Bond Baddie, 'Annie' Actor, and 7Up Pitchman Geoffrey Holder Dies at 84

[yuiyoshida]

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]

1. Rest in peace

[Judi Lynn]

2. Very interesting person. R.I.P. n/t

[geardaddy]

3. RIP

I used to love those 7-Up commercials as a kid!

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

11. +1...

... 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]

4. Rest in Peace. Loved him!

[JimDandy]

5. I remember seeing him in

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]

6. His accent was classic Trinidadian.

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]

7. Oh! Very sad... Always liked him, a distinguished and distinctive actor.

[SoapBox]

8. Oh...

I didn't know the name but...The Uncola Man. Now I know.

RIP

[calimary]

9. God, what a voice.

Well, God has another Personal Announcer now.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Wow.

Didn't realize that Geoffrey Holder was that age. His voice was legendary.

R.I.P. and condolences to the family.

[jmondine]

12. He was also Ray the Sun on Bear in the Big Blue House.

[whistler162]

13. Bad year for Bond Baddies

first Richard Kiel now Geoffrey Holder.

[rwsanders]

14. The movie where I tihnk he was at his best is "Swashbuckler"

that also had Peter Boyle, Robert Shaw, Angelica Houston, Beau Bridges, James Earl Jones.
Best pirate movie ever.

[reddread]

16. yep

Damn straight.

[Jazzgirl]

15. RIP Geoffrey.

You were awesome.

[Third Doctor]

17. I certainly remember him.

First Richard Kiel (Jaws) and now Holder. A lot of actors I grew up watching are fading away.

[Hekate]

18. Punjab! Thanks for the memories, Mr. Holder.

[Arkana]

19. That's OK--he's Baron Samedi, the Man Who Cannot Die.

[ffernandez15]

20. "Try getting that out of a cola nut"!

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]

21. He was one impressive dude.

Immortal voice, great style.

-- Mal

[yurbud]

22. I loved that commercial as a kid

[librechik]

23. mmmmmmmahvelous--a ha ha ha ha!

quite a character--RIP!

[DinahMoeHum]

24. Leave 'em laughing. Right, Baron Samedi??

Last edited Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Rest in Peace, Mr. Holder. You were a true Renaissance Man.