Trivia

He won the lead role of Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles (1974) over Richard Pryor, who co-wrote the script, intending to play the role himself. Studio executives were apparently nervous over Pryor's reputation as a racy comedian and thought Little would be a safer choice.

He was a talented Shakespearean but was forced at the time to accept comedy roles when few black actors were considered for such important and serious roles. His passion remained for the classics, and he returned frequently to play such roles.

He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 1, 1994.

Following his death, his remains were cremated and his ashes were scattered into the New York harbor.

Brother of singer DeEtta Little, best known for her vocal performance (with Nelson Pigford) on the chart-topping Bill Conti song "Gonna Fly Now", the main theme to Rocky (1976).

Alumnus of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1967.

Has one daughter: Adia Millet-Little.

In 1989, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for his appearance on the NBC sitcom Dear John.

The Cleavon Little Scholarship, which provides assistance to minority students, was created at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts through a campaign led by Little's fellow alumnus and co-star Judd Hirsch.

He won a scholarship from the American Broadcasting Company to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and was named the best actor in the class of 1967.

He worked his way through college as a janitor and gave Black poetry presentations to clubs and groups.

Over the years he made guest appearances on The Mod Squad, All in the Family, The Rookies, Police Story, The Rockford Files, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, ABC Afterschool Specials, The Fall Guy, MacGyver, and a special Christmas episode of ALF.

In the 1980s, Little continued to appear in stage productions, films, and in guest spots on television series.

Cleavon Little was an American stage, film and television actor.

He graduated from San Diego State College in 1965 with a degree in speech therapy and appeared in "A Raisin in the Sun" in 1962 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

He began his career in the late 1960s on the stage.

Little made his professional debut in February 1967, appearing off-Broadway at the Village Gate as the Muslim Witch in the original production of Barbara Garson's MacBird. This was followed by the role of Foxtrot in the original production of Bruce Jay Friedman's long-running play Scuba Duba which premiered in October 1967. While portraying Foxtrot at night, he portrayed Hamlet during the days at schools and parks on behalf of the New York Shakespeare Festival.

In 1974 he was cast as Sheriff Bart in Brooks's comedy western Blazing Saddles (1974), after the studio rejected Richard Pryor, who co-wrote the script. Studio executives were apparently concerned about Pryor's reliability, given his reputation for drug use and unpredictable behavior, and thought Little would be a safer choice. This role earned him a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.

His first leading television role was that of the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland on the ABC sitcom Temperatures Rising (1972-1974). While starring in the sitcom, Little appeared in what has become his signature performance, portraying Sheriff Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy film Blazing Saddles.

He starred on the Fox sitcom True Colors (1991-1992).