19762012 does cesium and strontium form an ionic compound; college of idaho basketball: roster; bradford exchange mail order catalog Medical Center. BV: (laughs) Yes. The stage and screen actor, best known for his Tony-winning turn as The Leading Player in the musical Pippin, concluded his announcement by asking the public to allow his family to 'mourn this privately.'. 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. Laurinburg, , iloveoldschoolmusic.com. For the record, Elizondos father was Basque, born while his parents were on a boat, sailing from Spain to Argentina. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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 appeared in the Broadway musical Wicked as the Wizard of Oz in 2005. The universe, Ben says smiling, is very good.. For example, two of the actresses said he privately lured them on separate occasions to his Florida rental home. [18], In September 2012, Vereen filed for divorce from his wife of 36 years, Nancy Bruner Vereen, citing irreconcilable differences. Frederick Douglass That hit hurled Vereen 40 feet in the air, he rolled for another 50, and then he landed on the road. Throughout Vereen Sr.'s career, he has landed some incredible roles. I thought I was going to go to the hospital.. Benjamin Vereen Junior, who went by Benji, was a dancer and choreographer. Benjamin Augustus Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer and singer. Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com I know what you've been telling me for the last couple of years about what makes a great documentary. The Vereen family lived in Essex, but the family can trace their roots much farther back. Thank you to the public for loving my son. His mother was Puerto Rican, daughter of a land-owning family. [6] He was raised Pentecostal.[7]. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. producer David Foster Cloudflare Ray ID: 78ba390cb8be24bf 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. Per reports, Vereen Sr. lost his daughter, Naja in a car crash back in 1987. 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.. 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. Benji was a dancer and a choreographer with an extraordinary artistic talent and we will hold him in our hearts forever. Actor Ben Vereen has been accused of sexual harassment by several actresses he worked with during the Florida-based Venice Theatre's production of the musical "Hair" in 2015. }); Copyright 2015 . California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Daily News published cast members' claims that he used his position of authority as a director and mentor to pressure them to engage him in unwanted sexual interactions. He portrayed as Peter in the CBS comedy series B Positive. Dancer. But after Vereen was taken to the hospital, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed and intervened just in the nick of time. According to The Fayetteville Observer of April 29, 2006, Vereen learned while applying for a passport in the late 1960s that he was adopted. "I've sort of. ), McPhee is 34 years younger than Foster and is his fifth wife, but against all odds, their union seems to be going strong so far. The eldest son and namesake of Tony Award-winning actor Ben Vereen has died under unknown circumstances at age 55, two weeks after he went missing. Its always good to give praise and thanks. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Benjamin Vereen Junior, who went by Benji, was a dancer and choreographer. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', The driver of the vehicle told deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that he had seen a man walking in the roadway and had slammed on his brakes and swerved toward the right shoulder to try to avoid hitting him. 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. 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. Giving praise is not a religious thing, its a spiritual thing. [21][non-primary source needed], His son, Ben Vereen Jr., died in 2020 at the age of 55. Ben Vereen and Ben Vereen Jr. Benjamin Vereen Jr., the son of Tony-winning actor Ben Vereen, has died at the age of 55. target_type: 'mix' Ben Vereen Biography. , updated You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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. and Nancy eventually got a divorce in 2012. According to reports, Benjamin Vereen Jr., who also went by the name "Benji," had been missing since July 27. And they said it wouldnt last, Foster quips. Fosters documentary is full of fascinating stories about Streisand, Houston, and more as is Yahoo Entertainments extended interview with Foster and Avrich below, in which the producer/songwriter/musician reminisces about working with those artists as well as with Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Neil Young, and Chicago, and on the iconic score for another must-see film, St. Elmos Fire. Its hard sometimes because we deal with our human problems, but we must also remember we are really spiritual beings experiencing a human incarnation. 202.153.111.46 There's so many things. "The theater was my first training ground. 