Editing Ben Vereen

{{Short description|American actor, dancer, and singer (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Ben Vereen
| image        = Ben Vereen at TIFF 2014.jpg
| caption      = Vereen in September 2014
| birth_name   = Benjamin Augustus Middleton
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1946|10|10}}
| birth_place  = Dade County, Florida, U.S.
| occupation   = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* dancer
* singer
* voice actor}}
| years_active = 1965–present
| spouse       = {{marriage|Andrea Townsley|1966|1974|end=divorced}}<ref name="AndreaDivorce">{{cite news|last1=Dwyer|first1=Jim|title=Ben Vereen's Disappearing Divorce|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/29/nyregion/ben-vereens-disappearing-divorce.html|access-date=November 23, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 29, 2016}}</ref> <br /> {{marriage|Nancy Bruner|1976|2012|end=divorce}}
| children     = 6, including [[Karon Davis]]
| relatives    = [[Noah Davis (painter)|Noah Davis]] {{small|(son-in-law)}}
| website      = {{URL|benvereen.info}}
}}
'''Benjamin Augustus Vereen''' (né '''Middleton'''; October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer and singer. He gained prominence for his performances in the original Broadway productions of the musicals ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'', for which he received a [[Tony Award]] nomination, and ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]],'' for which he won the 1973 [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical]].

== Early life ==
Vereen was born October 10, 1946, in [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Dade County, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ben-vereen/bio/141526/|title=Ben Vereen|publisher=TV Guide|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/ben-vereen-p73323|title=Ben Vereen|publisher=Allmovie|last=Erickson|first=Hal|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Fayetteville roots">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ORGB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1115B4674522AAB0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0|title='Roots' actor finds his roots|work=Fayetteville Observer|last=Calhoun|first=Jennifer|date=April 29, 2006|access-date=November 9, 2019|via=NewsBank}}</ref> While still an infant, Vereen and his family relocated to the [[Bedford-Stuyvesant]] neighborhood in [[Brooklyn]], New York City. He was adopted by James Vereen, a paint-factory worker, and his wife, Pauline Vereen, who worked as a maid and theatre wardrobe mistress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/67/Ben-Vereen.html|title=Ben Vereen Biography (1946–)|website=filmreference.com}}</ref> He discovered he was adopted when he applied for a passport to join [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] on a tour of ''[[Golden Boy (musical)|Golden Boy]]'' to London when he was 25.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurweb.com/2011/01/ben-vereen-writes-about-blood-family-in-new-book/ |title=Ben Vereen Writes About 'Blood Family' in New Book |publisher=EURweb |date=January 26, 2011 |access-date=January 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324203055/http://www.eurweb.com/2011/01/ben-vereen-writes-about-blood-family-in-new-book/ |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was raised [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]].<ref name="RoadBack">{{cite news|last1=Gliatto|first1=Tom|title=The Road Back|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20109241,00.html|access-date=November 23, 2017|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=December 7, 1992}}</ref>

During his pre-teen years, he exhibited an innate talent for drama and dance and often performed in local variety shows. At the age of 14, Vereen enrolled at the [[High School of Performing Arts]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2015 |title=Ben Vereen |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/ben-vereen/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> where he studied under world-renowned choreographers [[Martha Graham]], [[George Balanchine]], and [[Jerome Robbins]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ben Vereen Tells Kelly Clarkson He Didn't Know About the Tonys Until He Was Nominated for One |work=Playbill |url=https://playbill.com/article/ben-vereen-tells-kelly-clarkson-he-didnt-know-about-the-tonys-until-he-was-nominated-for-one}}</ref> Upon his graduation, he struggled to find suitable stage work and was often forced to take odd jobs to supplement his income.

==Career==
===Stage===
When Vereen was 18 years old, he made his New York stage bow [[off-off Broadway]] in ''The Prodigal Son'' at the Greenwich Mews Theater directed by [[Stella Holt]]. By the following year, he was in [[Las Vegas Strip|Las Vegas]], performing in [[Bob Fosse]]'s production of ''[[Sweet Charity]]'', a show with which he toured in 1967–68. He returned to New York City to play Claude in ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' in the Broadway production, before joining the national touring company.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Ben-Vereen-blog |url=https://www.starregistry.com/name-a-star/v/ben-vereen-blog/ |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=International Star Registry |date=July 12, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The following year, he was cast as an ensemble dancer in the film adaptation of ''[[Sweet Charity (film)|Sweet Charity]]''. He is featured prominently in the "Rich Man's Frug" dance number and the song "Rhythm of Life", where he appears as one of three backup dancers for [[Sammy Davis Jr]]. After developing a rapport with Davis,  Vereen was cast as his understudy in the upcoming production of ''[[Golden Boy (musical)|Golden Boy]]'', which toured England and ended the run at the [[London Palladium|Palladium Theatre]] in London's West End.

