Geoffrey Holder

Known for ActingBorn 1930-08-01Died 2014-10-05Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

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. .Read more

Movies & web series

The Magistical

Aladdin

Androcles and the Lion

Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger

Night of 100 Stars II

Cyberchase

Bear in the Big Blue House

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Carmen & Geoffrey

DuPont Show of the Month

All by Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story

Lights! Camera! Annie! The Making of a Major Hollywood Musical

Alice in Wonderland

Annie

John Grin's Christmas

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask

Live and Let Die

The Man Without a Country

The Gold Bug

Swashbuckler

Doctor Dolittle

Great Performances

Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary

The Noah

Boomerang

Krakatoa, East of Java

Ghost of a Chance

Chance or Coincidence

Tropical Rainforest

Carib Gold

Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE! - Surprise Party

Night of 100 Stars III

Goosed

Goggles!