After Vereens car hit a tree earlier that night, he was walking along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and was hit by a car that was being driven by the well-known Grammy-winning producer/composer David Foster (who was returning home from a Hollywood studio after working on a Michael Bolton album that night and has since worked with everyone from Whitney Houston to Mary J. Blige). Ben Vereen, best known for his role as Chicken George in Roots and as a superb Broadway dancer, revealed that he developed an extremely heavy cocaine addiction that was kicked into overdrive after the sudden death of his 16-year-old daughter, Naja. While still an infant, Vereen and his family relocated to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. They were originally from Ver, near Bayeux, Normandy where it was from the local form of this place-name, de Ver. Five years later, he too, almost died of the same fate as his daughter. But as he started getting better, I started getting better. In 1985, Vereen starred in the Faerie Tale Theatre series as Puss in Boots alongside Gregory Hines. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! However, one of the segments that wasnt part of that September 2019 edit but is now in the version of David Foster: Off the Record that debuts on Netflix this week, is the story of one of the grimmest times in Fosters life, when he struck actor/singer/dancer Ben Vereen with his car on the Pacific Coast Highway while driving home from a late-night studio session. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. [L] Ben Vereen; [inset photo] Ben and daughter, NajaFive years later, he too, almost died of the same fate as his daughter. I think the truth is they scanned his whole body and found a six-hour-old subdural hematoma, and that he would have been dead by 7 A.M. from bleeding in the brain. He 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. Vereen Sr. gave a statement about his son's passing to NY1, saying, "I am sorry to announce my son Benjamin A Ver He had been missing since July 27. In prior interviews with People Magazine and Ability Magazine, the details and hardships that followed Vereen were revealed. Ben Vereen. Benjamin Vereen Junior, who went by Benji, was a dancer and choreographer. As Arceneaux explains, Vereen's performance was meant as a critique of Republican civil rights policies, but the TV audience didn't get to see it.[9]. This afternoon he was listed in critical condition with major head and internal injuries and a broken leg. I've sort of distanced myself from the story personally now because it's been so many years, so I can sort of be objective about it, Foster tells Yahoo Entertainment. After developing a rapport with Davis, Vereen was cast as his understudy in the upcoming production of Golden Boy, which toured England and ended the run at the Palladium Theatre in London's West End. Cloudflare Ray ID: 78ba390cb8be24bf In 1992, Vereen suffered three accidents in one day, when his car hit a tree causing him to hit his head on the roof of his car, then he suffered a stroke while he was walking on a Malibu highway, apparently veering into the road where he was struck by a car driven by record producer David Foster. GALLERI; KONTAKT OSS The authorities said they did not know why he had been walking on the highway at that hour. His father, whos best known for his portrayal of The Leading Player in the original Broadway cast of Pippin, released a statement saying, I am sorry to announce my son Benjamin A Vereen Jr., affectionately known as Benji passed away. Ben Vereen became a famously versatile song-and-dance man, a stage star who appeared occasionally in feature films and television. The Laurinburg Exchange reported: "Vereen, an adoptee who learned that he was born in Laurinburg and made a celebrated trip to Scotland County in 2006 to reconnect with family. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Ben Vereen, Spiritual Director), Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Vereen&oldid=1128051495, BLP articles lacking sources from September 2014, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Internet Off-Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata, Articles with dead external links from October 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "The Life and Death of Chick Sterling", Outstanding Supporting Actor in Variety or Music, Outstanding Lead Actor Drama or Comedy Series, This page was last edited on 18 December 2022, at 03:33. Age difference, which we clearly have, is one of the 10 but the other nine are solid. In prior interviews with People Magazine and Ability Magazine, the details and hardships that followed Vereen were revealed. Ben Vereen is a living legend and he's gearing up for the end of B Positive, where he plays Peter, a retired professor struggling to cope with early dementia while living in an assisted living. On the small screen, Vereen starred as Chicken George in the landmark TV miniseries Roots, and played Will Smith's largely absent dad in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. 