BEN VEREEN
Name: Ben Vereen
Birth name: Benjamin Augustus Middleton
Born: 10 October 1946 Miami, Florida, U.S.
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 (and was
originally considered for the role of the Scarecrow in The Wiz), 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 toured with people across the country
such as Tony Ventura, son of Charlie Ventura. 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:
Oz
Faerie Tale Theatre
The Jamie Foxx Show
The Love Boat
The Muppet Show
The Nanny
Touched by an Angel
Webster
Zoobilee Zoo
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.
Name: Ben Vereen
Birth name: Benjamin Augustus Middleton
Born: 10 October 1946 Miami, Florida, U.S.
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 (and was
originally considered for the role of the Scarecrow in The Wiz), 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 toured with people across the country
such as Tony Ventura, son of Charlie Ventura. 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:
Oz
Faerie Tale Theatre
The Jamie Foxx Show
The Love Boat
The Muppet Show
The Nanny
Touched by an Angel
Webster
Zoobilee Zoo
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.