Ben Vereen : Biography, Pictures, Photos, Trivia, Address, Filmography (Tenspeed and Brown Shoe)
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Ben Vereen E.L. Turner in Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
Biography for Ben VereenA glitzy, indefatigable showman if ever there was one, Ben Vereen's career as a preeminent song-and-dance man has enjoyed international attention. Brooklyn-born (on October 10, 1946) and raised, inspiration came growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area where he sang in churches and choirs that toured throughout the borough. During his formative years, he was inspired by dance so his mother found a way to enroll him at a dance studio. Taking to it all like a duck to water, he went on to attend New York's High School of the Performing Arts and Emerson College. He was only 18 when he made his New York stage bow off-off Broadway in "The Prodigal Son." Following an understudy role to Sammy Davis Jr. in "Golden Boy,", he was cast in a 1967 touring company of "Sweet Charity" and found his true, expressionistic dance style in the form of Bob Fosse, going on to make a minor film debut as one of the "Frug dancers" in the film version of Sweet Charity (1969). He served as a replacement in the Broadway rock musical cast of "Hair" in 1969 and played both the lead roles of Claude and Berger during his run.
The early 1970s movement of "peace and love" proved to be his star-making era on Broadway. His soulful, captivating portrayal of Judas in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" earned him the promising Theatre World Award and a Tony nomination. After a season with the National Shakespeare Company, Vereen was cast as "The Leading Player" in the 1972 Broadway musical "Pippin" and electrified audiences in a performance of almost mythic proportions. He finally grabbed the Tony and Drama Desk awards that year.
TV risked to capture this amazing new and exciting energy by making him host/performer of the limited summer variety series entitled "Ben Vereen... Comin' at Ya" (1975). As talented as the man indeed was, the show came off slick, artificial and self-indulgent for a "star" that nobody knew outside of New York's Great White Way. While the feel of a live audience would always be Vereen's preferred domain, the indomitable performer did not give up on TV. He went on to earn a critical nod playing the great "Satchmo" in Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style (1976) (TV), and garnered an Emmy nomination for his superb portrayal of "Chicken George" in the ground-breaking mini-series "Roots" (1977) (mini). He showcased again on TV, this time as a star, in the 1978 musical special "Ben Vereen...His Roots", and won the Emmy statuette. A couple of seasons later he co-starred with Jeff Goldblum in the Stephen J. Cannell private eye show "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe" (1980) and enjoyed a recurring role on "Webster" (1983). As for film work, it seemed that small, energetic doses was all that was in the offering. While he enjoyed his brief dazzling moment in a Funny Lady (1975) musical sequence, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and a flashy cameo in the musical finale of the surreal Bob Fosse semi-autobiographical All That Jazz (1979), he proved far too big for the large screen.
Vereen has commanded stages and showrooms all over the world: in Vegas, Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, and throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. He has also had his share of personal sorrow. Vereen's 16-year-old child died in a car accident in 1987, and Vereen himself was seriously injured after being struck by a car while walking on Pacific Coast Highway, a couple of miles from his home in Malibu in 1992. Vereen had to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation process, sustaining head and internal injuries and a broken leg.
But the show has gone on. Although he has returned to performing, he has slowed down the pace. He has enjoyed fine reviews in supporting roles (mostly musical) in such productions as "Jelly's Last Jam," "Chicago," "I'm Not Rappaport," "Fosse," "Wicked" and "A Christmas Carol" (as the Ghost of Christmas Present). TV guest spots have included yeoman work on "Touched by an Angel," "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "Star Trek-The Next Generation," "The Promised Land," "Oz" and an Emmy nominated guest role on "The Intruders." A self-proclaimed spiritually-guided individual, he is also a noted motivational speaker and humanitarian.
A tireless showman with a preponderant career of song and dance with appreciated international attention. Increased, the inspiration came to increasing up in the region of Bedford-Stuyvesant where he sang in the churches and choirs that traveled throughout the city. During his formative years, he was inspired by the dance thus his mother found a way of registering him in a dance studio. By taking everything like a duck to water, he continued to go to the New York Lycée in the Arts and the Emerson University of Execution. He was only 18 when he did in New York, stage the off-off of Arc Broadway in "The son of Prodigal." After a role Understudy in Sammy Davis Jr. in "The Boy d'Or,", he was molded in a 1967 traveling the company "De La Charité Douce" and found its real model and expressionist of Dance in the form of Bob Fosse , continuing to make a minor film start as one of the "Frug dancers" in the film version of Charity Doux (1969). He served as a replacement in the Broadway Roche Music Fonte "Hair" in 1969 and played the roles of the thread of Claude and Berger during his race.