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. It could be geography, it could be finances, it can be children, it could be cheating. In 2012, Vereen was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame. Sadly, this also isn't the first time that the Vereen family will suffer a loss. Life is lived on very thin ice, and it all depends upon you. Vereen is the godfather of R&B singer Usher and is also the first cousin once removed of former NFL running back Shane Vereen. When Vereen recovered, he began working toward turning the New York home he grew up in, into a drug rehab center for youths. 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.. The vehicle that struck and critically injured the entertainer Ben Vereen along a highway near his house in early morning darkness was driven by David Foster, a music producer who has won six Grammy awards, the authorities said today. Mr. Vereen was injured as he walked along the Pacific Coast Highway near his Malibu home early Tuesday when he was struck by a Chevrolet Suburban driven by Mr. Foster, the police said. Who was driving the car that hit Ben Vereen? We would appreciate allowing our family to mourn this privately.". In Off the Record, the loyal McPhee grants several incredibly open and candid interviews, as Avrich puts it, about her relationship struggles with Foster whom she first met 14 years ago when, ironically, he was a guest mentor on a Greatest Love Songs episode of her American Idol season and she sang a ballad Foster had written for his third wife Linda Thompson, I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston. 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. In 1976, Vereen appeared as a guest star on the first season of The Muppet Show, singing two songs. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. 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. 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. Roger Daltrey talks Teen Cancer America, 'Tommy' anniversary, and the 'terrible loneliness' of his teen years, Giles Martin on the Fab Fours breakup, 50 years later: You actually wonder if the Beatles could have sustained themselves, John Lydon opens up about devotion to wife of 40 years and her Alzheimer's battle: 'Once I make the commitment, its forever', Debbie Allen recalls the grittiness of Fame, 40 years later: It was not a Disney movie, Rick Springfield reminisces about his famous working class dog: 'It was love at first sight'. The performance generated controversy as Vereen performed the first part of the show in blackface. 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. 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. He left four children. 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. Vereen confirmed his sons death in a statement on Tuesday, saying: I am sorry to announce my son Benjamin A Vereen Jr., affectionately known as Benji passed away.. | Photo: Getty Images. 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. The driver, whose name was not disclosed, was not injured. Getty Images. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. The authorities said they did not know why he had been walking on the highway at that hour. 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'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'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. Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! We sat in a screening room together in the dark and I said, I'm really nervous. And then he put me at a level of comfort. 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. While still an infant, Vereen and his family relocated to the . Per reports, he said: "Benji was a dancer and a choreographer with an extraordinary artistic talent, and we will hold him in our hearts forever We would appreciate allowing our family to mourn this privately.". What does a Grade 3 heart murmur mean in cats? He played college football for the California Golden Bears . Image of entertainment, rescue, barks - 25756641 David Foster The Pippin DVD, 2000 Special Edition copy, is an updated version of the 1981 performance, directed by David Sheehan with electric actors like Ben Vereen and William Katt playing two major roles, among the other incredible actors. 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. Age difference, which we clearly have, is one of the 10 but the other nine are solid. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The role earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1973. Then you have a real shot at staying together.. LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Grammy-winning composer and producer David Foster was at the wheel of the station wagon that hit Ben Vereen as the entertainer walked along a highway in the middle of the night. 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. (We always stayed in touch and worked together, at charity events, but you know, I was married, she was married and we behaved, Foster says with a grin. Vereen Sr's life has been punctuated by tragic events, beginning with the death of his 16-year-old daughter, Naja, who was killed in December 1987 when a minivan driven by her mother was crushed by a tractor-trailer that toppled onto a New Jersey highway ramp. 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. Backorders are accepted, expect delivery in 14 days. "Unfortunately," said Deputy Angie McLaughlin, "the pedestrian ran in the same direction and was hit by the left front area of the Suburban." Vereen graduated from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts Vereen was born Benjamin Augustus Middleton on October 10, 1946, in Miami, Florida. ^ a b Bitette, Nicole; Dillon, Nancy (January 5, 2018). NEW YORK - Film and theater actor Ben Vereen says his son has died. