Ben Vereen
Few entertainers today are as accomplished or versatile as Ben Vereen. His legendary performances transcend time and have been woven into the fabric of this country’s artistic legacy. On Broadway, Ben Vereen has starred in Wicked, Fosse, I’m Not Rappaport, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Grind, Jelly’s Last Jam, and A Christmas Carol. His role in Pippin garnered him both the prestigious Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for “Best Actor in a Musical.”
In 2022, Ben was a series regular on Chuck Lorre’s B Positive on CBS, and in 2021 completed multiple episodes of The Good Fight, playing Frederick Douglas, also on CBS. He has performed his concert act for the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, and has upcoming dates in Chicago, Las Vegas, and the Carolinas. Before Broadway reopened after COVID, Ben appeared in the national commercial to bring back NYC and Broadway: “It’s Showtime in NYC.” In June, he was awarded the inaugural Juneteenth Legacy Award from the Broadway League, as well as receiving the Hero’s Award from the First Responder’s Children’s Foundation due to his presence at Ground Zero in helping the first responders. He was recently honored with the Sidney Poitier Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Black Theatre Festival. Ben performed an abundance of virtual events during Covid in 2020 and, most of all, his deep passion for the homeless led him into producing, directing, and starring in a benefit for “Care for the Homeless.” His passion of the arts and education is ongoing and each year, he teaches classes online and in person.
Ben appeared in Magnum P.I. and Bull for CBS, multiple episodes of Star for Fox, and the BET series Tales. Ben also co-starred with Richard Gere in Time Out of Mind, Chris Rock in Top Five, and was featured as Dr. Scott in the re-imagined The Rocky Horror Picture Show for 20th Century Fox. Bryan Cranston picked Ben to co-star in Sneaky Pete for Amazon. Ben continues to tour the country with his concert act, motivational lectures, and master classes. He performed sold out runs at Jazz at Lincoln Center, as well as in Toronto, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, as well as a lecture at Tuskegee University for Black History Month. He won a Tony Award/Drama Desk for Pippin, and starred in such musicals as Jesus Christ Superstar, Fosse, Hair, Jelly’s Last Jam, Chicago, Wicked, I’m Not Rappaport, to name a few and is remembered for films like Sweet Charity (1969) and ALL THAT JAZZ (1979).
In March 2022, Ben starred in the video/recording of a new song, “We Sing For Ukraine.” The proceeds from this song benefit both UNICEF and Abundance International. He was featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Good Day New York, The Real, Entertainment Tonight, and in Town and Country magazine, to name a few. Ben appeared on CBS’ “Welcome Back Broadway” TV special. He was also chosen to be the face of “Welcome Back New York City” on a national commercial. During the pandemic, Ben performed with the NYPD Jazz orchestra for their gala and directed and performed in “Virtual Vereen and Friends,” which benefited Care for the Homeless. In 2020, he participated in multiple performances for the Actor’s Fund. The theatre 54 Below streamed one of his concerts benefiting first responders, and, in December 2020, he appeared in a program for Jewel’s Wellness Experience through her Children’s Foundation. Ben is an active member of Americans for the Arts, the largest advocacy group of the arts in America. He went to Washington DC and spoke before Congress defending the National Endowment for the Arts against the proposed budget cuts. He also attended the Democratic National Convention, where he spoke to various senators, congressmen, and governors on the arts and education and later sang What the World Needs Now on television in front of approximately 50,000 delegates. Ben was inducted as an honorary member into Phi Beta Sigma and continues to be an active member.
Ben has received a number of awards including Israel’s Cultural and Humanitarian Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, and a Victory Award. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, and Columbia College in Chicago. Ben has also been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame, the Dance Hall of Fame, and has received various Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. In New York City, he received the Broadway World Cabaret Award for “Best Celebrity Male Vocalist” and the Career Achievement Award (Le Prix International Film Star Awards Organization). Ben produced an event for Care for the Homeless, served on Ballet Florida’s Board of Directors, and worked with the American Red Cross, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Assocation, and The Entertainment Community Fund. Ben spearheaded his own organization, Celebrities for a Drug Free America, which raised money for drug rehabilitation centers, educational programs, and inner city community-based projects. The Community Mental Health Council awarded Ben with their 2004 Lifeline Celebration Achievement Award Scholarship for the Performing Arts, and, in 2004, he received an Achievement in Excellence Award from his alma mater, the High School of the Performing Arts. He is most proud of his ongoing work involving the arts and education, and providing the youth with arts programs across America. Ben received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Gold Coast International Film Festival and he was honored as a living legend by The American Black Film Institute.
His memorable television roles that have stood the test of time include Chicken George in Roots and Louis Armstrong in Louis Armstrong – Chicago Style. Other television appearances include How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy, Hot in Cleveland, NCIS, House of Payne, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, OZ, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Jamie Foxx Show, Accidental Friendship, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Silk Stockings, Webster, J.J. Starbuck, Booker, The Feast of All Saints, Intruders, Faerie Tale Theatre’s Puss in Boots with Gregory Hines, The Jesse Owens Story, Ellis Island, Lost in London, Salute to Liberty Special, Tenspeed and Brownshoe, The Muppet Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Pippin: His Life and Times, The Love Boat, 21 and a Wake-Up, SCTV, The Magic of David Copperfield, Jenny’s Song, The Nanny, Touched by an Angel, Lois and Clark, Promised Land, and You Write the Songs.
In February of 2011, Ben released his CD Steppin’ Out Live with Ben Vereen and staged a triumphant return to Broadway with his concert “Ben Vereen on Broadway at Town Hall”. On January 30th, 2012, Ben was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame. He performed for 100,000 people at the Washington Monument on a July 4th celebration, and, in August, Ben was inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame. In 2009, he performed at the Inaugural Ball with Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey of the singing group Peter, Paul and Mary. He then entertained at the reopening of Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., which was also attended by President and Mrs. Obama. Ben also received Broadwayworld.com’s 2012 Cabaret Award “Best Celebrity Male Vocalist” for his dazzling 2 week run at New York City’s latest music venue 54 Below. In May of 2013, Ben received his honorary degree from the LaGuardia School of Performing Arts. In 2017, the Friar’s Club honored Ben Vereen for his lifetime achievements in the arts.
Ben stars in the Paramount mini-series – Gray House – produced by Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.