as the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland in the early 1970s situation-comedy television series program Temperatures Rising. In 1978 he played "The Prince of Darkness" in the radio station comedy FM. He was also in the 1984 action film Toy Soldiers and acted out the role of Super Soul in the film Vanishing Point in 1971.

Little was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He grew up in California and attended college at San Diego State University. After receiving a full scholarship to Juilliard he moved to New York and trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Art.

Little started off with small, and uncredited parts, he had small roles in films such as What's So Bad About Feeling Good, John and Mary and Cotton Comes to Harlem. In 1971 he was chosen to portray Super Soul in the movie Vanishing Point, after a few more films and guest appearances Little was cast to portray Sheriff Bart in the 1974 comedy film Blazing Saddles, beating Richard Pryor, who co-wrote the script intending to play the role himself. Studio execs were apparently nervous over Pryor's reputation as a racy comedian and thought Little would be a safer choice. This role earned him a BAFTA Award nomination as Most Promising Newcomer. Little made his off-Broadway debut in the 1968 political satire MacBird!, 1970 he won a Tony award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for his work in the Broadway musical Purlie. A year later Little was hired as an ensemble player on the syndicated TV variety weekly The David Frost Revue.