Ben Vereen

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Ben Vereen
Image:BenVereenByPhilKonstantinPublicDomain.jpg
Birth name Benjamin Augustus Middleton
Born October 10 1946 (1946-10-10) (age 63)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Spouse(s) Andrea Townsley (1966-?) 1 Child
Nancy Bruner (1976-Legally Separated) 4 Children

Ben Vereen (born October 10, 1946) in Miami, Florida, is a Tony Award-winning, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated American actor, dancer, and singer who has appeared in numerous Broadway theatre shows. Vereen graduated from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts.

He was nominated for a Tony Award for Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 and won a Tony for his appearance in Pippin in 1973. Vereen starred in the Broadway musical Wicked as the Wizard of Oz, replacing former Wizard George Hearn on May 31, 2005. He was replaced by tour Wizard David Garrison on April 4, 2006.

In addition to his work in the theatre, he has also starred in numerous television programs and films. Notable film roles include song-and-dance men in Funny Lady and All That Jazz. He appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse", in which he played Will Smith's biological father. He starred in the television series Tenspeed and Brown Shoe but is probably best known for his role as "Chicken" George Moore in Roots and possibly as Commander Edward M. La Forge, father of Geordi La Forge, on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1993. Other TV appearances include:

Vereen has also performed in one-man shows and actively lectures on black history and inspirational topics.

In 1992, he was accidentally struck while walking on the Pacific Coast Highway by a car driven by producer/composer David Foster.

Contents

[edit] Family Background

According to the Fayetteville Observer of April 29, 2006, Vereen learned while applying for a passport in the late 1960s that he was adopted. His birth certificate revealed that his birth name was Benjamin Augustus Middleton, that he was the son of Essie Middleton, and that he was born in Laurinburg, NC. In April of 2006, Vereen visited Laurinburg with a genealogist, and learned that his mother's name was Essie May Pearson, who had died 24 years before. According to her acquaintances, Essie had gone on a trip when Ben was a child, and had left her baby in someone's care. When she returned, the child was gone. In May of 2006, he met his mother's daughter, which is his sister, Gloria Walker, of New Haven, Connecticut. He also has other siblings from his mother. (Source: WTNH news)

Vereen is the godfather of R&B superstar Usher.

Mr. Vereen was the keynote speaker for the Boys & Girls Clubs in St. Petersburg, Florida annual alumni tribute gala held in October 2007. He received several standing ovations for what was consisdered one of the best keynotes from an invited speaker. Mr. Vereen was adament and animated regarding the significance and the value of Boys & Girls Clubs all over the country.

[edit] Cultural References

In the 2002 movie Run Ronnie Run, Vereen is referenced by the fictional band Three Times One Minus One in their song "Ronnie and Kayla's Love Song" in the line "How about a collection of erotic magazines, erotic tangerines, erotic letters from Ben Vereen" as a seemingly random reference. Tenacious D also references Ben Vereen in one of their songs with the lyrics "Ben Vereen is a raging queen, but he rocks the house..."

In the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, "Mel's Offer", Jeff tells Larry to sign "Ben Vereen" on a doctor's office sign-in sheet instead of putting his real name.

In the Animaniacs episode 'Spellbound,' the Brain recites a shrinking spell that goes: Charlie Sheen, Ben Vereen, Shrink to the size of a lima bean!

Preceded by
Phil Silvers
for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 		Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical
1973
for Pippin 		Succeeded by
Christopher Plummer
for Cyrano

[edit] Filmography

Image:Vereen.JPG
The handprints of Ben Vereen in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.

Upcoming:

  • Broadway: The Next Generation (2009) (documentary)

[edit] Television Work

[edit] Stage Work

  • The Prodigal Son (1965) (Off-Broadway)
  • Sweet Charity (1967-1968) (Las Vegas and Canada)
  • Hair (April 29, 1968 - July 1, 1972) (Broadway, Los Angeles, and national tour) (alternated roles of Hud and Berger, 1968)
  • Golden Boy (1968) (Chicago)
  • No Place to Be Somebody (1970-1971) (national tour)
  • Jesus Christ Superstar (October 12, 1971 - June 30, 1973) (replaced by Patrick Jude) (Broadway)
  • Pippin (October 23, 1972 - June 12, 1974) (Broadway) (left show in 1973 for national tour, returned in early 1974)
  • Grind (April 16 - June 22, 1985) (replaced by Obba Babatunde) (Broadway)
  • I'm Not Rappaport (1989) (San Francisco)
  • Jelly's Last Jam (April 26, 1992 - September 5, 1993) (replacement for Keith David) (Broadway)
  • A Christmas Carol (1995-1996) (Madison Square Garden)
  • Chicago (1999) (U.S. and Canada national tour)
  • Fosse (January 14, 1999 - August 25, 2001) (Broadway) (joined cast in 2001)
  • I'm Not Rappaport (July 25 - September 8, 2002) (Broadway and national tour) (Revival)
  • The Exonerated (2003) (Off-Broadway)
  • Wicked (replacement for George Hearn from May 31, 2005 - January 18, 2006) (Broadway)

[edit] External links

sv:Ben Vereen

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Ben_Vereen"
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