Facts About Lee Van Cleef

He made the transition from bad guy to villain.

Creative Commons: Tonino Delli Colli

I’ve watched a ton of old westerns. Both in films and TV shows. And it seems like Lee Van Cleef has posed a threat to dozens of good guys. And then, as his career progressed, he even started playing some good guys. I think it was a case of a bad guy being so interesting, western fans wanted him to be a good guy so they could root for him.

While Van Cleef wasn’t classically handsome, he did have an interesting look and could be physically imposing. No doubt that helped him have a prolific career, primarily in westerns. So, here are some things you might not have known about Lee Van Cleef.

1: About that distinctive look, the director of “High Noon,” Stanley Kramer, wanted Van Cleef to have his nose worked on.

Van Cleef still got a role in the movie, but was demoted from deputy Harvey Pell to thug, Jack Colby. It should be added, non-speaking Jack Colby. I guess back then Lee wasn’t paid through the nose. Actually, it was the opposite. He didn’t get paid because of the nose.

2: After suffering being injured in severe car accident 1958, he went into an interior decorating business with his second wife.