Samuel E. Wright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel E. Wright
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Wright in 2008
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| Born |
Samuel Ernest Wright
November 20, 1946 Camden, South Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | May 24, 2021 (aged 74) Walden, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1968–2008 |
| Spouse(s) |
Amanda Wright
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 3 |
Samuel Ernest Wright (born November 20, 1946 – died May 24, 2021) was an American actor and singer. He was best known for being the voice of Sebastian the crab in Disney's movie The Little Mermaid. He sang the main parts in the famous song "Under the Sea", which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Samuel Wright also played the role of Mufasa in the first Broadway cast of The Lion King musical. He also voiced Kron, a big Iguanodon dinosaur, in Disney's 2000 movie Dinosaur.
Early life
Samuel Wright was born on November 20, 1946, in Camden, South Carolina. When he was a student at Camden High School, he was very active in both sports and the arts.
Career highlights
In 1968, Samuel Wright moved to New York City to become a full-time actor. He was nominated for a Tony Award two times. The first time was in 1984 for his role in The Tap Dance Kid. The second time was in 1998 for being the first actor to play Mufasa in The Lion King on Broadway.
Wright also played the part of the Scarecrow in a 1995 show of The Wiz. He acted alongside famous stars like Whitney Houston. He also played "Sam" in the Broadway show Over Here! in 1974. Later, he took over the role of the Leading Player in Pippin on Broadway.
On television, Wright played Officer Turk Adams in the TV series Enos. He also played the jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie in the movie Bird, which was directed by Clint Eastwood.
Voice acting and music
Samuel Wright became very famous for his voice work as Sebastian the Crab in Disney's The Little Mermaid. He sang two very popular songs from the movie: "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl". He continued to voice Sebastian in the movie sequels, The Little Mermaid 2 and The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning. He also voiced Sebastian in The Little Mermaid TV series.
Besides his voice work, Wright recorded several reggae-style albums. One of them was called Party Gras!. He also narrated a documentary film in 1988 about the musician Thelonious Monk.
Personal life
Samuel Wright met his wife, Amanda Wright, who was a dance director. They met while working on a show called Two Gentlemen of Verona in London. They got married on June 14, 1974. They had three children together: Keely, Dee, and Sam Jr.
Samuel Wright passed away on May 24, 2021, at his home in Walden, New York. He was 74 years old. He had been battling prostate cancer for three years.
Images for kids
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Samuel E. Wright in 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Samuel E. Wright para niños