From the movement of the early 1970s "peace and love" turned out to be its manufacturing era on Broadway. His soul and captivating representation of Judas in Andrew Lloyd Webber 'S "Jesus the Christ SUPERS" won him the theater world the promising reward and a nomination of Tony. After a season with National Shakespeare Company, Vereen was molded as a "main player" in the 1972 Musical "Reinette" of Broadway and assistance in an execution of almost legendary proportions. He finally seized the Tony's office award and this year drama.
He risked the limited TV series of summer variety and was entitled to "Ben Vereen ... Comin 'at Ya" (1975). As gifted as man was indeed, the exhibition emerged smooth, artificial and individual-indulgent for a "star". This person did not experience the outdoor white way of New York. While the feeling of phase assistance would always be the favorite domain of Vereen, the indomitable interpreter has not given up on the TV. He continued to win a sign of critical assent playing the great "Satchmo" in Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style (1976) (TV), and win an appointment of Emmy for his superb representation of "Chicken that George" of the Mini-series deruptures "is rooted" (1977) (Mini). He still presented on TV, this time as a star, in the 1978 "Ben Special Musical Vereen ... his roots", and won the statuette of Emmy. A couple of the seasons later he co-Starred with Jeff Goldblum in the exhibition "Tenspeed and brown shoe" of private detective by Stephen J. Cannell (1980) and appreciated a role reproducing on "Webster" (1983). As for film work, it seemed to be small, the energetic doses was all that was in the offer. While he appreciated his brief time to shine in 1975) Funny Music Orders of Madame (, who won him a Golden Golden Appoint Jazz (1979), he proved far too big for the big screen.
Vereen has ordered stages and exhibition rooms all over the world: in Vegas, Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, and in all of the United States, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Received a diploma from the New York Lycée of execution arts He also had his share of personal pain. The child of the 16-Old de Vereen died in a car accident in 1987, and the Vereen himself was seriously injured after being hit in a car while walking on the Pacific Coast road, a couple of Milles of his house in Malibu in 1992. Vereen had to undergo an extended rehabilitation process, supporting main and internal damage and a broken leg.
But the exhibition continued. Although he returned to execution, he slowed down. He appreciated fine journals in support roles (most of the time musical) in productions such as "the last jaw jam," "Chicago," "I am not rapport," "pit," "bad "And" a Christmas song "(like a ghost of Christmas presents). TV guest stains have included Yeoman work on "touched by an angel," "fresh air prince of Bel," "Travel-of-the-Year-Estoile," "the Promised Land," "Once "And an Emmy called guest role on" The intruders. " An individual-singed singer-hug, he is also a remarkable speaker and humanitarian.
Ben Vereen is an American actor and singer born October 10, 1946 in Miami, Florida. He started his career as a dancer and singer in Broadway in the 1960s and 1970s, where he won a Tony Award for his role in the musical "Pippin" in 1973. Vereen also played in film and televised productions , especially in the television series "Roots" in 1977 and in the films "Funny Lady" in 1975 and "All that jazz" in 1979. In addition to his work as an actor, Vereen is also an accomplished artist and an educator In the performing arts. He continues to perform on stage and on the screen. Photos    
Filmography
TriviaTony Award winner for "Pippin"
He was understudy for Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1964 Broadway musical "Golden Boy".
Was named as "King of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival in 1985
Won Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Pippin." Was nominated the year before, in 1972, as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "Jesus Christ, Superstar."
Played both Madge Sinclair's husband and LeVar Burton's father in two different productions: "Roots" (1977) (mini) and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987).
In June of 1992, he suffered a stroke following a minor car accident in which he hit his head on the steering wheel earlier that day. He recovered and after extensive physical and occupational therapy, was able to dance again.
Is a vegan.
Graduated from the New York's High School of the Performing Arts
Of modest beginnings, his father James was a factory worker and mother Pauline a maid and wardrobe mistress. FamilySpouse : Nancy Bruner (1968 - present) 4 children, Andrea Townsley (? - ?) (divorced) 1 son
1 son, Ben, with first wife. 4 daughters (Kabara, Malaika, Naja and Karon) with current wife.
In 1987 his daughter, Naja, was killed in a car accident at the age of 16.
Is the godfather of singer/dancer/actor Usher Raymond. Author of the card
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