Lee Van Cleef: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 74
- on screen
- 1952–2000
- box office
- $73.2M
- Born
- January 9, 1925
- Birthplace
- Somerville, New Jersey, U.S.
- Full name
- Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef Jr.
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actor
- Years active
- 1952-1989
- Spouses
- Patsy Ruth Kahle, Joan Marjorie Drane, Barbara Havelone
- Children
- 4
The Best Lee Van Cleef Movies
The films of Lee Van Cleef that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Escape from New York (1981) leads with $25.3M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $25.3M Escape from New York 1981 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $25.3M The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1967 · Adventure -
Worldwide box office: $19M The Octagon 1980 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $3.08M Speed Zone 1989 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $600K Code Name: Wild Geese 1984 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $15.4K The Conqueror 1956 · Romance
Lee Van Cleef's Career in Numbers
Lee Van Cleef's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Lee Van Cleef works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Lawless Breed (1952) to Klaus Kinski: I’m not an actor (2000), and the 1950s were the busiest decade.
Lee Van Cleef Movies by Decade
- 1950s 39
- 1960s 8
- 1970s 13
- 1980s 12
- 1990s 1
- 2000s 1
The 1950s were Lee Van Cleef's busiest decade, with 39 films.
Lee Van Cleef Movies by Genre
- Western 32
- Action 17
- Thriller 5
- Drama 5
- Romance 4
- Comedy 3
- Crime 3
- Adventure 2
- Documentary 1
- War 1
Western is the genre Lee Van Cleef has worked in most, with 32 films, ahead of action (17).
Lee Van Cleef Career Milestones
- First film
- The Lawless Breed 1952
- Biggest box office hit
- Escape from New York $25.3M worldwide
- Newest film
- Klaus Kinski: I’m not an actor 2000
Lee Van Cleef Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Lee Van Cleef is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
- 2000
Klaus Kinski: I’m not an actor as Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage) · Documentary - 1990
Thieves of Fortune as Sergio Danielo Christophero · Action - 1989 Speed Zone as Grandfather · Action Worldwide box office: $3.08M
- 1988
The Commander as Col. Mazzarini · Action - 1986
Armed Response as Burt Roth · Action - 1985
Jungle Raiders as Warren · Action - 1985
The Master Ninja 5 as John Peter McAllister · Action - 1984 Code Name: Wild Geese as Archie 'China' Travers · Action Worldwide box office: $600K
- 1984
Killing Machine as Julot · Thriller - 1984
Master Ninja as John Peter McAllister · Drama - 1984
Master Ninja II as John Peter McAllister · Action - 1981 Escape from New York Action Worldwide box office: $25.3M
- 1980 The Octagon Action Worldwide box office: $19M
- 1980
The Hard Way as McNeal · Thriller - 1978
The Squeeze as Chris Gretchko / Ray Sloan · Action - 1977
The Perfect Killer as Harry Chapman · Action - 1976
Kid Vengeance as McClain · Western - 1976
God’s Gun as Father John / Lewis · Action - 1975
Take a Hard Ride as Kiefer · Western - 1974
The Stranger and the Gunfighter as Dakota · Action - 1973
Mean Frank and Crazy Tony as Frankie · Comedy - 1972
The Magnificent Seven Ride! as Marshal Chris Adams · Western - 1971
Bad Man’s River as Roy King · Western - 1971
Captain Apache as Capt. Apache · Western - 1971
Return of Sabata as Sabata / Major · Western - 1970
Barquero as Travis · Western - 1970
El Condor as Jaroo · Action - 1969
Death Rides a Horse Western - 1968
Commandos as MSgt. Sullivan · Action - 1967 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Adventure Worldwide box office: $25.3M
- 1967
Day of Anger as Frank Talby · Western - 1967
For a Few Dollars More Western - 1967
The Big Gundown as Jonathan Corbett · Western - 1961
Posse from Hell as Leo · Western - 1960
The Slowest Gun in the West as Sam Bass · Comedy - 1959
Ride Lonesome as Frank · Western - 1959
Guns, Girls and Gangsters as Mike Bennett · Crime - 1958
Machete as Miguel · Drama - 1958
The Bravados as Alfonso Parral · Western - 1958
The Young Lions as 1st Sgt. Rickett · Action Worldwide box office: $9.36K - 1957
Raiders of Old California as Damon Pardee · Drama - 1957
Gun Battle at Monterey as Kirby · Romance - 1957
