Photo Special: Happy Birthday to Song and Dance Legend Ben Vereen

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

Next Slide

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

http://cdn-images.playbill.com/ee_assets/vereen2015bday1.jpg

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

Ben Vereen, Roy Scheider and Ann Reinking in the film <i>All That Jazz</i>, 1979 — Ben Vereen, Roy Scheider and Ann Reinking in the film *All That Jazz*, 1979

Jeff Goldblum and Ben Vereen in the TV series <i>Tenspeed and Brown Shoe</i>, 1980 — Jeff Goldblum and Ben Vereen in the TV series *Tenspeed and Brown Shoe*, 1980

Emmanuel Lewis and Ben Vereen in the TV series <i>Webster</i>, 1984 — Emmanuel Lewis and Ben Vereen in the TV series *Webster*, 1984

Ben Vereen in the TV miniseries <i>A.D.</i>, 1985 — Ben Vereen in the TV miniseries *A.D.*, 1985

Ben Vereen, Leilani Jones and Hal Prince during rehearsals for <I>Grind</I>, 1985 — Ben Vereen, Leilani Jones and Hal Prince during rehearsals for *Grind*, 1985

Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical <i>Grind</i>, 1985 — Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Grind*, 1985

Timothy Nolen, Leilani Jones and Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical <i>Grind</i>, 1985 — Timothy Nolen, Leilani Jones and Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Grind*, 1985

Donald Acree and Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical <i>Grind</i>, 1985 — Donald Acree and Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Grind*, 1985

Ben Vereen and Leilani Jones in the Broadway musical <i>Grind</i>, 1985 — Ben Vereen and Leilani Jones in the Broadway musical *Grind*, 1985

Ben Vereen and the cast of the TV series <i>Zoobilee Zoo</i>, 1986 — Ben Vereen and the cast of the TV series *Zoobilee Zoo*, 1986

Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical <i>Jelly's Last Jam</i>, 1993 — Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Jelly's Last Jam*, 1993

Jelly's_Last_Jam_Production_Photo_Ben Vereen_Brian Stokes Mitchell_1993_HR — Ben Vereen and Brian Stokes Mitchell in the Broadway musical *Jelly's Last Jam*, 1993

Martha Swope

Jenny-Lynn Suckling, Ben Vereen and Rachelle Rak in the Broadway musical <i>Fosse</i>, 2001 — Jenny-Lynn Suckling, Ben Vereen and Rachelle Rak in the Broadway musical *Fosse*, 2001

Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen in Broadway's <i>I'm Not Rappaport</i>, 2002 — Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen in Broadway's *I'm Not Rappaport*, 2002

I'm_Not_Rappaport_Judd Hirsch_Ben Vereen_ 2002_HR — Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen in Broadway's *I'm Not Rappaport*, 2002

Carol Rosegg

Rue McClanahan and Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical <i>Wicked</i>, 2005 — Rue McClanahan and Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Wicked*, 2005

Wicked_Production_Photo_Ben Vereen_2005_HR — Ben Vereen in the Broadway musical *Wicked*, 2005

Joan Marcus

Ben Vereen and Evan Parke in <i>Fetch Clay, Make Man</i> at the McCarter Theatre Center, 2010 — Ben Vereen and Evan Parke in *Fetch Clay, Make Man* at the McCarter Theatre Center, 2010

Ben Vereen previews <i>Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen</i> at 54 Below, 2012 — Ben Vereen previews *Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen* at 54 Below, 2012

Rocky Horror09 HR — Ben Vereen as Dr. Everett Scott

Steve Wilkie/FOX

Rocky Horror Fox HR — Laverne Cox and Ben Vereen in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*

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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.

Ben 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.

Film credits include Sweet Charity; Funny Lady; All That Jazz; Buy and Cell; Mama, I Want To Sing!; and the documentary Broadway: The Next Generation.

Vereen, who 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, is also a concert and recording artist. His most recent CD, Ben Vereen Steppin' Out Live, was released by Sh-K-Boom records.

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

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

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