20:36 GMT 12 Aug 2020 Heis survived by sons Oliver, Caleb and Noah, and daughter Serina. That evening, his act goes down a storm ("The Joint is Jumping"). I know what you've been telling me for the last couple of years about what makes a great documentary. ^ a b Bitette, Nicole; Dillon, Nancy (January 5, 2018). During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Vereen worked steadily on television with projects ranging from the sitcom Webster to the drama Silk Stalkings. However, most notable was his portrayal of the Leading Player in the Broadway musical, "Pippin." According to The Fayetteville Observer of April 29, 2006, Vereen learned while applying for a passport in the late 1960s that he was adopted. As it turned out, Vereen had already suffered an accident earlier that day, when his car hit a tree, causing him to bang his head on the roof of his car and suffer a stroke; this was why an out-of-sorts Vereen was wandering in the middle of the darkened PCH. Getty Images. Heres what Vereen explained about his addiction and moving past the pain he suffered: Ben Vereen: We all have lessons we have to learn and they hit us at various times in life. -ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view. Utleie og salg av lavvoer. / I thought I was going to go to the hospital.. The performance generated controversy as Vereen performed the first part of the show in blackface. On Broadway, Ben Vereen has starred in Wicked, Fosse, I'm Not Rappaport, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Grind, Jelly's Last Jam and A Christmas Carol. In 2004, Vereen was nominated for a "Career Achievement Award" by the Le Prix International Film Star Awards Organization. They both assumed that this was behind them. Vereen who won best actor in a musical at the Tonys in 1973 for Pippin and who played Chicken George in the TV miniseries Roots then married Nancy Bruner in 1976. When she returned, the child was gone. Laurinburg, , 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. Vereen Sr. is a Broadway legend who has dedicated decades of his life to promoting theatre work. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Vereen was the keynote speaker for the Boys & Girls Clubs in St. Petersburg, Florida annual alumni tribute gala held in October 2007. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Lets get up to the mountaintop together so we can all sing and dance. does cesium and strontium form an ionic compound; college of idaho basketball: roster; bradford exchange mail order catalog [10] In May 2006, he met his mother's daughter (his sister), Gloria Lewis-Walker, of Derby, Connecticut.[11][12][13]. Before the finale, ABC cut the live performance, generating confusion and anger from viewers at home. Vereen had passed . He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Ben Vereen, most famous for his role as the Leading Player in the original Pippin, will soon hit the small screen. Ben Vereen Hit by Car and Critically Hurt, https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/10/us/ben-vereen-hit-by-car-and-critically-hurt.html. He also created his foundation called Celebrities for a Drug-Free America where he asked his celebrity friends to donate hundreds of thousands of their dollars to help their communities and fight drug addictions. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Actor: All That Jazz. How many biogeographical classification of India. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin. While on the trip he learned his mother had died 24 years before, but that several relatives still lived in the area." _taboola.push({ NEW YORK - Film and theater actor Ben Vereen says his son has died. Who was driving the car that hit Ben Vereen? And for three days, every 20 seconds or 30 seconds, I had it burning in my brain and I would [jump] for three days. cedar park high school football coaches; chanson on va manger; volleyball clubs in pembroke pines; farewell message to my aunt who passed away. 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. Nancy BrunerBen Vereen / Wife (m. 19762012), October 10, 1946 (age 75years)Ben Vereen / Date of birth, Ben Vereen He was a dancer and a choreographer and authorities confirmed his death over the weekend after an extensive search. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Some of his other Broadway jobs included "Jelly's Last Jam," "Fosse," and "Chicago.". We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Few entertainers today are as accomplished or versatile as Ben Vereen. The entertainer Ben Vereen was critically injured early today when he was hit by a utility vehicle as he walked along a dark stretch of highway near his beach home in Malibu. Ben Vereen Jr. Vereena Sayed is 18 years old. Its hard sometimes because we deal with our human problems, but we must also remember we are really spiritual beings experiencing a human incarnation. The death of Vereen Jr. comes the same year his father landed a significant career milestone. Then you have a real shot at staying together.. At the age of 14, Vereen enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, where he studied under world-renowned choreographers Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins. Vereen Sr's career in entertainment spans over 50 years of theater, film and TV performances. Vereen is the godfather of R&B singer Usher and is also the first cousin once removed of former NFL running back Shane Vereen. Hours earlier, Mr. Vereen crashed his Corvette into a tree and was taken to a sheriff's station for sobriety tests, which he passed, said Deputy Larry Mead. Ben was at the height of his career and that was one heartache that he could not soothe on his own, so he started to heavily self medicate and he ultimately fell deep into his medication.. