Cleavon Little
With effortless cool and sharp wit, he stole the show as the Black sheriff who outsmarted everyone in a Western comedy classic.
1939–1992 (age 53)·American actor·Birthday: June 1·The Silent Generation
Biography
Cleavon Little possessed a singular blend of charm, intelligence, and comic timing that made him a trailblazer. A Juilliard-trained stage actor, he first earned major acclaim on Broadway, winning a Tony for the musical 'Purlie'. Hollywood initially offered him limited television roles, but his talent was too big to contain. Then came Mel Brooks's 'Blazing Saddles'. As Sheriff Bart, Little delivered a performance of sublime, subversive grace; his raised eyebrow and unflappable demeanor disarmed bigots and audiences alike, turning a potentially risky satire into a landmark of American comedy. The role defined him publicly, but his career was broader—from sitcoms to drama—always marked by his elegant presence. His early death cut short a path that had already reshaped perceptions of what a Black leading man in comedy could be.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Cleavon was born in 1939, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cleavon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1939
#1 Movie
Gone with the Wind
Best Picture
Gone with the Wind
Cleavon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1939Born
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1944Started school
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1952Became a teenager
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Could drive
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1957Could vote
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Turned 21
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1969Turned 30
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 40
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 50
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Died at 53
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
Key Achievements
- He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in the Broadway show 'Purlie' in 1970.
- He delivered the iconic leading performance as Sheriff Bart in Mel Brooks's groundbreaking film 'Blazing Saddles'.
- He earned a Drama Desk Award for his outstanding work in the original stage production of 'Purlie'.
- He starred as Dr. Jerry Noland in the ABC sitcom 'Temperatures Rising' in the early 1970s.
Did You Know?
He was a trained classical actor and graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School.
He provided the voice for the animated character of 'The Great One' in the 'Baggy Pants and the Nitwits' Saturday morning cartoon.
He guest-starred on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' as Mary's charming but forgetful date, Gordon.
He was considered for the role of Colonel John 'Hannibal' Smith in the original 'The A-Team' TV series.
“I'm not just playing a part; I'm changing the game for everyone who comes after.”
