Ben Vereen

Tony Award winner Ben Vereen's credits read like an overview of the modern Broadway musical, from his breakout with "Pippin" and "Hair" in the 1970s, to his 1990s performances in "Jelly's Last Jam" and "I'm Not Rapaport" and his run as the Wizard of Oz in "Wicked" in the new millennium. Vereen was frequently cast to interpret the sensual, prowling style of choreographer Bob Fosse with his principal role in "Sweet Charity," a Tony Award nomination for "Jesus Christ Superstar," and a featured role in the film adaptation of Fosse's "All That Jazz" (1979). Among Vereen's other musical screen performances was in the Barbra Streisand musical classic "Funny Lady" (1975), and in a more dramatic vein, his Emmy-nominated role in Alex Haley's landmark miniseries "Roots" (ABC, 1977) as well as a number of other TV events from his hosting role on '80s children's TV series "Zoobilee Zoo" (Syndication 1986-87) to a key role in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again" (Fox 2016). Throughout his career and his fair share of personal setbacks, the high-intensity performer maintained his reputation for hard work, high standards, and consummate professionalism. His regular success touring the nation in one-man shows earned Vereen the titles of Entertainer of the Year and Song and Dance Star from the American Guild of Variety Artists, while his respect among younger generations of performers secured his reputation as an indefatigable elder statesman of Broadway.