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries, "Ben Vereen Writes About 'Blood Family' in New Book", "When Ben Vereen Wore Blackface to Reagan's Inaugural Gala", "What Viewers Didn't See Changed Everything for Ben Vereen Cy Musiker", "Farr cancels, Vereen in at Putting on the Ritz Nov. 7", "Ben Vereen is revealed to be a bigamist", "Ben Vereen Allegedly Spent 36 Years Married to Two Women", "Ben Vereen Named Co-Artistic Director of Tampa's Broadway Theatre Project", "Ben Veeren files for divorce from wife of 36 years", "Democrats Hope to Get $6 Million in Telethon", "Ben Vereen Jr., Son of Tony Award-Winning Performer, has Died", "Broadway legend Ben Vereen accused of sexually assaulting and harassing actresses during production of 'Hair', "Broadway Star Ben Vereen Apologizes After Accusations of Sexual Harassment", http://www.lycos.com/info/ben-vereen--sweet-charity.html, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/vereen_b.html, Angels of Love Spiritual Center (Rev. While directing a community theater production of Hair in Florida in 2015, the Tony winner . He was reportedly a doting father who committed himself to his family. He returned to New York City to play Claude in Hair in the Broadway production, before joining the national touring company. Kat is super-evolved. In 2001, Medgar Evers College created the Ben Vereen Scholarship for the Performing Arts, and in 2004, he received an Achievement in Excellence Award from his alma mater, the High School of the Performing Arts. Vereen was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his performance in the Hallmark movie An Accidental Friendship. Meaning of Verena Verena means bringing victory (from ancient Greek phrein/ = to bring/to bear/to carry + nk/ = victory), true (from Latin verus), shy (from Latin vereri) and in Celtic white or wise. The universe, Ben says smiling, is very good.. His father found out Saturday he died. In 1992, Vareen Sr was critically injured after he was struck by a station wagon driven by Grammy-winning composer and producer David Foster on a Malibu, California, freeway. What happened to Ben Vereen? iSelect Smart 360 Term | Cover Till 99 yrs of Age. 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. While Nancy was uninjured, Naja wasn't so lucky. I never believed in flashbacks until that happened. Sorry, thats my wife, covering my ass, Foster chuckles. As for producer/composer David Foster, he had a tough time recovering after Vereens accident and he ultimately had to see a psychologist to help with the flashbacks of the accident. This week they celebrated their first wedding anniversary in pure classic COVID style at home. [19], Vereen was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on April 9, 2019. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Download it here. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St. Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago. The Vereen family lived in Essex, but the family can trace their roots much farther back. August 9, 2020. Sadly, this also isn't the first time that the Vereen family will suffer a loss. The role earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1973. Thank you to the public for loving my son. Deanne Holliday, a friend who was at the hospital awaiting updates on Mr. Vereen's condition, said he sometimes took predawn walks as exercise. In 2012, Vereen was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame. Is it time Harry & Meghan accept Clarkson's apology and move on? There are many trails to the top of the mountain but there is only one mountaintop. Your IP: Lets get up to the mountaintop together so we can all sing and dance. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. In 1992, Vereen suffered three accidents in one day, when his car hit a tree causing him to hit his head on the roof of his car, then he suffered a stroke while he was walking on a Malibu highway, apparently veering into the road where he was struck by a car driven by record producer David Foster. In 1987, Vereens daughter Naja was killed in a car accident at 16 years old. Vereen's wife, Nancy, escaped the deadly accident unscathed. [18], In September 2012, Vereen filed for divorce from his wife of 36 years, Nancy Bruner Vereen, citing irreconcilable differences. How did David Foster hit Ben Vereen? Retrieved October 22, 2020. He also has a brother, James Middleton, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. Photo about Ben Bereen greets people attending Broadway Barks s adoption fair. Every little tidbit of news we got [about Bens recovery] was like a feast. Two months after Bens accident, he called Foster and said David? Vereen graduated from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts. Benjamin Augustus Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer and singer. [21][non-primary source needed], His son, Ben Vereen Jr., died in 2020 at the age of 55. When the documentary Off the Record, about the life and career of super-producer David Foster, was about to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last year, Foster admittedly wished that some of the personal stuff including details of his several marriages and his parenting regrets hadnt made the cut. Contents 1 Early years 2 College career 2.1 College statistics 3 Professional career 3.1 New England Patriots I've finally found my family". 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". Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'1gBONguBQWxUHO7UB8Dj9Q',sig:'adY2jZT2lSK-Q8QG0aAFgTcaNl1a5lQu9RLFa2tRY8o=',w:'594px',h:'420px',items:'459395660',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); As for producer/composer David Foster, he had a tough time recovering after Vereens accident and he ultimately had to see a psychologist to help with the flashbacks of the accident. Ben Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer, and singer who has appeared in numerous Broadway theatre shows. NEW YORK - Film and theater actor Ben Vereen says his son has died. