Geoffrey Lamont Holder Dead at 84

Complications from pneumonia took the life of actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, painter, and award-winning talent Geoffrey Lamont Holder in Manhattan on October 5, 2014.

Born in Trinidad the big man with the big voice was perhaps best known commercially as 7-Up pitchman:

Holder came to the United States after Agnes de Mille saw him dance in 1952.  In 1955 he became principal dancer with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.

Among his many accomplishments, he won a Guggenheim Fellowship in Fine Arts in 1956 for his painting.  He later won two Tony Awards for direction and costume design of "The Wiz" in 1975, along with a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design for the same production.

Holder leaves behind his wife, Carmen de Lavallade, an actress, singer, and dancer, and the couple's son, Leo.