Ben Vereen (born October 10, 1946 in Miami, Florida) is an American actor, dancer, and singer who has appeared in numerous Broadway theatre shows. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 and won a Tony for his appearance in Pippin in 1973. Vereen is currently starring in the Broadway musical Wicked as the Wizard of Oz.
His work in theatre has also secured him numerous appearances on various television programs and films. Notable film roles include song-and-dance men in Funny Lady and All That Jazz. He starred in the television series Tenspeed and Brown Shoe but is probably best known for his role as "Chicken" George Moore in Roots. Other TV appearances include:
Oz
Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Jamie Foxx Show
The Love Boat
The Muppet Show
Touched by an Angel
Zoobilee Zoo
Vereen has also performed in one-man shows and actively lectures on black history and inspirational topics.