Vereen was nominated for a [[Tony Award]] for his role as [[Judas Iscariot]] in ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' in 1972 and won a [[Tony Award|Tony]] for his appearance in ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]]'' in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ben Vereen {{!}} The Stars {{!}} Broadway: The American Musical {{!}} PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/ben-vereen/ |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=Broadway: The American Musical |language=en-US}}</ref> Vereen appeared in the Broadway [[musical theater|musical]] ''[[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]]'' as the [[Wizard of Oz (character)|Wizard of Oz]] in 2005. Vereen has also performed in one-man shows and actively lectures on black history and inspirational topics.

In August 2011, Vereen was named co-artistic director of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]'s [[Broadway Theatre Project]].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 23, 2011 |title=Ben Vereen Named Co-Artistic Director of Tampa's Broadway Theatre Project |url=https://www.theatermania.com/tampa-theater/news/ben-vereen-named-co-artistic-director-of-tampas-br_40081.html |website=theatermania.com}}</ref>

=== Television ===
[[File:BenVereenByPhilKonstantinPublicDomain.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Vereen in 2007]]
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 (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'', for which he received an [[Emmy nomination]] in 1977.

Vereen's four-week summer variety series, ''Ben Vereen ... Comin' At Ya'', aired on [[NBC]] in August 1975 and featured regulars [[Lola Falana]], [[Avery Schreiber]] and [[Liz Torres]].

In 1976, Vereen appeared as a guest star on the first season of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', singing two songs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muppet Central Guides – The Muppet Show: Ben Vereen |url=https://muppetcentral.com/guides/episodes/tms/season1/17_vereen.shtml |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=muppetcentral.com}}</ref>

In 1978, on a [[Boston Pops]] TV special, Vereen performed a tribute to [[Bert Williams]], complete with period makeup and attire, and reprising Williams' high-kick dance steps, to [[Vaudeville]] standards such as "Waitin' for the Robert E. Lee".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Q&A: Ben Vereen |url=https://lasvegasmagazine.com/interviews/qa/2019/sep/13/qa-ben-vereen-smith-center-las-vegas/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Las Vegas Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

In 1981, Vereen performed at [[Ronald Reagan]]'s first inauguration. The performance generated controversy as Vereen performed the first part of the show in [[blackface]]. Before the finale, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] cut the live performance, generating confusion and anger from viewers at home.<ref name="ReaganPerformance">{{cite magazine|last1=L’Official|first1=Pete|title=When Ben Vereen Wore Blackface to Reagan's Inaugural Gala|url=http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/revisiting-ben-vereens-misunderstood-blackface-inaugural-performance|access-date=November 23, 2017|magazine=The New Yorker|date=January 6, 2017}}</ref> According to video artist Edgar Arcenaux, what TV viewers did not see was the second part of the performance, in which Vereen mimicked being refused service because of his color while trying to buy the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] elite a congratulatory drink. As Arceneaux explains, Vereen's performance was meant as a critique of Republican civil rights policies, but the TV audience didn't get to see it.<ref name="ReaganPerformance2">{{cite news|last1=L’Official|first1=Pete|title=What Viewers Didn't See Changed Everything for Ben Vereen Cy Musiker |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13824539/what-viewers-didnt-see-changed-everything|access-date=December 17, 2019|work=KQED|date=February 14, 2018}}</ref>

Vereen was cast opposite [[Jeff Goldblum]] in the short-lived detective series ''[[Tenspeed and Brown Shoe]]'' (1980). During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Vereen worked steadily on television with projects ranging from the sitcom ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'' to the drama ''[[Silk Stalkings]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen |url=https://tickets.kauffmancenter.org/4775/4778 |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=kauffmancenter.org}}</ref>

