Happy Birthday to Song and Dance Legend Ben Vereen

Ben Vereen, who was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2011, is universally known and respected for his musical, dramatic and comedic roles on stage, film, and television. His TV credits include the miniseries A.D. and Alex Haley's Roots; plus Tenspeed and Brownshoe; Webster; Zoobilee Zoo; Silk Stalkings; and Louis Armstrong: Chicago Style.

Vereen won the 1973 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role of the Leading Player in Pippin. Other Broadway appearances include Hair; Jesus Christ Superstar; Grind; Jelly’s Last Jam; Fosse; I’m Not Rappaport; and Wicked. He started his stage career in the Off-Broadway musical The Prodigal Son.

Flip through photos of his career highlights below:

Look Back at Song and Dance Legend Ben Vereen On the Stage

HR - Ben Vereen and John Rubinstein in Pippin (Broadway 1972) — Look Back at Song and Dance Legend Ben Vereen On the Stage

Vereen won a Tony Award for *Pippin* in 1973.
43 PHOTOS

Gerome Ragni, Ben Vereen, Bert Sommers, Rhonda Ogelsby Coulet, Jennifer Warnes, Willie Weatherly, Teda Bracci, Jobriath, James Rado, Elaine Hill, Delores Hall, Denise Delapenna and Greg Arlin, LA production of <i>Hair</i> at the Aquarius Theatre, 1969 — Gerome Ragni, Ben Vereen, Bert Sommers, Rhonda Ogelsby Coulet, Jennifer Warnes, Willie Weatherly, Teda Bracci, Jobriath, James Rado, Elaine Hill, Delores Hall, Denise Delapenna and Greg Arlin, LA production of *Hair* at the Aquarius Theatre, 1969

Jay Thompson

Carolyn Hill, Ben Vereen, Gloria Jones and Delores Hall in the LA production of <i>Hair</i> at the Aquarius Theatre, 1969 — Carolyn Hill, Ben Vereen, Gloria Jones and Delores Hall in the LA production of *Hair* at the Aquarius Theatre, 1969

Sweet_Charity_Film_Ben Vereen_Sammy Davis, Jr._Bud Vest_1969_HR — Ben Vereen, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Bud Vest in the film *Sweet Charity*, 1969

Universal Pictures

Ben Vereen and Jeff Fenholt in rehearsal for <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>, 1971 — Ben Vereen and Jeff Fenholt in rehearsal for *Jesus Christ Superstar*, 1971

Ben Vereen in rehearsal for <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>, 1971 — Ben Vereen in rehearsal for *Jesus Christ Superstar*, 1971

Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>, 1971 — Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Jesus Christ Superstar*, 1971

Ben Vereen, Jeff Fenholt and Yvonne Elliman backstage on opening night of the Broadway musical <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>, 1971 — Ben Vereen, Jeff Fenholt and Yvonne Elliman backstage on opening night of the Broadway musical *Jesus Christ Superstar*, 1971

Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical <i>Pippin</i>, 1972 — Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Pippin*, 1972

Ben Vereen and cast in the Broadway musical <i>Pippin</i>, 1972 — Ben Vereen and cast in the Broadway musical *Pippin*, 1972

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Ben Vereen, John Rubenstein and cast in the Broadway musical <i>Pippin</i>, 1972 — Ben Vereen, John Rubenstein and cast in the Broadway musical *Pippin*, 1972

Martha Swope

Ben Vereen in the film <i>Funny Lady</i>, 1975 — Ben Vereen in the film *Funny Lady*, 1975

Ben Vereen in the TV variety series <i>Ben Vereen...Comin' At Ya</i>, 1975 — Ben Vereen in the TV variety series *Ben Vereen...Comin' At Ya*, 1975

Ben Vereen on the TV series <i>The Muppet Show</i>, 1976 — Ben Vereen on the TV series *The Muppet Show*, 1976

ATV

Chuck Connors and Ben Vereen in the TV miniseries <i>Roots</i>, 1977 — Chuck Connors and Ben Vereen in the TV miniseries *Roots*, 1977

Louis Gossett Jr., Debbie Allen and Ben Vereen in the TV special <i>The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots</i>, 1978 — Louis Gossett Jr., Debbie Allen and Ben Vereen in the TV special *The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots*, 1978

Ben Vereen in the film <i>All That Jazz</i>, 1979 — Ben Vereen in the film *All That Jazz*, 1979

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