Known For
Acting
Born
Aug 01, 1930
Died
Oct 05, 2014
Place of Birth
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Credits
35 titles
Geoffrey Holder
Biography
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad of African descent, Holder was an actor known for his towering 200-centimeter (6'6") height, heavily accented deep basso voice and hearty laugh. With that and his appearance in the 1970s 7 Up soft drink "uncola" advertising campaign, Holder's image quickly became recognizable. He was also in the 1967 movie Dr. Dolittle as William Shakespeare, "Willy," and played Baron Samedi, one of the main villain's henchmen, in the 1973 James Bond film, Live and Let Die. Though the 7 Up advertising campaign lasted only a short while in the early 1970s, the company revived the campaign in the early 1980s after Holder achieved a spike in popularity in the 1982 movie version of the musical Annie, in which he played the role of Punjab. He was a prolific painter, ardent art collector, and performer who had also authored books and composed music. As a choreographer, he created dance pieces for many companies, including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The Dance Theatre of Harlem. Holder was married to dancer Carmen De Lavallade, whom he met when both were in the cast of Truman Capote's House of Flowers. .
Known For
Filmography
The Magistical
Narrator
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Narrator (voice)
Carmen & Geoffrey
Self
Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE! - Surprise Party
Ray
Cyberchase
Master Pi (voice)
Goosed
Dr. Bowman
Chance or Coincidence
Gerry
Bear in the Big Blue House
Ray the Sun
Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger
Boomerang
Nelson
Tropical Rainforest
Narrator
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
Ghost of a Chance
Johnson
John Grin's Christmas
Ghost of Christmas Future
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
Alice in Wonderland
Cheshire Cat
All by Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story
Self
Annie
Punjab
Lights! Camera! Annie! The Making of a Major Hollywood Musical
Self / Punjab
The Gold Bug
Jupiter
Swashbuckler
Cudjo
The Noah
Friday
Goggles!
(voice)
Live and Let Die
Baron Samedi
Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary
Self
The Man Without a Country
Slave on Ship
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask
Sorcerer
Great Performances
Cheshire Cat
Krakatoa, East of Java
Sailor
Doctor Dolittle
William Shakespeare X
Androcles and the Lion
Lion
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Aladdin
Genie
DuPont Show of the Month
Genie
Carib Gold
Voo Doo Dancer