Born Benjamin Augustus Middleton on the 10th October 1946 in Miami, Florida, he is an actor, dancer and singer, best known to the world for appearing in a number of Broadway theatre shows such as “Hair” (1968), “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1971-1973), “Pippin” (1972-1974), and “Wicked” (2005-2006), among others.
Have you ever wondered how rich Ben Vereen is, as of mid-2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Ben Vereen`s net worth is as high as $5 million, an amount earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry. Apart from stage, Ben has appeared in over 70 film and TV titles, which have also improved his net worth.
Ben Vereen Net Worth $5 Million
Ben was adopted by James Vereen and his wife Pauline, however, he had no idea about his adoption until he was 25, when he discovered by chance. He grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, New York City; even in elementary school, Ben showcased his talent for drama and dance, and was often a participant in local variety shows. He enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, and was taught by Martha Graham, Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine. After he finished high school, Ben found it hard to make his stage debut, and did several part-time jobs in order to survive. His debut eventually came in 1965 in “The Prodigal Son”, at the Greenwich Mews Theater. Since then, he has appeared in a number of Broadway productions, including “Hair” (1968), “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1971-1973), ‘Pippin” (1972-1974), “Grind” (1985), “Jelly`s Last Jam” (1992-1993), “Chicago” (1999), and “Wicked” (2005-2006), among others, all of which increased his net worth by a large margin, but also boosted his popularity.
Thanks to the initial success on stage, Ben managed to launch a career behind cameras, and he made a debut in the film “Sweet Charity” in 1969. During the 1970s he had several notable roles, including the one as Louis Armstrong in “Louis Armstrong – Chicago Style” (1976), and as O`Connor Flood in “All That Jazz” (1979). Ben continued successfully through the 1980s, appearing in several films and TV series that would achieve some success, both financially and artistically. In the 1980s he appeared as E.L. ‘Tenspeed’ Turner in “Tenspeed And Brown Shoe”, and from 1983 until 1985 he was Uncle Phillip Long in “Webster”. In 1985 he was cast in the film “Lost In London” (1985), and the following year played Mayor Ben in the TV series “Zoobilee Zoo”. By the end of the 1980s, he had also appeared in “J.J. Starbuck” in 1988, and a year before he played Shaka in “Buy & Sell”, featuring Robert Carradine in the lead role.
In 1991 he was selected for the role of Captain Ben Hutchinson in “Silk Stalkings”, and stayed on the show until 1993. During the 1990s, he only had brief roles in TV series, such as “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1993), “The Nanny” (1994), “New York Undercover” (1995), “Touched By An Angel” (1996), and “Soldier of Fortune, Inc” (1998), among others, all of which added to his net worth. He also appeared in films “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” (1998), and “I`ll Take You There” (1999).
His next notable role was in the film “The Painting” in 2001, and in “Feast of All Saints” (2001). Five years later, he featured in “Idlewild”, and in 2009 he appeared in the films “Tapioca” and “21 and a Wake-Up”. Two years later, Ben`s net worth increased thanks to his appearance in the film “Mama I Want To Sing”, and from 2010 until 2014 he appeared in several episodes of the popular TV series “How I Met Your Mother”, as Sam Gibbs. To speak further of his accomplishments, in 2014 he was a cast member of the film “Top Five”, with Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson in lead roles, and in “Time Out Of Mind” with the likes of Richard Gere and Jena Malone. Most recently he was selected to appear in the film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again”, which is currently in post-production, and is scheduled for release in 2016.
During his career, he has received numerous prestigious awards, for both stage and television work, including a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for “Pippin”, and two Golden Globe nominations for “Ellis Island” (1984), and “Funny Lady” (1975), among others.
Regarding his personal life, Ben was married to Nancy Burner for 36 years, before they divorced in 2012; the couple had five children, however, their daughter Naja died when she was 16, after a truck overturned on her car.
Ben is also known as a philanthropist, serving as public speaker on several topics, including black history, education, among others. He has been rewarded numerous times, including the Lifeline Celebration Achievement Award, given by The Community Mental Health Council, an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, and many others.