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In nearly 50 documentaries, I've never been so nervous in my life to show a film, director Barry Avrich tells Yahoo Entertainment. / . His 16-year-old daughter, Naja, was killed in an auto accident in 1987[15] on the New Jersey Turnpike when a truck overturned on her car. You never know when the ice is going to break and theyll have to reach down there to pull you back. Vereen was born Benjamin Augustus Middleton on October 10, 1946, in Miami, Florida. Tony-winning actor Ben Vereen reveals his son Benjamin Vereen Jr, has died aged 55 - two weeks after he went missing Ben Vereen, 73, said he learned of son Benjamin Vereen Jr's death on. Vereen Jr. was 55 years old at the time of his death. In 1987, Vereens daughter Naja was killed in a car accident at 16 years old. }); Copyright 2015 . In 2011, he was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.[25]. Naja was driving with her mother, Nancy, on a New Jersey highway when a tractor-trailer crashed into them. Nancy BrunerBen Vereen / Wife (m. 19762012), October 10, 1946 (age 75years)Ben Vereen / Date of birth, Ben Vereen 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. While on the trip he learned his mother had died 24 years before, but that several relatives still lived in the area." We were friends, and his recovery was my recovery. "[24], Vereen has since apologized for his misconduct.[24]. 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. Early years. 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. [L] Ben Vereen; [inset photo] Ben and daughter, NajaFive years later, he too, almost died of the same fate as his daughter. In March, the Broadway Beacon Awards Gala honored Vereen Sr. with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In prior interviews with People Magazine and Ability Magazine, the details and hardships that followed Vereen were revealed. Deanne Holliday, a friend who was at the hospital awaiting updates on Mr. Vereen's condition, said he sometimes took predawn walks as exercise. Vereen graduated from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts. 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 . Sneaky Pete (TV Series 20152019) Ben Vereen as Porter IMDb. -ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view. to go deeper inside and try new things," states Ben. Incredible musical, the actors are dazzling. Best Review Site for Digital Cameras. The Community Mental Health Council awarded Vereen with their 2004 Lifeline Celebration Achievement Award. / Vereen Sr. gave a statement about his son's passing to NY1, saying, "I am sorry to announce my son Benjamin A Ver Vereen Jr. leaves behind a wife and three children three sons and a daughter. The Vereen family has suffered some losses in the past. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'m8wrJUw3RYdpGmhe7il5bA',sig:'bJlz77wVr5yOcqLjCIpS-WnqkIQBJyCqk4wTIKWQ-jE=',w:'485px',h:'594px',items:'450332498',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); 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. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Ben Vereen shot to Broadway stardom with his starring role as Leading Player in Bob Fosse 's 1972 show Pippin, which won Vereen a Tony Award as best actor in a musical. [10] In May 2006, he met his mother's daughter (his sister), Gloria Lewis-Walker, of Derby, Connecticut.[11][12][13]. www.ny1.com. 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). Before the finale, ABC cut the live performance, generating confusion and anger from viewers at home. Thus, he was led to a career in dance. cedar park high school football coaches; chanson on va manger; volleyball clubs in pembroke pines; farewell message to my aunt who passed away. Grahame PrattLeslie Uggams / Husband (m. 1965). He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. While directing a community theater production of Hair in Florida in 2015, the Tony winner . Kat is super-evolved. Five years later, he too, almost died of the same fate as his daughter. His daughter died when she was 16, and Vereen himself was critically injured when he was hit by a car. -ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. After visiting Vereen in the hospital several times, David Foster ended up writing a song for Ben titled, Live Each Day.. Ben Vereen. 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. Vereen is the godfather of R&B singer Usher and is also the first cousin once removed of former NFL running back Shane Vereen. That evening, his act goes down a storm ("The Joint is Jumping"). iloveoldschoolmusic.com. Ben Vereen became a famously versatile song-and-dance man, a stage star who appeared occasionally in feature films and television. African-American actress and former model Cicely Tyson took him under her wing when he was only 18. Lets get up to the mountaintop together so we can all sing and dance. 