[[File:Ronald_Reagan_and_group_at_1982_Christmas_in_Washington_taping.jpg|thumb|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 (screen actor)|John Schneider]], President Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan, actor Ben Vereen, and entertainer [[Debby Boone]].]]
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 (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)|Will Smith]]'s biological father Lou Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2014 |title=The 'Fresh Prince' Deadbeat Dad Reflects On Heartbreaking Scene With Will Smith |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ben-vereen-fresh-prince_n_6271888 |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> He made several appearances on the 1980s sitcom ''[[Webster (TV series)|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 (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Interface]]" as the father of ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' co-star [[LeVar Burton]]'s character [[Geordi La Forge]]; fellow ''Roots'' star [[Madge Sinclair]] appeared in the same episode as Geordi's mother.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Capriati |first=Alex |date=November 26, 2022 |title=Star Trek: 10 Best Cameos In The Franchise |url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-best-cameos-in-franchise/ |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> 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 (How I Met Your Mother)|False Positive]]" as Sam Gibbs, the long lost father of James Stinson, [[Barney Stinson]]'s brother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keck's Exclusives: How I Met Your Mother Welcomes Wayne Brady and Ben Vereen |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/kecks-exclusives-met-1021626/ |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref> He returned in 2013 and 2014 for another two episodes.

== Personal life ==

=== Wives, children, and extended family ===
He has six children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Morgan |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Benjamin Vereen Jr., Son of Tony-Winning Actor Ben Vereen, Dies at 55 |url=https://people.com/theater/benjamin-vereen-jr-son-of-tony-winning-actor-ben-vereen-dies-at-55/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=People}}</ref> His 16-year-old daughter, Naja, was killed in an auto accident in 1987<ref>{{cite web |last=Gliatto |first=Tom |date=December 7, 1992 |title=The Road Back |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20109241,00.html |access-date=January 28, 2012 |work=People}}</ref> on the [[New Jersey Turnpike]] when a truck overturned on her car. His other daughter, [[Karon Davis]], is a professional artist;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hessel |first1=Katy |date=December 11, 2023 |title='Beauty must suffer': the artist lifting the barre on ballet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/dec/11/art-black-representation-in-ballet-karon-davis |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Vereen's son-in-law was Davis' late husband, artist [[Noah Davis (painter)|Noah Davis]].<ref name="ARTnews UM closing">{{cite web |last1=Stromberg |first1=Matt |date=March 15, 2022 |title=Directors of L.A.'s Underground Museum Depart as Noah Davis Show Shutters Early |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/underground-museum-directors-depart-noah-davis-show-closes-1234621983/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008040400/https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/underground-museum-directors-depart-noah-davis-show-closes-1234621983/ |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=[[ARTnews]]}}</ref> His son, Ben Vereen Jr., died in 2020 at the age of 55.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2020 |title=Ben Vereen Jr., Son of Tony Award-Winning Performer, has Died |url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/08/09/ben-vereen-jr---son-of-the-tony-award-winning-actor--has-died |access-date=October 22, 2020 |website=www.ny1.com |language=en}}</ref>

Vereen is the [[godparent|godfather]] of R&B singer [[Usher (musician)|Usher]], and is also the first cousin once removed of former [[NFL]] running back [[Shane Vereen]].

In the early 1980s, Vereen moved with his family to [[Saddle River, New Jersey]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19820715&id=ZlIfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HtIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1917,5880261 "Vereen moving to Saddle River"], ''[[The Daytona Beach News-Journal|Daytona Beach Morning Journal]]'', July 15, 1982. Retrieved December 17, 2013. "Actor and Singer Ben Vereen is putting down new roots in Saddle River because, he joked Wednesday, the residents 'asked me to move out there to improve the neighborhood.'"</ref>

In September 2012, Vereen filed for divorce from his wife of 36 years, Nancy Bruner Vereen, citing [[irreconcilable differences]].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Ben Veeren files for divorce from wife of 36 years |url=https://www.today.com/news/ben-vereen-files-divorce-wife-36-years-wbna49095917 |access-date=September 20, 2012 |website=[[Today.com|Today]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

=== Health ===
In 1992, Vereen suffered three accidents in one day: His car hit a tree, causing him to hit his head on the roof of the car; he then suffered a stroke while he was walking on a Malibu highway, apparently veering into the road; and finally, as a result of ''that'', he was hit by record producer [[David Foster]], who was driving his car on the highway. His critical injuries, including a broken leg, required him to undergo arduous physical rehabilitation in the ensuing months.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Vereen interview by Chet Cooper |url=http://www.abilitymagazine.com/past/John_ratz/Ben_Vereen.html |access-date=January 28, 2012 |publisher=Abilitymagazine.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 15, 2007 |title=Ben Vereen: Awake, Aware, and Alive |url=http://cabaret.broadwayworld.com/article/Ben_Vereen_Awake_Aware_and_Alive_20070215 |access-date=January 28, 2012 |publisher=Cabaret.broadwayworld.com}}</ref>

In 2007, he was diagnosed with [[type 2 diabetes]] and he has a website in which he shares his personal story along with advice from medical experts.