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; He left four children. Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! News Ben Vereen Cast in New TV Comedy Series The Tony winner will play a recurring role on Making History. When Vereen recovered, he began working toward turning the New York home he grew up in, into a drug rehab center for youths. 19762012 target_type: 'mix' Broadway legend Ben Vereen accused of sexually assaulting and harassing actresses during production of Hair . www.ny1.com. In 1993 he appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Interface" as the father of Roots co-star LeVar Burton's character Geordi La Forge; fellow Roots star Madge Sinclair appeared in the same episode as Geordi's mother. For the record, Elizondos father was Basque, born while his parents were on a boat, sailing from Spain to Argentina. }); Copyright 2015 . Shane Patrick-Henry Vereen (born March 2, 1989) is a former American football running back. His father, who's best known for his portrayal of "The Leading Player" in the original Broadway cast of Pippin, released a statement saying, "I am sorry to announce my son Benjamin A Vereen Jr., affectionately known as "Benji" passed away. Incredible price and value! In this excerpt from the Netflix documentary David Foster: Off the Record, music producer David Foster describes events leading up to the 1992 car accident in which he hit actor Ben Vereen. Ben Vereen and Ben Vereen Jr. Benjamin Vereen Jr., the son of Tony-winning actor Ben Vereen, has died at the age of 55. Vereen's four-week summer variety series, Ben Vereen Comin' At Ya, aired on NBC in August 1975 and featured regulars Lola Falana, Avery Schreiber and Liz Torres. According to reports, Benjamin Vereen Jr., who also went by the name "Benji," had been missing since July 27. The freak 1992 accident resulted in Vereen being critically injured and having to undergo months of rehabilitation, but unexpectedly, the crash ultimately saved Vereens life. Interviewer: So youre thankful if you learn how to swim early. Ben's son by his first wife, Benjamin "Benji" Vereen, Jr., 55, a dancer and choreographer, was found dead on 8 August 2020 after being missing from his home for several weeks. 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. Vereen explained how his daughter passed away on December 21, 1987, but he still had to put on a front for the world as he continue to do public appearances and performances. Vereen has also performed in one-man shows and actively lectures on black history and inspirational topics. Performance & security by Cloudflare. / . target_type: 'mix' Click to reveal Vereen Sr. and Nancy eventually got a divorce in 2012. Upon his graduation, he struggled to find suitable stage work and was often forced to take odd jobs to supplement his income. what happened to ben vereenwhere does jimmy and jane barnes live. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Vereen then had a stroke, suffered a brain injury as a result, and thats where he was forced to start pulling himself out of his addiction from the pain of losing Naja. Vereen confirmed his son's death in a statement on Tuesday, saying: "I am sorry to announce my son Benjamin A Vereen Jr., affectionately known as Benji passed away." Vereen was born Benjamin Augustus Middleton on October 10, 1946 in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Its always good to give praise and thanks. It was insane. Vereen has also 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. Their surname literally translates as from Ver. It could be geography, it could be finances, it can be children, it could be cheating. As the Me Too movement gained prominence, more than 250 powerful people celebrities, politicians, CEOs, and others were the subject of sexual harassment, assault, or other misconduct. Benjamin Augustus Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer and singer. The Vereen family lived in Essex, but the family can trace their roots much farther back. Ticker Tape by TradingView. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Figure Measurements , Size , Height & Weight :-. what happened to ben vereen what happened to ben vereen. [22], In January 2018, four actresses in a Florida production of Hair directed by Vereen in 2015 alleged that he sexually harassed them throughout the production. That hit hurled Vereen 40 feet in the air, he rolled for another 50, and then he landed on the road. bringing victory / Ben Vereen, best known for his role as "Chicken George" in Roots and as a superb Broadway dancer, revealed that he developed an extremely heavy cocaine addiction that was kicked into overdrive after the sudden death of his 16 year old daughter, Naja. Good hit! LOL. 202.153.111.46 Nancy was uninjured. 'Benji was a dancer and a choreographer with an extraordinary artistic talent and we will hold him in our hearts forever. Some in-stock items are in high demand. Thank you to the public for loving my son.'