Bond Baddie, 'Annie' Actor, and 7Up Pitchman Geoffrey Holder Dies at 84
Source: Yahoo News
Geoffrey Holder, whose energetic laugh helped sell cans of 7Up in the '70s and '80s, has died at the age of 84.
While Holder, who passed away Sunday in Manhattan from complications from pneumonia, according to The New York Times, was most often recognized for being "the Un-Cola" pitchman during which he rocked white suits, tropical print scarves, and kicked back among palm trees with his maaarvelous beverage he had a long and diverse career in which he acted, danced, choreographed, painted, and even penned a Caribbean cookbook.
At 6-foot-6, the Trinidadian was an imposing figure, which made for a great villain when he played the unkillable voodoo priest Baron Samedi in the James Bond flick Live and Let Die opposite Roger Moore. Perhaps his best-remembered film role was as a good guy in 1982's musical Annie, where he played Mr. Warbucks's bodyguard, Punjab, and rescued the little red-head from Miss Hannigan and Rooster with a little help from his turban. He also appeared in the original Rex Harrison-starring Doctor Dolittle, Woody Allen's Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask, and Eddie Murphy's Boomerang. Holder's booming baritone also provided the narration for Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2005, his last notable film credit.
Read more: https://celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/bond-baddie-annie--actor-and-7up-pitchman-geoffrey-holder-dies-at-84-171437243.html
shenmue
(38,506 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,621 posts)geardaddy
(24,931 posts)I used to love those 7-Up commercials as a kid!
IthinkThereforeIAM
(3,077 posts)... and he is probably the reason why I am a baritone/bass freak to this day. I changed from 1st trumpet to 1st baritone(out of 3 players) as an instrument when in junior high. The band needed a baritone player, so ...
LoisB
(7,231 posts)JimDandy
(7,318 posts)about 3/4 of those roles. Can still hear his memorable voice in those 7Up commercials. To be remembered when you can't remain is good.
Aristus
(66,462 posts)I knew a Trinidadian when I was in the Army, and his voice was very similar. The cadence was much slower than many other Caribbean accents. Very solemn and dignified.
He will be missed...
Rhiannon12866
(206,006 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)I didn't know the name but...The Uncola Man. Now I know.
RIP
calimary
(81,466 posts)Well, God has another Personal Announcer now.
BumRushDaShow
(129,442 posts)Didn't realize that Geoffrey Holder was that age. His voice was legendary.
R.I.P. and condolences to the family.
jmondine
(1,649 posts)whistler162
(11,155 posts)first Richard Kiel now Geoffrey Holder.
rwsanders
(2,606 posts)that also had Peter Boyle, Robert Shaw, Angelica Houston, Beau Bridges, James Earl Jones.
Best pirate movie ever.
Damn straight.
Jazzgirl
(3,744 posts)You were awesome.
Third Doctor
(1,574 posts)First Richard Kiel (Jaws) and now Holder. A lot of actors I grew up watching are fading away.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)Arkana
(24,347 posts)ffernandez15
(4 posts)One tagline that Geoffrey Holder used in those wonderful 7-Up commercials of the '70s. It was also part of his thank you speech when accepting 2 1975 Tony Awards for "The Wiz". For some reason, that has always stuck in my mind.
His obituary in the NY Times confirms this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/arts/geoffrey-holder-dancer-choreographer-and-man-of-flair-dies-at-84.html?smtyp=cur&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1409232722000&bicmet=1419773522000&_r=0
Rest in Peace.
malthaussen
(17,216 posts)Immortal voice, great style.
-- Mal
yurbud
(39,405 posts)librechik
(30,676 posts)quite a character--RIP!
DinahMoeHum
(21,809 posts)Last edited Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:59 PM - Edit history (1)
Rest in Peace, Mr. Holder. You were a true Renaissance Man.