=== Adoption ===
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, North Carolina. In April 2006, Vereen visited [[Scotland County, North Carolina|Scotland County]] with a [[Genealogy|genealogist]] on a search for family members and learned that his mother's name was Essie May Pearson. The ''[[Laurinburg Exchange]]'' reported: "Vereen, an adoptee who learned that he was born in Laurinburg and made a celebrated trip to Scotland County in 2006 to reconnect with family. While on the trip he learned his mother had died 24 years before, but that several relatives still lived in the area." According to her acquaintances, Essie had gone on a trip when Vereen was a child and had left her baby in someone's care. When she returned, the child was gone. In the April 28, 2006, interview with the 'Laurinburg Exchange', Vereen said that his visit "has just all been so overwhelming ... I've finally found my family".<ref>Lentz, John. [http://laurinburgexchange.com/bookmark/4066843-Farr-cancels-Vereen-in-at-Putting-on-the-Ritz-Nov-7 "Farr cancels, Vereen in at Putting on the Ritz Nov. 7"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819210742/http://laurinburgexchange.com/bookmark/4066843-Farr-cancels-Vereen-in-at-Putting-on-the-Ritz-Nov-7|date=August 19, 2011}} ''The Laurinburg Exchange''. Retrieved June 11, 2011</ref> In May 2006, he met his mother's daughter (his sister), Gloria Lewis-Walker, of [[Derby, Connecticut]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=WTNH news |url=http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4955995&nav=3YeX |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616233055/http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4955995&nav=3YeX |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |access-date=May 28, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Michael |date=September 8, 2016 |title=Ben Vereen Allegedly Spent 36 Years Married to Two Women |url=https://people.com/movies/ben-vereen-allegedly-spent-36-years-married-to-two-women/ |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref>

=== Public speaking and politics ===
Vereen has appeared as a public speaker and humanitarian speaking on such topics as black history, overcoming adversity, and the importance of continuing education. Vereen was the [[keynote]] speaker for the [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys & Girls Clubs]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]], annual alumni tribute gala held in October 2007.

He is an active [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/05/28/democrats-hope-to-get-6-million-in-telethon/12f1abe7-6358-49b4-ac9a-9934c56751b3/|title=Democrats Hope to Get $6 Million in Telethon|first=Jay|last=Mathews|date=May 28, 1983|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

== Sexual harassment allegations ==
In January 2018, four actresses in a Florida production of ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' directed by Vereen in 2015 alleged that he [[sexual harassment|sexually harassed]] them throughout the production.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|first1=Nicole|last1=Bitette|first2=Nancy|last2=Dillon|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/broadway-big-ben-vereen-accused-sexual-assault-hair-article-1.3738684|title=Broadway legend Ben Vereen accused of sexually assaulting and harassing actresses during production of 'Hair'|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref>

According to the ''[[New York Daily News]]'', "the women — part of the [[Venice Theatre]] production outside of Tampa — say Vereen forced unwanted kisses, hugged them aggressively, stripped naked during an acting exercise and made degrading comments about their weight, sex appeal and personal lives". ''The Daily News'' published cast members' claims that he used his position of authority as a director and mentor to pressure them to engage him in unwanted sexual interactions. For example, two of the actresses said he privately lured them on separate occasions to his Florida rental home. One woman willingly admits she and Vereen began a relationship, though she feels it was ultimately coerced; the other says he sexually molested her and later non-consensually kissed her and made sexually disparaging remarks.<ref name=":0"/>

According to ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', "While directing the 2015 production of the musical at the Venice Theatre in Florida, Vereen is alleged to have invited female cast members back to his apartment and goaded them into sex acts. He's also accused of inappropriate talk and conduct during rehearsals that involved cast members stripping naked, ostensibly as preparation for a show that has, since its original 1967 production, been associated with a famous, full-cast nude scene."<ref name="variety">{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2018/legit/news/ben-vereen-accused-sexual-harassment-1202654320/|title=Broadway Star Ben Vereen Apologizes After Accusations of Sexual Harassment|last1=Cox|first1=Gordon|date=January 5, 2018|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en|access-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref>

