Geoffrey Holder | WatchedThis

Geoffrey Holder

Geoffrey Holder

Acting

Biography

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. .

Filmography Movies

Acting

Poster for Live and Let Die
MOVIE

Live and Let Die

6.5(2.3K)
Live and Let Die
Baron Samedi
Poster for Swashbuckler
MOVIE

Swashbuckler

6.1(0.0K)
Swashbuckler
Cudjo
Poster for Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger
MOVIE

Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger

8.7(0.0K)
Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger
Poster for Annie
MOVIE

Annie

6.6(0.8K)
Annie
Punjab
Poster for Doctor Dolittle
MOVIE

Doctor Dolittle

6.2(0.2K)
Doctor Dolittle
William Shakespeare X
Poster for Tropical Rainforest
MOVIE

Tropical Rainforest

5.5(0.0K)
Tropical Rainforest
Narrator
Poster for Goggles!
MOVIE

Goggles!

Goggles!
(voice)
Poster for Krakatoa, East of Java
MOVIE

Krakatoa, East of Java

5.9(0.0K)
Krakatoa, East of Java
Sailor
Poster for Chance or Coincidence
MOVIE

Chance or Coincidence

5.4(0.0K)
Chance or Coincidence
Gerry
Poster for The Magistical
MOVIE

The Magistical

10.0(0.0K)
The Magistical
Narrator

Production

Poster for Live and Let Die
MOVIE

Live and Let Die

6.5(2.3K)
Live and Let Die
Choreographer

Gallery

Geoffrey Holder portrait
Geoffrey Holder portrait