Ben Vereen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ben Vereen
Vereen in September 2014
Born	Benjamin Augustus Middleton (1946-10-10) October 10, 1946 (age 78) Laurinburg, North Carolina U.S.
Occupation	Actor dancer singer voice actor
Years active	1965–present
Spouse(s)	Andrea Townsley ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1974)​ Nancy Bruner ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 2012)​
Children	6, including Karon Davis
Relatives	Noah Davis (son-in-law)

Benjamin Augustus Vereen, born on October 10, 1946, is a talented American actor, dancer, and singer. He became famous for his amazing performances in Broadway musicals. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Jesus Christ Superstar. He then won a Tony Award in 1973 for his part in Pippin.

Ben Vereen's Early Life

Ben Vereen was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina. When he was a baby, his family moved to Brooklyn, New York City. He was adopted by James and Pauline Vereen. James worked in a paint factory, and Pauline was a maid and helped with costumes at the theater. Ben found out he was adopted when he was 25. This happened when he was applying for a passport to go on tour with Sammy Davis Jr.

From a young age, Ben showed a natural talent for acting and dancing. He often performed in local shows. At 14, he went to the High School of Performing Arts. There, he learned from famous choreographers like Martha Graham and Jerome Robbins. After graduating, it was hard for him to find steady acting jobs. He often took other small jobs to earn money.

Ben Vereen's Career

Stage Performances

When Ben Vereen was 18, he started his New York stage career. He performed in a show called The Prodigal Son. The next year, he was in Las Vegas performing in Bob Fosse's show Sweet Charity. He then toured with Sweet Charity for a couple of years. After that, he returned to New York City to play Claude in the Broadway show Hair.

He later appeared as a dancer in the movie version of Sweet Charity. He was featured in a dance number and sang with Sammy Davis Jr.. Ben became Sammy Davis Jr.'s understudy for the show Golden Boy. This show toured England and ended in London.

Ben Vereen was nominated for a Tony Award in 1972 for playing Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar. He won a Tony Award in 1973 for his role in Pippin. In 2005, he played the Wizard of Oz in the Broadway musical Wicked. Ben Vereen also performs in one-man shows. He gives talks about Black history and inspiring topics.

In 2011, Ben Vereen became a co-artistic director for the Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, Florida.

Television Roles

Vereen in 2007

Ben Vereen has also starred in many TV shows. He is well known for playing 'Chicken' George Moore in the famous TV miniseries Roots. He received an Emmy nomination for this role in 1977.

In August 1975, Ben Vereen had his own summer variety show on NBC. It was called Ben Vereen ... Comin' At Ya. In 1976, he was a guest star on The Muppet Show. He sang two songs on the show.

In 1981, Ben Vereen performed at Ronald Reagan's first inauguration. Part of his performance was cut from the live TV broadcast. This caused confusion for viewers. The full performance was meant to be a critique of civil rights policies. However, TV audiences did not see the complete message.

Vereen also starred with Jeff Goldblum in the detective series Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (1980). In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he worked steadily on television. He appeared in the sitcom Webster and the drama Silk Stalkings.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan with a group at NBC's taping of its "Christmas in Washington" special in the Pension Building in Washington, D.C. Left to right: NBC News anchor Roger Mudd, CBS News reporter Eric Sevareid, Dinah Shore, actress Diahann Carroll, actor and musician John Schneider, President Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan, actor Ben Vereen, and entertainer Debby Boone.

In 1985, Vereen was in the Faerie Tale Theatre series. He played Puss in Boots alongside Gregory Hines. He also appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Will Smith's biological father. He was also on Webster as the main character's uncle.

He played Mayor Ben (a leopard) on the children's show Zoobilee Zoo. He was also Itsy Bitsy Spider in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. In 1993, he was in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Interface". He played the father of LeVar Burton's character, Geordi La Forge. He also appeared on The Nanny. In 2010, he was on How I Met Your Mother as Sam Gibbs. He returned for more episodes in 2013 and 2014.

Ben Vereen's Personal Life

Family

Ben Vereen has six children. Sadly, his 16-year-old daughter, Naja, passed away in a car accident in 1987. His daughter, Karon Davis, is a professional artist. His son, Ben Vereen Jr., passed away in 2020 at age 55.

Ben Vereen is the godfather of R&B singer Usher. He is also a cousin of former NFL running back Shane Vereen. In the early 1980s, Ben Vereen and his family moved to Saddle River, New Jersey. In 2012, he filed for divorce from his wife of 36 years, Nancy Bruner Vereen.

Health Challenges

In 1992, Ben Vereen had a series of accidents in one day. His car hit a tree, and he hit his head. Then, he had a stroke while walking on a highway. After that, he was hit by a car driven by record producer David Foster. He had serious injuries, including a broken leg. He needed a lot of physical therapy to recover.

In 2007, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He has a website where he shares his story and advice from doctors.

Learning About His Adoption

Ben Vereen learned he was adopted in the late 1960s. This happened when he was applying for a passport. His birth certificate showed his birth name was Benjamin Augustus Middleton. It also said his mother was Essie Middleton and he was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina.

In 2006, Ben Vereen visited Scotland County with a genealogist. He was looking for family members. He learned his birth mother's name was Essie May Pearson. He found out she had passed away 24 years earlier. However, he discovered that several relatives still lived in the area. In May 2006, he met his sister, Gloria Lewis-Walker. Ben Vereen said finding his family was "overwhelming" and that he had "finally found my family."

Public Speaking

Ben Vereen is also a public speaker and a humanitarian. He talks about topics like Black history, overcoming challenges, and the importance of education. He was a main speaker for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2007. He is also an active member of the Democratic Party.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Theatre Performances

Music Albums

Solo Albums

• Off-Stage (1975)
• Ben Vereen (1976)
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered! (1979)
• Here I Am (1982)
• Steppin' Out Live (2010)

Group Albums

• Grind (Original Cast Recording) (1985)
• Pippin (Original Broadway Cast) (2000)

Awards and Honors

The handprints of Ben Vereen in front of Theater of the Stars at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park

Ben Vereen has received many awards for his work in theater and television.

Theater Awards

Television Awards

Other Honors

Ben Vereen has received many awards for his work helping others. These include Israel's Cultural and Humanitarian Awards. He also has three NAACP Image Awards. He received an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award and a Victory Award. He has been given honorary doctorates from several universities. In 2001, a scholarship for performing arts was created in his name.

In 1975, he won three awards at once from the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). He was named "Entertainer of the Year," "Rising Star," and "Song and Dance Star." He is also in the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.

In 2011, he was added to the American Theatre Hall of Fame. In 2012, Ben Vereen was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's Hall of Fame. A star was even named after him in the International Star Registry.

See also

In Spanish: Ben Vereen para niños