Vereen has since apologized for his misconduct in 2018.<ref name="variety"/>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1969 || ''[[Sweet Charity (film)|Sweet Charity]]''  || Dancer ||
|-
|1970 || ''[[Gas-s-s-s]]'' || Carlos ||
|-
|1975 || ''[[Funny Lady]]'' || Bert Robbins ||
|-
|1979 || ''[[All That Jazz (film)|All That Jazz]]'' || O'Connor Flood ||
|-
|1980 || ''This Boxer Wears a Shirt'' || ||
|-
|1982 || ''Cycling Through China'' || Himself || Documentary
|-
|1982 || ''Sabine'' || Stanley ||
|-
|1985 || ''[[The Zoo Gang (film)|The Zoo Gang]]'' || The Winch ||
|-
|1988 || ''[[Buy & Cell]]'' || Shaka ||
|-
|1993 || ''[[Once Upon a Forest]]'' || Phineas (voice) ||
|-
|1998 || ''[[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)|Why Do Fools Fall in Love]]'' || Richard Barrett ||
|-
|1999 || ''I'll Take You There'' || Mr. Gwin ||
|-
|2001 || ''The Painting'' || Whistlin' Willie Weston ||
|-
|2006 || ''[[Idlewild (film)|Idlewild]]'' || Percy Senior ||
|-
|2007 || ''[[And Then Came Love]]'' || Chuck Cooper ||
|-
|2009 || ''Tapioca'' || Nuts ||
|-
|2009 || ''[[21 and a Wake-Up]]'' || General Garner ||
|-
|2011 || ''[[Mama, I Want to Sing! (film)|Mama, I Want to Sing!]]'' || Horace Payne || 
|-
|2013 || ''[[Khumba]]'' || Mkhulu, the Elder Zebra (voice) ||
|-
|2014 || ''[[Top Five]]'' || Carl ||
|-
|2014 || ''[[Time Out of Mind (2014 film)|Time Out of Mind]]'' || Dixon ||
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1975 || ''Ben Vereen... Comin' at Ya'' || Host || 4 episodes
|-
|1976 || ''Louis Armstrong – Chicago Style'' || [[Louis Armstrong]]|| Television movie
|-
|1976 || ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' || Special Guest Star || Episode: "Ben Vereen"
|-
|1977 || ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' || Chicken George Moore || 3 episodes
|-
|1977 || ''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'' || Self || 2 episodes
|-
|1980 || ''[[Tenspeed and Brown Shoe]]'' || E.L. 'Tenspeed' Turner || 14 episodes
|-
|1981 || ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin: His Life and Times]]'' || The Leading Player || Television movie
|-
|1982–84 || ''[[The Love Boat]]'' || Various roles || 3 episodes
|-
|1983 || ''[[The Charmkins]]'' || Dragonweed || Voice; television short
|-
|1983 || ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'' || Himself || Episode: "That's Entertainment"
|-
|1983–85 || ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'' || Uncle Philip Long || 11 episodes
|-
|1983 || ''[[Second City Television|SCTV]]'' ||  Himself|| Episode: "Bobby Bittman's Retirement"
|-
|1984 || ''[[The Jesse Owens Story]]'' || [[Herb Douglas]]|| Television movie
|-
|1984 || ''[[Ellis Island (miniseries)|Ellis Island]]'' || Roscoe Haines || 3 episodes
|-
|1985 || ''[[A.D. (miniseries)|A.D.]]'' || Ethiopian || 5 part miniseries 
|-
|1985 || ''Lost in London'' || Paul Williams || Television movie
|-
|1985 || ''[[Faerie Tale Theatre]]'' || [[Puss in Boots]] || Episode: "Puss in Boots"
|-
|1986–87 || ''[[Zoobilee Zoo]]'' || Mayor Ben || 62 episodes
|-
|1988 || ''Jenny's Song'' || Joe || Television movie
|-
|1988 || ''[[J.J. Starbuck]]'' || E.L. "Tenspeed" Turner || 5 episodes
|-
|1990 || ''The Kid Who Loved Christmas'' || Performer || Television movie
|-
|1990 || ''[[Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme]]'' || Itsy Bitsy Spider || Television movie
|-
|1990 || ''[[Booker (TV series)|Booker]]'' || Carl McQueen || Episode:  "The Life and Death of Chick Sterling" 
|-
|1991–93 || ''[[Silk Stalkings]]'' || Capt. Ben Hutchinson || 11 episodes
|-
|1992 || ''[[Intruders (miniseries)|Intruders]]'' || Gene Randall || 2 episodes
|-
|1993 || ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' || Dr. Edward LaForge || Episode: "[[Interface (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Interface]]"
|-
|1994 || ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman|Lois and Clark: <br/> The New Adventures of Superman]]'' || Dr. Andre Novak || Episode: "Illusions of Grandeur" 
|-
|1994 || ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'' || Lou Smith || Episode: "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse" 
|-
|1994 || ''[[The Nanny]]'' ||  Himself || Episode: "Pishke Business" 
|-
|1995 || ''[[New York Undercover]]'' || Louie || Episode: "Eliminate the Middleman"
|-
|1996 || ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'' || Ulysses Dodd || Episode: "Secret Service"
|-
|1997 || ''[[Second Noah]]'' || Sweet Billy || Episode: "Desperately Seeking Mickey"
|-
|1998 || ''[[Soldier of Fortune, Inc.]]'' || Senator Stanford Parks || Episode: "Party Girl"
|-
|1999 || ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]'' || Lawrence Taggert Sr. || 3 episodes
|-
|1999 || ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]'' || Royal || Episode: "Taps for Royal" 
|-
|2001 || ''[[The Feast of All Saints (novel)#Adaptation|The Feast of All Saints]]'' || Rudolphe Lermontant || Television movie
|-
|2002 || ''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]'' || A.R. Whitworth || Episode: "Good Intentions" 
|-
|2007 || ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' || Archie Roche || Episode: "Love/Addiction" 
|-
|2007 || ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' || Rev. Jeremiah Morris || Episode: "[[Senseless (Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode)|Senseless]]" 
|-
|2008 || ''[[Accidental Friendship]]'' || Wes || Television movie
|-
|2008 || ''Your Mama Don't Dance'' || Judge || 8 episodes
|-
|2010 || ''[[Tyler Perry's House of Payne|House of Payne]]'' || Clarence Sanderson || Episode: "Curtis Sings the Blues
|-
|2010–14 || ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' || Sam Gibbs || 4 episodes
|-
|2011 || ''Broadway: The Next Generation'' || Himself || Documentary series
|-
|2014 || ''[[Love That Girl!]]'' || Judge || Episode: "Business is Business" 
|-
|2013 || ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' || Lamar Addison || Episode: "Homesick" 
|-
|2015 || ''[[Hot in Cleveland]]'' || Mayor of Cleveland || Episode: "Out of Our Minds"
|-
|2016 || ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again|The Rocky Horror Picture Show: <br /> Let's Do the Time Warp Again]]'' ||  Dr. Everett von Scott || Television special 
|-
|2017 || ''[[Making History (TV series)|Making History]]'' || Dr. Theodore Anthony Cobell || 3 episodes
|-
|2017–18 || ''[[Sneaky Pete]]'' || Porter || 6 episodes
|-
|2018 || ''[[Magnum P.I. (2018 TV series)|Magnum P.I.]]'' || Henry Barr || Episode: "Death Is Only Temporary" 
|-
|2018–19 || ''[[Star (TV series)|Star]]'' || Calvin || 5 episodes
|-
|2019 || ''[[Bull (2016 TV series)|Bull]]'' || Willie Lambert || Episode: "Forfeiture" 
|-
|2019 || ''[[Tales (2017 TV series)|Tales]]'' || Harry || Episode: "My Life" 
|-
|2021 || ''[[The Good Fight]]'' || [[Frederick Douglass]]|| 3 episodes
|-
|2021–22 || ''[[B Positive]]'' || Peter Morgan || Recurring role; 12 episodes
|}