. And then three months later, as it says in the documentary, he called up and said, David Foster? I said, Yeah? He said, Man, that's one of your greatest hits ever! That just leveled it, made everything OK.. He returned in 2013 and 2014 for another two episodes. In 1992, Vereen suffered three accidents in one day, when his car hit a tree causing him to hit his head on the roof of his car, then he suffered a stroke while he was walking on a Malibu highway, apparently veering into the road where he was struck by a car driven by record producer David Foster. [23], According to the New York Daily News, "the women part of the Venice Theatre production outside of Tampa say Vereen forced unwanted kisses, hugged them aggressively, stripped naked during an acting exercise and made degrading comments about their weight, sex appeal and personal lives". He was the first simultaneous winner of the "Entertainer of the Year," Rising Star," and "Song and Dance Star" awards from the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com That same privacy was reflected in Vereen Sr.'s statement. to go deeper inside and try new things," states Ben. Ben Vereen Biography. Parts of this DVD can be viewed on popular . container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Copyright 2023 Fdotstokes.com Powered by Customify. Hes also accused of inappropriate talk and conduct during rehearsals that involved cast members stripping naked, ostensibly as preparation for a show that has, since its original 1967 production, been associated with a famous, full-cast nude scene. His first love and passion is and always will be the stage. But when we get the lessons, we can either lie there and pity ourselves in that place of pain or we can move on to the next lesson. By the following year, he was in Las Vegas, performing in Bob Fosse's production of Sweet Charity, a show with which he toured in 196768. | Photo: Getty Images. What happened to Ben Vereen? According to her acquaintances, Essie had gone on a trip when Vereen was a child, and had left her baby in someone's care. And they said it wouldnt last, Foster quips. "I've sort of. Early years. In 2010, he appeared on the television series How I Met Your Mother episodes "Cleaning House" and "False Positive" as Sam Gibbs, the long lost father of James Stinson, Barney Stinson's brother. Emma Chamberlain: Height Emma Chamberlain is 5ft 4. If it were up to meI know the impact of the pain I sufferedI would have said bye, but something greater than me said no.. Per reports, Vereen Sr. lost his daughter, Naja in a car crash back in 1987. For his humanitarian contributions, he has received a number of awards including Israel's Cultural and Humanitarian Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award and a Victory Award. Multiple women have accused Broadway actor Ben Vereen of sexual harassment and assault. Thus, he was led to a career in dance. Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com, Indiana woman, 73, dies in hospital after being rescued from rubble of her mobile home where she was found still clutching her four-year-old great-grandson who survived the powerful derecho that battered the Midwest, PICTURED: Cops release mugshot of DUI driver who jumped a curb, killing pregnant woman and leaving her baby born at 35 weeks in critical condition, Bungling helicopter pilot blows over stadium roof injuring eight. He also appeared on the television series The Nanny episode "Pishke Business". Benjamin Vereen Junior, who went by Benji, was a dancer and choreographer. 'Basically, it was an act of God that she wasnt injured,' said a state police spokeswoman at the time. Life is lived on very thin ice, and it all depends upon you. }); Copyright 2015 . Mr. Vereen's sister, Aixa Clemente, said after visiting him that he was expected to survive. In March, the Broadway Beacon Awards Gala honored Vereen Sr. with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Nancy Brunerm. Vereen had a thracheotomy inserted into his wind pipe to help him breathe and over that next year he had to learn to walk and feed himself again, but he pulled throughdrug-free. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. "We're encouraged at this point," Mr. Elbaum said, "but it's still very early.". By Actor. Vereen was probably still dazed from his earlier car accident that night and stumbled onto the road on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Foster swerved to avoid him, but Vereen darted out in the same direction of Fosters car, causing Foster to hit him. The younger Vereen had been missing since July 27. Who does Ben Vereen play in the good fight? ^ Ben Vereen Jr., Son of Tony Award-Winning Performer, has Died. Ben Vereen - Biography. His legendary performances transcend time and have been woven into the fabric of this country's artistic legacy. Vereen had a thracheostomy inserted into his wind pipe to help him breathe and over that next year he had to learn to walk and feed himself again, but he pulled throughdrug-free. The freak 1992 accident resulted in Vereen being critically injured and having to undergo months of rehabilitation, but unexpectedly, the crash ultimately saved Vereen's life. Ben Vereen, best known for his role as Chicken George in Roots and as a superb Broadway dancer, revealed that he developed an extremely heavy cocaine addiction that was kicked into overdrive after the sudden death of his 16 year old daughter, Naja. mililani high school stabbing. In the early morning hours of June 9, Vereen, now on foot, was accidentally struck by a small truck driven by composer David Foster on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. [5] He discovered he was adopted when he applied for a passport to join Sammy Davis Jr. on a tour of Golden Boy to London when he was 25. See the article in its original context from.
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