Geoffrey Lamont Holder (August , â€" October , ) was a
Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician, and artist. He was a
principal dancer for the Metropolitan Ballet before his film career
began in with an appearance in Carib Gold. In , he played the
villainous Baron Samedi in the Bond film Live and Let Die. He also
carried out advertising work as the pitchman for Up.Born in Port of
Spain, Trinidad, Holder was one of four children of Bajan and
Trinidadian descent. He was educated at Tranquility School and Queen's
Royal College in Port of Spain. He made his performance debut at the
age of seven in his brother Boscoe Holder's dance company.After seeing
him perform in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands the choreographer Agnes de
Mille invited Holder to work with her in New York. Upon arriving he
joined Katherine Dunham's dance school where he taught folkloric forms
for two years.From to , he performed with the Metropolitan Opera
Ballet as a principal dancer. He left the ballet to make his Broadway
debut in the Harold Arlen and Truman Capote musical House of Flowers.
While working on House of Flowers, Holder met Alvin Ailey, with whom
he later worked extensively, and Carmen de Lavallade, his future wife.
After the show closed he starred in an all-black production of Waiting
for Godot in .
Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician, and artist. He was a
principal dancer for the Metropolitan Ballet before his film career
began in with an appearance in Carib Gold. In , he played the
villainous Baron Samedi in the Bond film Live and Let Die. He also
carried out advertising work as the pitchman for Up.Born in Port of
Spain, Trinidad, Holder was one of four children of Bajan and
Trinidadian descent. He was educated at Tranquility School and Queen's
Royal College in Port of Spain. He made his performance debut at the
age of seven in his brother Boscoe Holder's dance company.After seeing
him perform in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands the choreographer Agnes de
Mille invited Holder to work with her in New York. Upon arriving he
joined Katherine Dunham's dance school where he taught folkloric forms
for two years.From to , he performed with the Metropolitan Opera
Ballet as a principal dancer. He left the ballet to make his Broadway
debut in the Harold Arlen and Truman Capote musical House of Flowers.
While working on House of Flowers, Holder met Alvin Ailey, with whom
he later worked extensively, and Carmen de Lavallade, his future wife.
After the show closed he starred in an all-black production of Waiting
for Godot in .
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