== Theatre ==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Production
!Role
!Venue
! Notes
|-
| 1965
| ''The Prodigal Son''
| Dancer
| Greenwich Mews Theater, Off-Broadway
| 
|-
| 1967–68
| ''[[Sweet Charity]]''
| Dancer
| US & Canada Tour
|
|-
| 1968–72
| ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]''
| Hud, Claude, Berger, Indian 
| [[Samuel J. Friedman Theatre|Biltmore Theatre]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] <br/> National Tour<br/>[[Aquarius Theatre]], Los Angeles<ref>{{cite web |title=Hair – Broadway Musical – Los Angeles Tour |url=https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/hair-los-angeles-530468#Replacements |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>
| 
|-
| 1968
| ''[[Golden Boy (musical)|Golden Boy]]''
| Joe Wellington
| [[London Palladium]] <br/> International Tour
|Understudy to <br />Sammy Davis Jr.
|-
| 1970
| ''Gurton's Apocalyptic Needle''
| Alternate roles
| The New Troupe/Touring
|
|-
| 1970
| ''Don't Call Me Toby''
| Singer/Dancer
| The New Troupe, Touring
|
|-
| 1970–71
| ''[[No Place to Be Somebody]]''
| Alternate roles
| Touring Company
| 
|-
| 1971–73
| ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]''
| [[Judas Iscariot]]
| [[Mark Hellinger Theatre]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]
|
|-
| 1972–74
| ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]]''
| Leading Player
| [[Imperial Theatre (Broadway)|Imperial Theater]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]],<br />U.S. [[Touring theatre|tour]]
|
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Grind (musical)|Grind]]''
| LeRoy
| [[Mark Hellinger Theatre]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]
| 
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]]''
| Leading Player
| U.S. tour<ref>{{cite web |title=Pippin – Broadway Musical – 1986-1986 Tour |url=https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/pippin-532042#ProductionStaff |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>
| 
|-
| 1992–93
| ''[[Jelly's Last Jam]]''
|Chimney Man
| [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theater]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]
| Replacement
|-
| 1995–96
| ''[[A Christmas Carol (musical)|A Christmas Carol]]''
| [[Ghost of Christmas Present]]
| [[Madison Square Garden]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]
| 
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]''
| [[Billy Flynn (Chicago)|Billy Flynn]]
| U.S. & Canada Tour
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Fosse (musical)|Fosse]]''
|Performer
| [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theater]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]
| Replacement
|-
| 2002
| ''[[I'm Not Rappaport]]''
|Midge
| [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theater]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]<br />U.S. National [[Touring theatre|tour]]
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[The Exonerated (play)|The Exonerated]]''
| Performer 
| [[Off-Broadway]]
|
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Fosse (musical)|Fosse]]''
|Performer
| European tour<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Matt |title=Strands |url=https://variety.com/2003/legit/news/strands-1117892713/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Variety |date=21 September 2003}}</ref>
|
|-
| 2005–06
| ''[[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]]''
| [[Wizard of Oz (character)|The Wizard of Oz]]
| [[Gershwin Theatre]], [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]<br>[[Nederlander Theatre (Chicago)|Nederlander Thatre]], Chicago<ref>{{cite web |title=Wicked – Broadway Musical – Chicago Tour |url=https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/wicked-chicago-528450#Replacements |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>
| Replacement
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Fetch Clay, Make Man]]''
| [[Lincoln Perry]]
| [[McCarter Theatre]], Princeton<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rooney |first1=David |title=Fetch Clay, Make Man |url=https://variety.com/2010/legit/reviews/fetch-clay-make-man-1117941904/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |work=Variety |date=18 January 2010}}</ref>
|
|}

