Trivia: Internet Movie Database IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001812/bio
– Van Cleef had almost given up on his acting career in the mid-’60s and turned to painting when he was cast by Sergio Leone in For a Few Dollars More (1965). It made him a superstar in Europe and restarted his career in the US, making him again a recognizable and bankable name.
– Lee had one green eye and one blue eye. This was corrected in the movies with colored contact lenses.
– He was involved in a car accident in 1959 in which he lost his left kneecap. Doctors told him he would never be able to ride a horse again because of the injury. Within six months he was back in the saddle. But the injury plagued him for the rest of his life.
Lee had a smile …
Ride on Lee.
You have these nifty back stories. Love’em!
Appreciate your kind and useful comments. Thank you.
I think of myself as a “movie maven” but knew little about Lee Van Cleef.I remember one of his TV shows which, I think, featured him as a U.S. Marshall and Glenn Ford, again I think, was the bad guy. Thanks so much for improving my education.
I’m a mere fan myself. There are some folks on the net whose expertise about the Old West and Westerns is astounding. I will never reach that level. But I still love Westerns and enjoy them. That’s all this blog is about.
Lee Van Cleef was probably the #1 Spaghetti Western star – his popularity overseas was greater than Eastwood, Wayne or anybody.
He paid his dues – and finally – at the last second – his Star rose – and shone brightly.
Thanks for your comment!