CineScope
Geoffrey Holder picture

Geoffrey Holder

Acting
Known For

84 Years Old

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. .

Born

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on 1st August 1930

Died

5th October 2014

All Credits

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Image
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Great Performances Image
Great Performances
Cheshire Cat
Cyberchase Image
Cyberchase
Master Pi (voice)
DuPont Show of the Month Image
DuPont Show of the Month
Genie
Bear in the Big Blue House Image
Bear in the Big Blue House
Ray the Sun
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Image
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Narrator (voice)
Live and Let Die Image
Live and Let Die
Baron Samedi
Annie Image
Annie
Punjab
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask Image
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask
Sorcerer
Doctor Dolittle Image
Doctor Dolittle
William Shakespeare X
Boomerang Image
Boomerang
Nelson
Paris Is Burning Image
Paris Is Burning
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Krakatoa, East of Java Image
Krakatoa, East of Java
Sailor
Swashbuckler Image
Swashbuckler
Cudjo
Night of 100 Stars II Image
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
Night of 100 Stars III Image
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
Alice in Wonderland Image
Alice in Wonderland
Cheshire Cat
Chance or Coincidence Image
Chance or Coincidence
Gerry
Goosed Image
Goosed
Dr. Bowman
Lights! Camera! Annie! The Making of a Major Hollywood Musical Image
Lights! Camera! Annie! The Making of a Major Hollywood Musical
Self / Punjab
Aladdin Image
Aladdin
Genie
Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE! - Surprise Party Image
Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE! - Surprise Party
Ray
Tropical Rainforest Image
Tropical Rainforest
Narrator
The Man Without a Country Image
The Man Without a Country
Slave on Ship
Carib Gold Image
Carib Gold
Voo Doo Dancer
Androcles and the Lion Image
Androcles and the Lion
Lion
Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger Image
Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger
Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary Image
Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary
Self
Ghost of a Chance Image
Ghost of a Chance
Johnson
Christmas Image
Christmas
Ghost of Christmas Future
The Noah Image
The Noah
Friday
The Gold Bug Image
The Gold Bug
Jupiter
No Image
Carmen & Geoffrey
Self
All By Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story Image
All By Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story
Self
Goggles! Image
Goggles!
(voice)
The Magistical Image
The Magistical
Narrator