Carl Lee (actor)
Encyclopedia
Carl Lee born Carl Vincent Canegata, was an African-American actor. He was also the son of late pioneering African American actor/professional boxer Canada Lee
(1907–1952).
stated, "In the sort of hip world of New York, Carl Lee was the hip-black-actor icon. He was for hip people what Sidney Poitier
was for mainstream people."
winning play The Connection
. He later appeared in the film version
.
, went on to appear in such films as A Man Called Adam (1966) opposite Sammy Davis Jr. and Cicely Tyson
and the now classic blaxploitation flick Superfly
(with the late Ron O'Neal
) in 1972. He also appeared in various television roles in such shows as The Defenders, Mannix
, and Good Times
(Willona's Surprise, 1976) in a memorable performance in which he portrayed Willona Woods's conniving ex-husband Ray, who makes sexual advances towards Thelma
(Bernadette Stanis) under Willona and the Evans's noses.
Canada Lee
Canada Lee was an American actor who pioneered roles for African Americans. A champion of civil rights in the 1930s and 1940s, he died shortly before he was scheduled to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He became an actor after careers as a jockey, boxer, and musician...
(1907–1952).
Career
In a 2000 interview, filmmaker James TobackJames Toback
James Lee Toback is an American screenwriter and film director.-Early life:Toback was born in New York City. His mother, Selma Judith , was a President of The League of Women Voters and a moderator of political debates on NBC. His father, Irwin Lionel Toback, was a stockbroker and former...
stated, "In the sort of hip world of New York, Carl Lee was the hip-black-actor icon. He was for hip people what Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
was for mainstream people."
Theater
Lee is perhaps best known for his portrayal of a heroin dealer, essentially the title role, in the Obie AwardObie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
winning play The Connection
The Connection (1959 play)
The Connection is a 1959 play by Jack Gelber. It was first produced by the Living Theatre, directed by Living Theatre co-founder Judith Malina, and designed by co-founder Julian Beck...
. He later appeared in the film version
The Connection (1961 film)
The Connection is a 1961 feature film by the noted American experimental filmmaker Shirley Clarke. It was Clarke's first feature; she had made several shorts over the previous decade....
.
Film and TV roles
Lee, who made his first film appearance in the 1954 film Human DesireHuman Desire
Human Desire is a black-and-white film noir directed by Fritz Lang, and based on the novel La Bête humaine by Émile Zola. The story was filmed twice before: La Bête humaine directed by Jean Renoir and Die Bestie im Menschen .-Plot:Railroad supervisor Carl Buckley gets fired from his job...
, went on to appear in such films as A Man Called Adam (1966) opposite Sammy Davis Jr. and Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson is an American actress. A successful stage actress, Tyson is also known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film Sounder and the television movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Roots....
and the now classic blaxploitation flick Superfly
Superfly
The term Superfly or Super fly may refer to:*Super Fly , a landmark 1972 blaxploitation film**Super Fly , a Curtis Mayfield soundtrack to the film**"Superfly" , the album's title track...
(with the late Ron O'Neal
Ron O'Neal
Ron O'Neal was an American actor, director and screenwriter...
) in 1972. He also appeared in various television roles in such shows as The Defenders, Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
, and Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
(Willona's Surprise, 1976) in a memorable performance in which he portrayed Willona Woods's conniving ex-husband Ray, who makes sexual advances towards Thelma
Thelma Evans
Thelma Evans Anderson is a supporting character of the 1970s family sitcom Good Times. She was portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis. She was the middle child of the Evans family....
(Bernadette Stanis) under Willona and the Evans's noses.
Death
Lee supposedly suffered a heroin overdose which led to his passing. James Toback stated that,"...[Lee] died [on the day] he did his looping on [Toback's 1983 movie] Exposed. He came to the studio to do his lines, and was clearly in the throes of one of his more intense and defeating heroin periods. He said that he desperately needed $50, which I gave him. He died of an overdose an hour later."Television
- Keeping On (1981)...as Davis
- Good TimesGood TimesGood Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
(1976)...as Ray Woods in "Willona's Surprise" (1 episode) - SerpicoSerpicoSerpico is a 1973 American crime film directed by Sidney Lumet. It is based on the true story of New York City policeman Frank Serpico, who went undercover to expose the corruption of his fellow officers, after being pushed to the brink at first by their distrust and later by the threats and...
(1976)...as Carothers in "The Deadly Game" (1 episode) - Barbary CoastBarbary CoastThe Barbary Coast, or Barbary, was the term used by Europeans from the 16th until the 19th century to refer to much of the collective land of the Berber people. Today, the terms Maghreb and "Tamazgha" correspond roughly to "Barbary"...
(1975)...as Currier in "Jesse Who?" (1 episode) - MannixMannixMannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
(1975)...as Ginger in "Hardball" (1 episode) - Caribe(1975)...as Haines in "The Mercenary" (1 episode)
- The Defenders (1965)...as Philip Dunning in "Eyewitness" (1 episode)
- The Nurses (1963)...as Lonnie Hill in "Express Stop from Lenox Avenue" (1 episode)
Films
- ExposedExposed (1983 film)Exposed is an English-language 1983 film directed and written by James Toback. Nastassja Kinski, Rudolf Nureyev and Harvey Keitel star.-Cast:* Nastassja Kinski as Elizabeth Carlson* Rudolf Nureyev as Daniel Jelline* Harvey Keitel as Rivas...
(1983) ...as Duke - Gordon's WarGordon's WarGordon's War is a 1973 action film written by Howard Friedlander and Ed Spielman, and directed by Ossie Davis. It stars Paul Winfield as Gordon Hudson.-Synopsis:...
(1973)...as Bee Bishop - Super FlySuper Fly"Super Fly" is the third 12" single by Giant Panda. It was the released by their label Tres Records . The single contains two songs from their album Fly School Reunion with their instrumental tracks as well.-Personnel:...
(1972)...as Eddie - Werewolves on WheelsWerewolves on WheelsWerewolves on Wheels is a 1971 American exploitation film that blends two genres: the outlaw biker film and the traditional horror movie.-Plot:...
(1971) - PoundPound (film)Pound is a 1970 film directed and written by Robert Downey, Sr., it was based on The Comeuppance, an off-off broadway play written by Downey in 1961. It is about several dogs at a pound, the dogs are played by human actors. The film is notable as being the screen debut of Robert Downey, Jr., the...
(1970)...Thief - The LandlordThe LandlordThe Landlord is a 1970 film directed by Hal Ashby, which was based on the novel by Kristin Hunter. The film stars Beau Bridges in the lead role of a well to do white man who becomes landlord of an inner city tenement, unaware that the people he is responsible for are low-income, streetwise residents...
(1970)...as Carl - A Man Called Adam (1966)
- The Cool World (1964)...as Priest
- The ConnectionThe Connection (1961 film)The Connection is a 1961 feature film by the noted American experimental filmmaker Shirley Clarke. It was Clarke's first feature; she had made several shorts over the previous decade....
(1962)...Cowboy - Human DesireHuman DesireHuman Desire is a black-and-white film noir directed by Fritz Lang, and based on the novel La Bête humaine by Émile Zola. The story was filmed twice before: La Bête humaine directed by Jean Renoir and Die Bestie im Menschen .-Plot:Railroad supervisor Carl Buckley gets fired from his job...
(1954) (uncredited)...as John Thurston