Ben Vereen

Ben Vereen Bio

Benjamin Augustus Vereen (né Middleton; October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer, and singer whose career has spanned Broadway, television, film, and humanitarian work for more than six decades. He gained national prominence in the early 1970s with two landmark musical theater performances, earning a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar (1972) and winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for the title role in Pippin (1973). Beyond the stage, Vereen is widely recognized for his portrayal of “Chicken” George Moore in the landmark television miniseries Roots, a performance that brought him an Emmy nomination in 1977.

Throughout his career, Vereen has balanced performing with public speaking and mentorship, lecturing on Black history, the performing arts, and overcoming adversity. He has also devoted significant time to humanitarian causes and arts education, working with young performers across the United States.

Early Life and Background

Benjamin Augustus Vereen was born on October 10, 1946, in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Shortly after his birth, he and his family relocated to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. He was raised by James Vereen, a paint-factory worker, and Pauline Vereen, who worked as a maid and a theater wardrobe mistress. Vereen was raised in a Pentecostal household, an upbringing that shaped his early exposure to music and performance.

During his pre-teen years, Vereen displayed a natural talent for drama and dance, frequently performing in local variety shows. At the age of 14, he enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, where he studied under some of the most influential choreographers of the twentieth century, including Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins. Upon graduation, he struggled to find steady stage work and supported himself with odd jobs while pursuing his performing ambitions.

Vereen later learned, while applying for a passport in the late 1960s, that he had been adopted. His birth certificate identified his original name as Benjamin Augustus Middleton and listed his birth mother as Essie Middleton. In 2006, he returned to Scotland County, North Carolina, with a genealogist to trace his biological family, eventually meeting relatives who shared details about his early life and his mother.

Path to Acting

Vereen made his New York stage debut at the age of 18 in an off-off-Broadway production of The Prodigal Son at the Greenwich Mews Theater, directed by Stella Holt. By the following year, he had moved to Las Vegas, where he performed in Bob Fosse’s production of Sweet Charity, a show he also toured with during 1967 and 1968. He returned to New York City to play Claude in the Broadway production of Hair before joining the show’s national touring company.

These early stage experiences allowed Vereen to develop the versatility that would define his career, drawing on training in dance, drama, and vocal performance. He was also featured in the film adaptation of Sweet Charity, appearing prominently in the “Rich Man’s Frug” dance number and the song “Rhythm of Life” alongside Sammy Davis Jr. After building a working relationship with Davis, Vereen was cast as his understudy in the upcoming production of Golden Boy, which toured England and concluded its run at the Palladium Theatre in London’s West End.

Ben Vereen Career

Early Career (1965-1971)

Vereen began his professional career in the mid-1960s, balancing stage work with small television and film appearances while continuing to train as a dancer and singer. His early credits included ensemble work in Sweet Charity and the Broadway production of Hair, both of which allowed him to refine his craft under experienced directors and choreographers. During this period, he also built a reputation as a dynamic live performer in New York’s theater scene.

By the close of the 1960s, Vereen had established himself as a versatile and reliable stage presence. His work as an understudy for Sammy Davis Jr. in Golden Boy gave him further exposure, and his association with Davis helped open doors in both the recording and television industries.

Breakthrough (1972-1977)

Vereen’s breakthrough arrived in 1972 when he was cast as Judas Iscariot in the Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar. His intense performance earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical and brought him widespread critical attention. The following year, he took on the title role in the Broadway musical Pippin, directed by Bob Fosse, a performance that won him the 1973 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and cemented his reputation as one of Broadway’s leading talents.

In 1975, Vereen headlined his own NBC summer variety series, Ben Vereen … Comin’ At Ya, which featured regulars including Lola Falana, Avery Schreiber, and Liz Torres. That same year, he became 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. The following year, he appeared as a guest star on the first season of The Muppet Show, singing two songs and introducing himself to a younger audience.

Vereen reached an even broader audience in 1977 with his portrayal of “Chicken” George Moore in Alex Haley’s landmark television miniseries Roots. The role earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and remains one of the most celebrated performances of his career.

Notable Works and Milestones

Beyond his Tony-winning turn in Pippin and his Emmy-nominated role in Roots, Vereen has continued to build an impressive body of work across stage and screen. In 2005, he joined the Broadway musical Wicked as the Wizard of Oz, and in 2011 he was named co-artistic director of Tampa’s Broadway Theatre Project. In 1981, he performed at President Ronald Reagan’s first inauguration, a controversial appearance that he later described as a critique of civil rights policies. Vereen has also starred in Tenspeed and Brown Shoe opposite Jeff Goldblum, appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Will Smith’s biological father, played Mayor Ben on the children’s program Zoobilee Zoo, and made multiple guest appearances on series including Webster, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Nanny, and How I Met Your Mother.

Ben Vereen Award Nominations

Benjamin Augustus Vereen has earned recognition from some of the most respected awarding bodies in the entertainment industry throughout his career. His verified nominations include a 1972 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for Jesus Christ Superstar, a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1977 for his role in Roots, and an NAACP Image Award nomination for his performance in the Hallmark movie An Accidental Friendship. In 2004, he was also nominated for a Career Achievement Award by the Le Prix International Film Star Awards Organization.

Ben Vereen Awards Won

Vereen’s verified major award wins include the 1973 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Pippin, and in 1975 he became the first simultaneous recipient of the “Entertainer of the Year,” “Rising Star,” and “Song and Dance Star” awards from the American Guild of Variety Artists. He has also received three NAACP Image Awards, an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, a Victory Award, Israel’s Cultural and Humanitarian Awards, and the Community Mental Health Council’s 2004 Lifeline Celebration Achievement Award. Vereen has earned honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St. Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago, and in 2011 he was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Ben Vereen Family

Vereen was raised by James Vereen, a paint-factory worker, and Pauline Vereen, who worked as a maid and a theater wardrobe mistress. In 2006, he traveled to Scotland County, North Carolina, where he reconnected with biological relatives, including his sister, Gloria Lewis-Walker, of Derby, Connecticut. Vereen is also the first cousin once removed of former NFL running back Shane Vereen and serves as the godfather of R&B singer Usher.

Personal Life

Vereen was first married to Andrea Townsley from 1966 until their divorce in 1974. He later married Nancy Bruner in 1976; the couple divorced in 2012 after 36 years of marriage. He has six children, including his daughter Karon Davis, a professional artist whose late husband was artist Noah Davis. His daughter Naja died in a 1987 car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike at the age of 16, and his son, Ben Vereen Jr., passed away in 2020. In the early 1980s, Vereen moved with his family to Saddle River, New Jersey. In 1992, he suffered three serious accidents in a single day, including a car crash and a stroke that led to further injury; he underwent extensive physical rehabilitation. He was later diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007 and has since used his platform to share health guidance with others.