Ben Vereen

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Ben Vereen BIO

Few entertainers today are as accomplished as Ben Vereen. He won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Pippin and starred in such phenomenal musicals as Jesus Christ Superstar (Tony nom.), Fosse, Hair, Jelly’s Last Jam, Chicago, Wicked and I’m Not Rappaport. He is remembered for films like Sweet Charity and All That Jazz, and he became a household name in his Emmy-nominated role of Chicken George in the groundbreaking television series Roots. He has also been inducted to The Theatre Hall of Fame, the Dance Hall of Fame, and received various Emmy & Golden globe nominations. He received the BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award Best Celebrity Male Vocalist and his awards also include the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, several NAACP Image Awards, and he recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Gold Coast International Film Festival.

He is now working on his new Broadway musical Reflections, written by Joe Calarco, to be directed by Tony-nominee Josh Bergasse with music by Stephen Schwartz.

Vereen has also starred in numerous television programs, and is well known for the role of 'Chicken' George Moore in Alex Haley's landmark TV miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination in 1977.

In 1985, Vereen starred in the Faerie Tale Theatre series as Puss in Boots alongside Gregory Hines. 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 Lou Smith. He made several appearances on the 1980s sitcom Webster as the title character's biological uncle.

He also appeared as Mayor Ben (a leopard) on the children's program Zoobilee Zoo and as Itsy Bitsy Spider in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. In 1993 he appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Interface" as the father of Roots co-star LeVar Burton's character Geordi La Forge; fellow Roots star Madge Sinclair appeared in the same episode as Geordi's mother. He also appeared on the television series The Nanny episode "Pishke Business". In 2010, he appeared on the television series How I Met Your Mother episodes "Cleaning House" and "False Positive" as Sam Gibbs, the long lost father of James Stinson, Barney Stinson's brother. He returned in 2013 and 2014 for another two episodes.

Ben Vereen Photos

Ben Vereen STAGE CREDITS

[New York]
Reading, 2006
Danny

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2003
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [Replacement]

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [Replacement]

[Off-Broadway]
2002
Performer [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2002
Midge

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1999
Performer [Replacement]

[US Tour]
2nd National Tour, 1997
Billy Flynn [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1992
Chimney Man [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1985
Leroy

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1972
Leading Player

Leading Player

Leading Player [Replacement]

Leading Player

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1971
Judas Iscariot

[Broadway]
Broadway Transfer, 1968
Hud (Understudy) [Replacement]


Ben Vereen Videos

Ben Vereen News


John Tartaglia, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Jared Grimes & More Join The Muny's 106th Season

The Muny has revealed the teams of directors, choreographers and music directors for its 2024 season. Learn about the shows this season and see how to purchase tickets!

Previews: HEART LIKE A WHEEL: RITA HARVEY SINGS LINDA RONSTADT at City Winery

City Winery NYC presents Rita Harvey’s ‘Heart Like A Wheel’ – A Tribute to the Music of Linda Ronstadt live on March 2nd at 1pm.

Interview: Michael Orland Enjoys/Loves Being Continuously Booked & Always Giving Back

The consistently busy musical director Michael Orland books gigs on both coasts juggling the multitude of vocalists all vying to have his piano expertise to accompany them. One of his next shows in Los Angeles will be his Open Mic Event at the Write-Off Room March 22, 2024. Michael managed to answer a few of my queries during his drive to Palm Springs.  

Robert Klein and Julie Gold Among The 14 Honorees At The 39th Annual BISTRO AWARDS GALA

Celebrate the musical and comedy artistry of Robert Klein, Julie Gold, and more at the 39th Annual Bistro Awards Gala on April 1 at Gotham Comedy Club. Hosted by Steve Hayes, the event honors exceptional artists with performances and special awards.

Interview: Luke Yankee's Being Me in MARILYN, MOM & ME

Luke Yankee’s Marilyn, Mom & Me world premieres February 16, 2024, at the International City Theatre. Written by Luke, he also directs the cast of Laura Gardner, Alisha Soper, Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield, Brian Rohan and Noah Wagner.

BACKSTAGE BABBLE To Celebrate 'Week Of Wine And Roses' With Kelli O'Hara, Adam Guettel, and Craig Lucas

Next week, the theater podcast Backstage Babble, hosted by 16-year-old theater buff Charles Kirsch, will be hosting a “Week of Wine and Roses” featuring in-depth interviews with members of the cast and creative team of the new musical Days of Wine and Roses. 