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. Vereen has appeared as a public speaker and humanitarian speaking on such topics as black history, overcoming adversity, and the importance of continuing education. Vereen Jr. lived knowing that his father was an astonishing musical talent. There are many trails to the top of the mountain but there is only one mountaintop. [19], Vereen was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on April 9, 2019. He also appeared as Mayor Ben (a leopard) on the children's program Zoobilee Zoo and as Itsy Bitsy Spider in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. Investigators said they did not know whether there was any connection between the accidents. Vereen was the keynote speaker for the Boys & Girls Clubs in St. Petersburg, Florida annual alumni tribute gala held in October 2007. And for three days, every 20 seconds or 30 seconds, I had it burning in my brain and I would [jump] for three days. 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). Vereen Sr.'s work in "Pippin" also earned him a Drama Desk Award the same year. He also has a brother, James Middleton, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. So let's roll.. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Heis survived by sons Oliver, Caleb and Noah, and daughter Serina. Ben Vereen Jr. / Ben Vereen and Ben Vereen Jr. Benjamin Vereen Jr., the son of Tony-winning actor Ben Vereen, has died at the age of 55. 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. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. 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. BBC Breakfast celebrates forty years of hilarious bloopers, Royal Family will find it 'impossible' to compromise with Sussexes, Ken Bruce will be joining the Greatest Hits Radio family in April, As it happened: UK Government blocks Scotland's new gender law, Russian pro-war fanatic warns Britain could be 'wiped off the map', Extinction Rebellion douse the Home Office building in black paint, Motorists slowly drive down snowy hill in treacherous conditions, Harrowing moment woman begs father not to kill himself, Shamima Begum never considered turning back during journey to ISIS, Kamala opts out of kneeling with Biden for Warriors photo op. He also earned a coveted spot in the Casino Legends Hall of Fame. He was born and raised in New York. This week they celebrated their first wedding anniversary in pure classic COVID style at home. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He said My recovery was totally tied into Bens. Naja was killed in a car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike when a truck overturned on her car one night in 1987. Retrieved October 22, 2020. What happened to Ben Vereen? 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. Multiple women have accused Broadway actor Ben Vereen of sexual harassment and assault. [2][3][4] While still an infant, Vereen and his family relocated to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City. Ben Vereen, most famous for his role as the Leading Player in the original Pippin, will soon hit the small screen. Copyright 2023 Fdotstokes.com Powered by Customify. In August 2011, Vereen was named Co-Artistic Director of Tampa's Broadway Theatre Project. How did David Foster hit Ben Vereen? houses for rent in akron, ohio under $700; new businesses coming to nicholasville, ky; what happened to mark alford fox 4 news; ex police dogs scotland; 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. Hours earlier, Mr.. He was not charged. They were originally from Ver, near Bayeux, Normandy where it was from the local form of this place-name, de Ver. how to make plumeria oil; esthetician room for rent. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ZVL__rt7QiZm0xm1eu-CxQ',sig:'hZW63zVHusypvvhtM7PehPZF-LkSOUJJpJnQizA9GqI=',w:'594px',h:'420px',items:'459395660',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); 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. Parts of this DVD can be viewed on popular . 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. One of those appearances being just about a week and a half after Najas tragic death: On New Years Eve I was wishing the world a Happy New Years (on a New Years Day TV show) and I was dying inside. According to reports, Benjamin Vereen Jr., who also went by the name "Benji," had been missing since July 27. The 73-year-old Broadway veteran released a statement on Wednesday, announcing the tragic passing of Benjamin Vereen Jr. 'I am sorry to announce my son Benjamin A Vereen Jr., affectionately known as Benji passed away,' the elder Vereen stated, as first reported by Spectrum News. was 55 years old at the time of his death, honored Vereen Sr. with its Lifetime Achievement Award. 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. 22:19 GMT 19 Aug 2020. Vereen's wife, Nancy, escaped the deadly accident unscathed. There are many trails to the top of the mountain but there is only one mountaintop. Who does Ben Vereen play in the good fight? 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. Download it here. 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? Know when the ice is going to break and theyll have to reach down there to pull you back celebrated... The last couple of years about what makes a great documentary life lived... Musical in 1973 archive, before the finale, ABC cut the live performance, generating confusion and from! 1987, Vereens daughter Naja was killed in a car crash back 1987. Theater was my recovery is going to break and theyll have to reach down there to pull you back an!, sailing from Spain to Argentina still lived in Essex, but family! Dailymail.Com I know what you 've been telling me for the California Bears! 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