1. Ben Vereen gained prominence for his performances in the original Broadway productions of the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar, for which he received a Tony Award nomination, and Pippin, for which he won the 1973 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Ben Vereen was adopted by James Vereen, a paint-factory worker, and his wife, Pauline Vereen, who worked as a maid and theatre wardrobe mistress.
Ben Vereen discovered he was adopted when he applied for a passport to join Sammy Davis Jr.
At the age of 14, Ben Vereen enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, where he studied under world-renowned choreographers Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins.
When Ben Vereen was 18 years old, he made his New York stage bow off-off Broadway in The Prodigal Son at the Greenwich Mews Theater directed by Stella Holt.
Ben Vereen returned to New York City to play Claude in Hair in the Broadway production, before joining the national touring company.
Ben Vereen is featured prominently in the "Rich Man's Frug" dance number and the song "Rhythm of Life", where he appears as one of three backup dancers for Sammy Davis Jr.
Ben Vereen was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 and won a Tony for his appearance in Pippin in 1973.
Ben Vereen appeared in the Broadway musical Wicked as the Wizard of Oz in 2005.
Ben Vereen has performed in one-man shows and actively lectures on black history and inspirational topics.
Ben Vereen has starred in numerous television programs, and is well known for the role of 'Chicken' George Moore in Alex Haley's landmark TV miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination in 1977.
In 1976, Ben Vereen appeared as a guest star on the first season of The Muppet Show, singing two songs.
In 1978, on a Boston Pops TV special, Vereen performed a tribute to Bert Williams, complete with period makeup and attire, and reprising Williams' high-kick dance steps, to Vaudeville standards such as "Waitin' for the Robert E Lee".
The performance generated controversy as Ben Vereen performed the first part of the show in blackface.
Ben Vereen was cast opposite Jeff Goldblum in the short-lived detective series Tenspeed and Brown Shoe.
In 1985, Ben Vereen starred in the Faerie Tale Theatre series as Puss in Boots alongside Gregory Hines.
Ben Vereen appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse", in which he played Will Smith's biological father Lou Smith.
Ben Vereen made several appearances on the 1980s sitcom Webster as the title character's biological uncle.
Ben Vereen appeared on the television series The Nanny episode "Pishke Business".
Ben Vereen returned in 2013 and 2014 for another two episodes.
Ben Vereen's other daughter, Karon Davis, is a professional artist; Vereen's son-in-law was Davis' late husband, artist Noah Davis.
In September 2012, Ben Vereen filed for divorce from his wife of 36 years, Nancy Bruner Ben Vereen, citing irreconcilable differences.
In 1992, Ben Vereen suffered three accidents in one day: His car hit a tree, causing him to hit his head on the roof of the car; he then suffered a stroke while he was walking on a Malibu highway, apparently veering into the road; and finally, as a result of that, he was hit by record producer David Foster, who was driving his car on the highway.
Ben Vereen has appeared as a public speaker and humanitarian speaking on such topics as black history, overcoming adversity, and the importance of continuing education.
Ben Vereen has received honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago.
Ben Vereen earned a coveted spot in the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.
Ben Vereen was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his performance in the Hallmark movie, An Accidental Friendship.
In 2004, Ben Vereen was nominated for a "Career Achievement Award" by the Le Prix International Film Star Awards Organization.
Ben Vereen is an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.