Years active 1954–1983 Name Carl Lee | Role Actor | |
 | ||
Full Name Carl Vincent Canegata Born November 22, 1926 ( 1926-11-22 ) New York City, New York, U.S. Occupation Actor, scriptwriter, voice actor Nominations Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Movies Similar People Shirley Clarke, Canada Lee, Warren Miller, Robert Rossen, James Toback Died April 17, 1986 (aged 59) New York City, New York, U.S. | ||
Eddy Giving Priest Motivation
Carl Lee (November 22, 1926 – April 17, 1986), born Carl Vincent Canegata, was an American actor. He was also the son of actor/professional boxer Canada Lee (1907–1952).
Contents
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."
Lee played a heroin dealer, the title role in the Obie Award-winning play The Connection. He later appeared in the film version.
Lee, who made his first film appearance in the 1954 film Human Desire, went on to appear in such films as A Man Called Adam in 1966 opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. and Cicely Tyson, and the now classic blaxploitation film Superfly (with the late Ron O'Neal) in 1972. He also appeared in various television roles in such shows as The Defenders, Mannix, and Good Times ("Willona's Surprise", 1977) in a memorable performance in which he portrayed Willona Woods's ex-husband Ray, who makes sexual advances towards Thelma (Bernadette Stanis).
Lee suffered a heroin addiction which led to his death.