Geoffrey Holder
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. .
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Movies (30)
The Magistical
2008 · Narrator
Charlie y La Fábrica de Chocolate
2005 · Narrator (voice)
Carmen & Geoffrey
2005 · Self
Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE! - Surprise Party
2002 · Ray
Goosed
1999 · Dr. Bowman
Chance or Coincidence
1998 · Gerry
Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger
1995
Boomerang
1992 · Nelson
Tropical Rainforest
1992 · Narrator
Night of 100 Stars III
1990 · Self
Ghost of a Chance
1987 · Johnson
John Grin's Christmas
1986 · Ghost of Christmas Future
Night of 100 Stars II
1985 · Self
Alice in Wonderland
1983 · Cheshire Cat
All by Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story
1982 · Self
Annie
1982 · Punjab
Lights! Camera! Annie! The Making of a Major Hollywood Musical
1982 · Self / Punjab
The Gold Bug
1980 · Jupiter
Swashbuckler
1976 · Cudjo
The Noah
1975 · Friday
Goggles!
1974 · (voice)
Live and Let Die
1973 · Baron Samedi, Choreographer
Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary
1973 · Self
The Man Without a Country
1973 · Slave on Ship
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask
1972 · Sorcerer
Krakatoa, East of Java
1969 · Sailor
Doctor Dolittle
1967 · William Shakespeare X
Androcles and the Lion
1967 · Lion
Aladdin
1958 · Genie
Carib Gold
1956 · Voo Doo Dancer
