NewsPhoto Special: Happy Birthday to Song and Dance Legend Ben VereenTony award winner Ben Vereen, currently featured in the film Time Out of Mind, celebrates his birthday Oct. 10. Playbill.com takes a look at his career. Happy birthday, Ben!
October 10, 2015
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Look Back at Song and Dance Legend Ben Vereen On the Stage
Look Back at Song and Dance Legend Ben Vereen On the Stage
Vereen won a Tony Award for Pippin in 1973.
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Ben Vereen
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 Hair at the Aquarius Theatre, 1969
Ben Vereen, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Bud Vest in the film Sweet Charity, 1969
Universal Pictures
Ben Vereen and Jeff Fenholt in rehearsal for Jesus Christ Superstar, 1971
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.
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