Geoffrey Holder died

[JH4HJ]

Geoffrey Holder, director and actor, dies at 84

Geoffrey Holder, the dancer, choreographer, actor, composer, designer and painter who used his manifold talents to infuse the arts with the flavor of his native West Indies and to put a singular stamp on the American cultural scene, not least with his outsize personality, died on Sunday in Manhattan. He was 84.

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I remember him from a soft drink ad - decades ago - "These are cola nuts" - loved his accent.

[mamaleh]

Yes, those "Un-Cola" 7-Up commercials. He had such a distinctive deep voice. I remember taking my brother to see the Rex Harrison-Anthony Newley movie musical DR. DOOLITTLE, in which the late Mr. Holder played a very sophisticated island chief.

Ellen

[JH4HJ]

Yes, I remember him well. "These are cola nuts. These are UN-cola nuts."
His voice had a glorious timbre. Definitely a multi-talented man.

Holder won a pair of Tony Awards for stage direction and costume design for the 1975 musical "The Wiz," and is well-known for his roles in the film version of "Annie" and 7-Up commercials. He was also an established choreographer and painter, receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1957.

"He was a terrific man. A superb artist, who lived a great life," said Charles Mirotznik, Holder's attorney, who confirmed his death.

Was I the only one who laughed out loud because the dog in The Wiz was white?

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