== Discography ==

=== Solo albums ===

* ''Off-Stage'' ([[Buddah Records]], 1975)
* ''Ben Vereen'' (Buddah Records, 1976)
* ''Signed, Sealed, Delivered!'' (51 West, 1979)
* ''Here I Am'' (Accord, 1982)
* ''Steppin' Out Live'' ([[Ghostlight Records]], 2010)

=== Ensemble albums ===

* ''[[Grind (musical)|Grind (Original Cast Recording)]]'' (TER, 1985)
* ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin (Original Broadway Cast)]]'' ([[Decca Broadway]], 2000)

=== Singles and EPs ===
* ''[[Superstar (Jesus Christ Superstar song)|Superstar]]'' ([[MCA Records]], 1971)
* ''Could We Start Again Please? / Heaven On Their Minds'' ([[Decca Records|Decca]], 1972)
* ''Stop Your Half-Steppin' Ma Ma'' (Buddah Records, 1975)
* ''By Your Side'' (Buddah Records, 1975)
* ''Got It Made / Read Between the Lines'' ([[Ariola]], 1980)

== Awards and nominations ==
[[File:Ben Vereen (handprints in cement).jpg|right|thumb|250px|The handprints of Ben Vereen in front of [[Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage|Theater of the Stars]] at [[Walt Disney World]]'s [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] theme park]]

;Theater
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Category 
!Title
!Results
|-
|[[26th Tony Awards|1972]] || [[Tony Award]] || [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical|Best Featured Actor in a Musical]] || rowspan=2|''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
|1972 || [[Theatre World Award]] || {{n/a}} || {{won}}
|-
|1973 || [[Drama Desk Award]] || Outstanding Performance || rowspan=2|''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]]'' || {{won}}
|-
|[[27th Tony Awards|1973]] || [[Tony Award]] || [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]] || {{won}}
|-
|2006 || Broadway.com Audience Award || Favorite Male Replacement || [[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]] || {{won}}
|}

