EARLY PROMISE

Raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Vereen got his first professional role at age 18. Soon, he was Sammy Davis, Jr.'s understudy in "Golden Boy." He toured with "Sweet Charity," and served as a replacement in the blockbuster "Hair," in 1969.

In 1973, Vereen won a Tony award for his electrifying portrayal of Leading Player in "Pippin." He went on to star in "Jelly's Last Jam," "Chicago," "I'm Not Rappaport," "Fosse," "Wicked," and "A Christmas Carol."

Vereen has been successful in TV and film, as well. He earned two Emmy nominations, including one in 1977 for his portrayal of "Chicken George" in the mini-series "Roots." In 1978, he won an Emmy for his musical special "Ben Vereen...His Roots.”

Vereen also has co-starred, had recurring roles or featured appearances in dozens of TV shows, including "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe," "Webster," and "Touched by an Angel." Among his big-screen credits: the blockbuster "All that Jazz."

Realizing what matters

While Vereen's professional life has been successful by any measure, he has known both joy and tragedy in his personal life.

He's been married twice and has four children. In 1987, however, he experienced the devastation of losing a child, when his 16-year-old daughter, Naja, was killed in a car accident. In 1992, Vereen himself suffered life-threatening head injuries and endured extensive rehabilitation after an accident in which he was hit by a van.

Since those difficult days, Vereen has come to realize that his life's work involves more than just entertainment. In 2006, he became an ordained minister, and is now a motivational speaker who spends much of his time helping others.

A Transcendent Moment

Celebrate with Style^TM asked Vereen if, looking back on his amazing professional and personal triumphs, he could recall one special occasion that stands out most in his mind.

He answered with the conviction of someone who has experienced the best—and worst—that life has to offer:

"I'd say that for anyone who has children, becoming a parent is the single most important event in life. However, if I had to pick one memorable special occasion, it would be in 1972, when I learned I'd received my first nomination for a Tony Award, for 'Jesus Christ Superstar.'

"At the time, I didn't pay much attention to the Tony Awards," he says. "That's not why I had entered show business. I did it because I was blessed with a God-given talent. I love doing what I do.

"But I'll never forget that moment," he continues. "I was at home. A gentleman knocked on my door. He said, 'You have an envelope.' I replied, 'OK.' He said, 'No, you have an envelope." Again, I said, 'OK.' Then he said, 'You don't understand. You have an envelope. This is the envelope.'

"I took it, opened it, and started reading what was inside. It said I had been nominated for a Tony Award by my peers, by a voting committee, and so on. I thought, 'Wow! Somebody likes me. They think my work is good enough to nominate me.'

"I didn't get the Tony that year," he says, smiling warmly as he recalls the early days of his incredible career. "Larry Blyden won for 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.'

"But it truly didn't matter to me," he reflects. "When members of the Tony committee later told me they had hoped I would win, I told them, 'I did win. You invited me to the party.'"