Geoffrey Holder

Geoffrey Holder (born August 1, 1930 in Port of Spain), is an American (Trinidad-born) character actor, choreographer, dancer, designer, singer and voice-over artist.

Holder is known for his unconventional looks (he is 6'6" tall and bald with strong African features), his distinctive bass voice with a heavy accent, and his hearty laugh, which have made him the target of good-natured lampooning. During the early 1980s, he appeared in several commercials for the 7 Up soft drink. He is a prolific and instantly recognizable performer.

Geoffrey Holder is married to actress Carmen De Lavallade. They have one son.

Selected credits

(in reverse chronological order)

Broadway

The Boys' Choir of Harlem and Friends, Staged Concert, 1993 - Staging
The Wiz, 1984 Revival - Direction, Costume Design
Timbuktu! - Original Musical, 1978 - Direction, Choreography, Costume Design, Playbill Cover Illustration
The Wiz - Original Musical, 1975 - Direction, Costume Design
Josephine Baker - Musical Review, 1964 - Performer
Waiting for Godot - Revival (all black cast), 1957 - Performer
House of Flowers, Original Musical, 1964 - Banda dance choreography, performer

Film

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2005 - narration
Goosed, 1999
''The Little Mermaid, c.1990 - voice in animation (Sebastian the Crab)
Boomerang - 1992
Annie, 1982
Swashbuckler 1976
Live and Let Die, 1973 - choreography
Doctor Doolittle, 1967

Television

Cyberchase as Master Pi in "Secrets of Symmetria" (episode 118), 2002 and "Double Trouble" (episode 209), 2003
Bear in the Big House, 1997
The 62nd Annual Academy Awards, 1990 - performing
Alice in Wonderland, 1983
7-Up commercials (The Un-cola)