;Television
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:96%"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Category 
!Title
!Results
|-
|[[33rd Golden Globe Awards|1976]] || [[Golden Globe Award]] || [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor|New Star of the Year – Actor]] || ''[[Funny Lady]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
|1977 || [[Television Critics Circle Award]] || [[Lead Actor]] || ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' || {{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[29th Primetime Emmy Awards|1977]] || rowspan=2|[[Primetime Emmy Award]] || Outstanding Supporting Actor in Variety or Music || ''The Bell Telephone Jubilee'' || {{nom}} 
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor Drama or Comedy Series || ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' || {{nom}} 
|-
|[[42nd Golden Globe Awards|1984]] || [[Golden Globe Award]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Supporting Actor – Television]] || ''[[Ellis Island (miniseries)|Ellis Island]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
|[[44th Primetime Emmy Awards|1992]] || [[Primetime Emmy Award]] || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries]] || ''[[Intruders (miniseries)|Intruders]]'' || {{nom}} 
|}

=== Honors ===
The Community Mental Health Council awarded Vereen with their 2004 Lifeline Celebration Achievement Award.<ref>Ferolito, Phil. Entertainer Ben Vereen says alcohol, drugs let him live life of false happiness. ''Yakima Herald-Republic''. August 29, 2013. https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/entertainer-ben-vereen-says-alcohol-drugs-let-him-live-life-of-false-happiness/article_6deb403c-07cb-5bf7-bc56-1e5dc5434770.html</ref> For his humanitarian contributions, he has received a number of awards including Israel's Cultural and Humanitarian Awards, three [[NAACP Image Awards]], an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award and a Victory Award. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St. Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago. In 2001, Medgar Evers College created the Ben Vereen Scholarship for the Performing Arts, and in 2004, he received an Achievement in Excellence Award from his alma mater, the High School of the Performing Arts.

In 1975 he was the first simultaneous winner of the "Entertainer of the Year", "Rising Star", and "Song and Dance Star" awards from the [[American Guild of Variety Artists]] (AGVA). He also earned a coveted spot in the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.

Vereen was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his performance in the Hallmark movie, ''An Accidental Friendship''.<ref>"2009 Image Award Winners". Awards and Winners. Retrieved August 2, 2016.</ref>  In 2004, Vereen was nominated for a "Career Achievement Award" by the Le Prix International Film Star Awards Organization.

In 2011, he was inducted into the [[American Theatre Hall of Fame]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/159061-Tyne-Daly-Ben-Vereen-Ann-Roth-Daniel-Sullivan-and-More-Inducted-Into-Theater-Hall-of-Fame-Jan-30 Playbill.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928080042/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/159061-Tyne-Daly-Ben-Vereen-Ann-Roth-Daniel-Sullivan-and-More-Inducted-Into-Theater-Hall-of-Fame-Jan-30 |date=September 28, 2012 }}</ref>

In 2012, Vereen was inducted into the [[National Museum of Dance]]'s Mr. & Mrs. [[Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney]] [[Hall of Fame]].

Vereen is an honorary member of [[Phi Beta Sigma]] fraternity.<ref>Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Honorary Members. https://phibetasigma1914.org/about/sigma-membership/honorary-members/</ref> A star was nicknamed after Vereen in the [[International Star Registry]].<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ben Vereen}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|22355}}
* {{IMDb name|0893965}}
* http://www.lycos.com/info/ben-vereen--sweet-charity.html{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* https://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/vereen_b.html
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195000/http://www.xndtv.com/?v=channel-film.php&subaction=showfull&id=1169952000&ucat=13 Ben Vereen Interviewed on XNDTV.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110204025156/http://angelsoflovespiritualcenter.com/ Angels of Love Spiritual Center (Rev. Ben Vereen, Spiritual Director)]
* {{official website|http://www.benvereen.info/}}

{{TonyAward MusicalLeadActor 1947-1975}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vereen, Ben}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:African-American male dancers]]
[[Category:African-American male singers]]
[[Category:American adoptees]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American male dancers]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Male actors from North Carolina]]
[[Category:New Jersey Democrats]]
[[Category:People from Laurinburg, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Saddle River, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Singers from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:Actors from Bergen County, New Jersey]]