Cleavon Jake Little (June 1, 1939 – October 22, 1992) was an American film and theatre actor, best known for his lead role as Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles and as the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland in the early 1970s sitcom Temperatures Rising. In 1978 he played "The Prince of Darkness" in the radio station comedy FM. He was also in the 1984 action film Toy Soldiers and acted out the role of Super Soul in the film Vanishing Point in 1971.

Biography

Early life

Little was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma and was the brother of singer DeEtta Little, best known for her performance of Gonna Fly Now, the main theme to Rocky, the film which catapulted Sylvester Stallone to stardom in 1976. He grew up in California and attended college initially at San Diego City College, and then at San Diego State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in dramatic arts.
After receiving a full scholarship to graduate school Juilliard he moved to New York. After completing studies at Juilliard, Little trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.