Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen ( born October 10, 1946 in Miami, actually Benjamin Augustus Middleton ) is an American film and theater actor, as well as a preacher.
Familial relationships
Vereen grew up in Bedford, New York with his adoptive parents, James and Pauline Vereen, a factory worker and a dresser, on.
In 1967, at the age of 21 years, Vereen was made aware when applying for a new passport, that he had been adopted. In the partially false documents his mother's name was Essie Middleton, and as his birthplace Laurinburg, North Carolina, stated. It was only in April 2006 biological family was determined by the help of a genealogist Vereens. In this way he learned that his mother, Essie May Pearson was called and Vereen was an illegitimate child. Order during the existing conservative conditions at that time not to be branded, Pearson, who died in 1982, in 1946 made a trip to Miami, where her son Ben was born. She let her child back in the unknown and returned to Laurinburg. It was only in May 2006, Vereen learned his sister Gloria know that now in New Haven, Connecticut, lives.
Career
Vereen was encouraged early on by his adoptive parents and sang in the church choir as a child. After attending New York 's High School of the Performing Arts and Emerson College in Boston Vereen made his debut at the age of 18 years on the stage production Prodigal Sun and was followed shortly thereafter by the musical Sweet Charity production for the first time on tour. 1969 Sweet Charity was filmed, and the film in which Vereen was seen on the side of Shirley MacLaine, marked his film debut.
In 1970 Vereen a Theatre World Award for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar. Vereen was a member of the National Shakespeare Company, with whom he celebrated career success. With it, he has performed at numerous American theaters, including in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe, but also in Europe and Asia.
Private
Ben Vereen was married twice. For a brief first marriage to Andrea Townsley in the 1960s, his son Ben came out. Already by his relationship with Townsley came Vereen closer to the Christian faith, as it is a pastor at a church in Brooklyn. Since July 15, 1976 Vereen is married to British -born Nancy Bruner. The couple has four daughters together, Kabara, Malaika, Naja and Karon. Well came in 1987 at the age of 16 in a traffic accident. In June 1992, Vereen was hit at California State Route 1 from the music producer David Foster. The circumstances of the accident are not fully understood. There is some evidence that Vereen outside of his car suffered a stroke after he was a few hours earlier collided with his head against the steering wheel of his car. Other sources speak of a suicide attempt.
Ben Vereen survived the accident and was able to continue his career after a long rehabilitation. The experiences that he made in connection with the accident, promoted his belief to the extent that he was ordained a preacher.
Others
- Ben Vereen is vegan.
- He is the godfather of singer Usher Raymond.
Filmography
Movies
Appearances in television series
Awards
- Three Emmy nominations
- Two Golden Globe Award nominations