Ben Vereen Biography

Fast Facts

• His work with such organizations as the American Red Cross, the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association and the American Heart Association has earned him numerous humanitarian awards, including an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award
• Performed in local variety shows in his youth and enrolled in the High School of Performing Arts when he was 14, but had difficulty finding work after graduation and was forced to take odd jobs
• Is an accomplished singer and dancer, but also an actor capable of delivering layered, nuanced performances without the theatricals of a musical
• His foremost passion is the stage, as he credits it with teaching him discipline, dedication and an appreciation for hard work
• In 1989, he started an organization called "Celebrities for a Drug Free America," which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for drug rehabilitation centers
• Is a motivational speaker, covering such topics as overcoming adversity, arts in education, Black history, recovery through physical and occupational therapy and the importance of continuing education