21 Facts About Ted Neeley

Teddie Joe Neeley was born on September 20,1943 and is an American singer, actor, musician, composer, and record producer.

Ted Neeley is known for portraying the title role in the 1973 film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and has reprised numerous times.

Ted Neeley signed his first record deal in 1965, at age 22, with Capitol Records.

In 1968, Ted Neeley starred in the Los Angeles productions of Larry Norman's rock musicals Alison and Birthday for Shakespeare, with Norman and Richard Hatch.

Ted Neeley appeared on the controversial, unaired episode of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour that prompted CBS to cancel the series.

Ted Neeley originally auditioned for the role of Judas, seeing it as a great opportunity to play a character few understand.

However, when Ben Vereen was chosen for the role, Ted Neeley signed on as chorus and became the understudy for Jesus Christ.

In 1974, fresh from the success of Superstar, Ted Neeley released a solo album, 1974 AD, and played the role of Billy Shears in The Beatles' Sgt.

Ted Neeley wrote music for and starred in Cowboy Jack Street, at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Ted Neeley worked with songwriter Michael Rapp, who wrote such hit concept albums as Ulysses: The Greek Suite, The Ring and The Enchanter exclusively for showcasing Neeley's vocal talents.

Twenty years after first playing the role, Ted Neeley gained renewed success in reprising the lead role of Jesus in the 1990s touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar, with Carl Anderson co-starring as Judas.

In 1999, Neeley reunited with Michael Rapp for a new project, a rock musical entitled Rasputin, a story about the fall of the Romanov dynasty as seen through the eyes of Alexei, heir to the throne and friend to the "mad monk".

Ted Neeley followed this up in 2000 by performing the role of Willie Moore in the world premiere of Murder in the First, presented by the Rubicon Theatre Company of California.

In 2004, Ted Neeley worked with RTC , appearing as Lucky in the Rubicon Theatre Company's production of Waiting for Godot, which was the centerpiece of their BeckettFest.

Immediately following the Superstar Benefit in Hollywood, Ted Neeley began headlining another production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

In 2012, following successful stage tours, film and television work, Ted Neeley continued his childhood dream of singing in a rock and roll band.

Ted Neeley hit the road with "The Little Big Band" and the first stop was a benefit concert for the performing arts program at the high school in Virginia where Carl Anderson began his career.

Ted Neeley had a cameo role as a slave tracker in Quentin Tarantino's 2012 Academy Award-winning film Django Unchained.

In 2013, Ted Neeley went back into the recording studio to record his album Workin' for the Words.

Later in 2013, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the film Jesus Christ Superstar, Ted Neeley toured the US screening the digitally re-mastered DCP print of the film.

Ted Neeley met his wife, Leeyan Granger, during the making of the film Jesus Christ Superstar.