Carl Lee (actor)

Carl Lee (born Carl Vincent Canegata; November 22, 1926 – April 17, 1986) was an American actor. His father was actor/professional boxer Canada Lee (1907–1952).[1]

Carl Lee
Born	Carl Vincent Canegata November 22, 1926 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	April 17, 1986 (aged 59) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, scriptwriter, voice actor
Years active	1954–1983
Parent(s)	Canada Lee Juanita Waller

Lee made his first appearance in the film Human Desire (1954). Lee played a heroin dealer, the central role in the Obie Award-winning play The Connection. He appeared in the film version released in 1961.[2]

Lee appeared in films such as A Man Called Adam (1966) opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. and Cicely Tyson, and the blaxploitation film Superfly (with Ron O'Neal, 1972). He also appeared on television in such shows as The Defenders, Mannix, and Good Times ("Willona's Surprise", 1977) in which he portrayed Willona Woods' ex-husband Ray, who makes sexual advances towards Thelma Evans (Bernadette Stanis).

While filming The Connection, Lee fell in love with its director Shirley Clarke. Their relationship lasted almost 30 years until Lee's death.

Lee suffered a heroin addiction that caused him to contract AIDS from a dirty hypodermic needle. This led to his death by overdose in 1986.[3] In a 2000 interview, filmmaker James Toback stated "In the sort of hip world of New York, Carl Lee was the hip-black-actor icon. He was for hip people what Sidney Poitier was for mainstream people."[4]

Acting filmography

Films

• Human Desire (1954) as John Thurston (uncredited)
• The Connection (1961) as Cowboy
• The Cool World (1964) as Priest
• A Man Called Adam (1966)
• Portrait of Jason (1967, off-screen voice; director Shirley Clarke)
• The Landlord (1970) as Carl
• Pound (1970) as Thief
• Werewolves on Wheels (1971)
• Super Fly (1972) as Eddie
• Gordon's War (1973) as Bee Bishop
• Exposed (1983) as Duke (final film role)

Television

• The Nurses (1963) as Lonnie Hill
• The Defenders (1965) as Philip Dunning
• Caribe (1975) as Haines
• Mannix (1975) as Ginger
• Barbary Coast (1975) as Currier
• Serpico (1976) as Carothers
• Good Times (1977) as Ray Woods
• Keeping On (1981) as Davis

References

1. "Carl Lee biography". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25.
2. "Carl Lee Credits Off-Broadway". Lortel.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
3. name= Toback>Sragow, Michael (2000-03-30). "The return of the White Negro". Salon. Archived from the original on 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
4. Sragow, Michael (2000-03-30). "The return of the White Negro". Salon. Archived from the original on 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2011-11-13.

External links

• Carl Lee at IMDb
• Actor Carl Lee reference at LA Broadway World.com site