Joe Dakota as Adam Grant · Western - 1957
The Tin Star as Ed McGaffey · Western - 1957
Last Stagecoach West as Steve Margolies · Western - 1957
The Lonely Man as Faro · Western - 1957
China Gate as Maj. Cham · War - 1956
Accused of Murder as Police Sgt. Emmett Lackey · Thriller - 1956
Pardners as Gus · Comedy - 1956
It Conquered the World as Dr. Tom Anderson · Thriller - 1956
Tribute to a Bad Man as Fat Jones · Western - 1956 The Conqueror as Chepei · Romance Worldwide box office: $15.4K
- 1955
A Man Alone as Clanton · Romance - 1955
The Naked Street as Harry Goldish (uncredited) · Thriller - 1955
The Road to Denver as Pecos Larry · Western - 1955
The Big Combo as Fante · Drama - 1955
Ten Wanted Men as Al Drucker · Western - 1955
Treasure of Ruby Hills as Frank Emmett · Western - 1954
Dawn at Socorro as Earl Ferris · Western - 1954
Princess of the Nile as Hakar (uncredited) · Romance - 1954
The Desperado as Paul Clayton/Buck Clayton · Western - 1954
The Yellow Tomahawk as Fire Knife · Western - 1954
Arrow In The Dust as Tillotson Henchman · Western - 1954
Rails Into Laramie as Ace Winton · Western - 1954
Gypsy Colt as Hank · Adventure - 1953
Tumbleweed as Marv · Western - 1953
Jack Slade as Bolt Mackay · Western - 1953
Vice Squad as Pete Monty · Crime - 1953
Arena as Smitty · Western - 1953
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms as Corp. Stone · Horror - 1953
The Bandits of Corsica as Nerva · Drama - 1952
The Lawless Breed as Dirk Hanley · Western - 1952
Kansas City Confidential as Tony Romano · Crime - 1952
Untamed Frontier as Dave Chittun · Western
Who Is Lee Van Cleef?
Lee Van Cleef was born in Somerville, New Jersey, U.S. in 1925. Credited on films since 1952, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef Jr., better known as Lee Van Cleef, was an American actor who had a strong presence in the film industry for almost 40 years, with a filmography that went beyond 170 film and TV roles. Born on January 9, 1925, in Somerville, New Jersey, Van Cleef's iconic look and taciturn screen persona saw him typecast as villains and minor characters initially. Notably, he reached stardom through his collaboration with Sergio Leone in Spaghetti westerns, particularly the 'Dollars Trilogy' films: 'For a Few Dollars More' (1965) and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' (1966). Van Cleef's contribution to the Western film and television genre didn't go unnoticed, as he received a Golden Boot Award in 1983.
Aside from being an actor, his service in the United States Navy during World War II is noteworthy. He served aboard a minesweeper and earned the Bronze Star for his actions. After the war, Van Cleef began his career as a regional theatre actor before making his film debut in 'High Noon' (1952) in a non-speaking outlaw role. His later works included many other renowned films including 'The Big Gundown' (1967), 'Death Rides a Horse' (1967), and 'Escape from New York' (1981) among others. He played the lead role of John Peter McAllister on the martial arts TV series The Master (1984) before his death on December 16, 1989.
Who Lee Van Cleef Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Lee Van Cleef shares the most films with. Ted de Corsia comes first, with 4 films together, followed by Jack Elam (4).
Lee Van Cleef: Questions & Answers
How many movies Lee Van Cleef has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Lee Van Cleef been in?
Lee Van Cleef is credited on 74 films, from 1952 to 2000. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Lee Van Cleef's highest-grossing movie?
Escape from New York (1981) is Lee Van Cleef's biggest box office hit, with $25.3M worldwide, ahead of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1967) ($25.3M). Across every film with box office figures, Lee Van Cleef's movies have made $73.2M.
Lee Van Cleef's biggest hits What is Lee Van Cleef's newest movie?
The most recent film on Lee Van Cleef's filmography is Klaus Kinski: I’m not an actor (2000), in the role of Col. Douglas Mortimer (archive footage).
Who does Lee Van Cleef work with most often?
Lee Van Cleef shares the most films with Ted de Corsia (4 films), Jack Elam (4 films) and Claude Akins (3 films).
The Best Lee Van Cleef Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 74 credits.
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