Versatile, charismatic African-American actor Cleavon Little was born on June 1, 1939, in Oklahoma but grew up in California and attended San Diego College. He earned a scholarship to Juilliard and moved to New York, then trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and was soon appearing off-Broadway. Classically trained (Hamlet A Midsummer Night's Dream), he won the Tony award for a less weighty musical, Purlie, which took him west. A few film roles came his way with What's So Bad About ...[Read Story]