World Premiere of MARILYN, MOM & ME to Open International City Theatre 2024 Season

International City Theatre will open its 2024 season with the world premiere of Yankee’s deeply personal comic drama, Marilyn, Mom & Me.

Student Blog: 2023 Jimmy Award Nominee Denver Dickenson Jr. on Defying Expectations and Thriving with Versatility

In this interview, I got to sit down with Denver Dickenson Jr., one of my personal role models as a performer. They spent their summer in New York representing AZ at the Jimmy Awards as a nominee before moving there to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre at Pace University. I hope you enjoy reading this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it.

Theatre NOVA to Present THE YEAR WITHOUT A PANTO CLAUS By Carla Milarch And R. MacKenzie Lewis

'Theatre NOVA presents 'The Year Without a Panto Claus' by Carla Milarch and R. MacKenzie Lewis. Join Jingle and Jangle as they search for Santa and bring back Christmas cheer.

Review: PIPPIN at BW Musical Theatre Program

What did our critic think of PIPPIN at BW Musical Theatre Program? In the Fall of 1971, while chaperoning a group of college students to New York, I saw PIPPIN, the Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics), Roger Hirson (book), Bob Fosse (director/choreographer) musical.  I had an instant love affair with the show!

STEPPIN' OUT WITH BEN VEREEN is Coming to The Strand Theater in November

Ben Vereen, one of North America’s greatest entertainers, will perform his popular stage show, Steppin’ Out with BEN VEREEN at The Strand Theater, in Zelienople, PA.

Actors Theatre Of Indiana Unveils Entertainment Line-up For GREATEST HITS VOLUME 2

Actors Theatre of Indiana presents ATI's Greatest Hits Volume 2, featuring powerful performances and fan favorites from past shows like NUNSENSE, WORKING, CABARET, SWEENEY TODD, GODSPELL, FOREVER PLAID, and MY FAIR LADY.

Married Couple Libby Servais And Stephan Stubbins Return Home To Ohio With BROADWAY IN LOVE At Ohio State Marion

Broadway actress, Libby Servais ('Wicked' on Broadway) and husband, Stephan Stubbins ('Mary Poppins' on Broadway), bring their two-person show 'Broadway In Love' to The Ohio State University at Marion's Morrill Hall Auditorium on November 9, 2023 as a part of the Five Nights on Campus performance series.

Ben Vereen Joins Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Advisory Board

Renowned performer Ben Vereen joins the Artistic Advisory Board of Porchlight Music Theatre. Learn more about this exciting addition and Vereen's recent ICON Award recognition.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 10th, 2023

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is  October 10, 2023 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Ethan Watermeier & Rachel Stern to Star in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Olney Theatre Center

Discover Olney Theatre Center's production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' with a fresh global perspective. This timeless musical explores themes of rising anti-Semitism, Russian aggression, refugee crises, and women's struggles against patriarchal authority. Don't miss this captivating show running from November 8 to December 31 in Olney, Maryland.

Review: INTO THE WOODS at Candlelight Music Theatre

Candlelight Theatre continues to astound. While regional professional theatres are going from six week runs to three (see DE Theatre Co), the funky old barn in the bowels of sylvan Arden continues to welcome sold out crowds for a full six.

Porchlight Music Theatre's 29th Season Subscriptions On Sale Tuesday, September 26

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announced its 29th season this past Friday at Porchlight ICONS: Celebrating Ben Vereen.

Photos: Inside Frank DiLella's Birthday Celebration at Sardi's

Frank DiLella, theatre journalist and the eight-time Emmy Award winning host of “On Stage” on Spectrum News NY1, recently celebrated his birthday with a star-studded bash at Sardi's. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from the night here!

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL Announces Cast For Wilmington Production

GFour Productions, winners of 68 Drama Desk and 54 Tony Awards, today announced the cast of leading ladies for the Wilmington production of the international hit show Menopause The Musical, which will play the Playhouse in Rodney Square for one performance, November 11.

Ben Vereen FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ben Vereen has appeared on Broadway in 8 shows.

Ben Vereen has not appeared in the West End.

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