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Your Ad Choices Vereen and Andrea Townsley married in 1965 when they were both still teenagers. The marriage, which produced son Ben Jr., lasted only a few years. Of modest beginnings, his father James was a factory worker and mother Pauline a maid and wardrobe mistress. This December, Nigerian Breweries through its brands is set to bring all the fun and excitement at Wonderland Lagos. -New York Times"The dramatic center is Ben Vereen's role as Lincoln Perry,the vaudeville performer who made his fortune in silent films and Depression-era talkies playing screen persona Stepin Fetchit, the quintessential negative stereotype of the shuffling, smiling, work-shirking NegroTapping all the undiminished charisma and limber body language of a veteran song-and-dance man, Vereen effortlessly sells the now-reviled representation of the black flunky while slyly asserting the cultured, savvy negotiator beneath; it's a performance of enormous charm and intelligence." At age 65, he is the youngest man performing today. His first attorney, John DiMascio, did not respond to messages seeking comment. Hennessey was unavailable to comment and Vereen did not return calls. He left four children. He flirted with off notes and inventive runs during classics such as "My Funny Valentine." In February of 2011, he released his CD Steppin' Out Live with Ben Vereen and staged a triumphant return to Broadway with his concert "BEN VEREEN ON BROADWAY AT TOWN HALL" . 47, Filing He has served on Ballet Florida's Board of Directors, the American Red Cross and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association. The Tony Award-winning Pippin actor married Andrea Townsley in 1965 when he was 19 and she was just 14 and pregnant with their son. They had been Brooklyn teenagers in love, then parents far too young, and briefly, a married couple: Ben Vereen and Andrea Townsley Vereen. That was more than 50 years ago. Wed met in choir, Mr. Vereen, the actor, singer and dancer, said this week. She was really cute, and she could sing. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. One review from Ben's show is featured below:"Ben Vereen's performance at The Town Hall on February 18th was a lesson in performance energy..a tour de force .Without a single synthesizer, with no voice tuner, with only an acoustic band, Vereen displayed shocking innovation.".." Spokane Office 601 West 1st Avenue, Ste 1402 Spokane, WA 99201-3825 TEL (509) 570-7448 In addition, Ben has been coaching the singing sensation Usher both as an entertainer and an actor. In 1972, Ben filed for divorce before he moved to Los Angeles and believed the action had been Vereen has stated that, at the time, he could not cope with his daughters death and wanted to take his own life, so he began dabbling with mind-numbing addictions that eventually took a dangerous toll on him. SEE ALSO: The Root Honors 100 Black Achievers, Influencers. Check out our New "Top 10 Hollywood Seductresses", No known Affairs for this Relationship. -The Star-LedgerAdditionally, Ben has a recurring role on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother, playing Wayne Brady's father. But in August 2015, Townsley contacted Vereen to tell him some shocking news when she applied for Social Security benefits she was told she was still married. Questions worth asking potential divorce mediators. His zodiac sign is Libra. He played "Chicken" George Moore--between the ages of 18 in 1824 and 64 in 1870-- in, Performing at the Very Special Arts Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC [June 2004], Portraying the Wizard in Broadway's Wicked. Andrea is now a pastor at her late father's church. "She was a good mother. So in September, he sued Townsley for divorce, again. The presiding judge, after questioning how both parties could forget they had gone through a divorce all those years ago leading to such a costly second lawsuit, considered the income of both parties and ordered Vereento pay a sum of $10,000, giving an August 15 deadline. All Rights Reserved. When was Vereen born? But Vereen was still on the hook. Ben and his band are currently touring his one man shows, "Ben Sings a Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. featuring the music of Sammy Davis Jr." and "Brooklyn to Broadway" at top performing arts centres. In 1972, Ben filed for divorce before he moved to Los Angeles and believed the action had been finalized. There's nothing like a live audience. 11, US District Court for the Western District of Washington. (grandchild). Ben was, Ben's Performing Arts High School classmates were. His strong sense of social consciousness has enabled him to reach out to his audiences and convey to them a deep feeling of understanding. Mom". The following documents for this case are available for you to view or download: Use the links below to access additional information about this case on the US Court's PACER system. Townsleythen requested $63,000 from Vereento pay for the legal fees his second request cost her. Andrea Townsley is currently available. Live stage is being made as you go along. Filing He appears in two soon to be released features, 21 and a Wake-Up starring Faye Dunaway andMama, I Want to Sing! Why is African-American actress and former model. His role in Pippin garnered him both the prestigious Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for "Best Actor in a Musical. Bishop Andrea Vereen performs in a play that she and her sister ValdennaTownsley Belton wrote and produced in a Harlem theatre. October 10, 1946 (age 75 years)Ben Vereen / Date of birth. Andrea Townsley is divorced from Ben Vereen. However, after his own diligent search, Townsleys attorney found the finalized divorce decree that had been granted in 1974. Ben Vereens Daughter, Karon Is An Artist. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, The Best Actors from Entertainment to Movies & Television, Darryl Vereen His first love and passion is and always will be the stage. Nancy and Ben Vereens daughter, Karon Vereen, co-founded Underground Museum with husband, Noah Davis. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in Cinematic Arts. Ben Vereens daughter, Karon is co-founded Underground Museum with her husband, Noah. In the early 90's, he released a number of well-received children's Sing-Along musical videos.Ben was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his performance in the Hallmark movie An Accidental Friendship. Ben's second wife Nancy Bruner was a dancer in the London production of "Golden Boy". He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St. Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago. American actor Ben Vereen is one of the most accomplished and versatile entertainers. That number led to court files and the 1974 final judgment of divorce for Benjamin A. Vereen and Andrea Townsley Vereen. They had been divorced for 42 years. 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All Rights Reserved, contacted Vereen to tell him some shocking news, Britney Spears acts 'manic' in restaurant as Sam Asghari 'storms out:' report, Lisa Marie Presley appeared unsteady at Golden Globes days before her death, Lisa Marie Presley dead at age 54 following cardiac arrest, Newly single Kendall Jenner wears sheer dress at Lori Harvey's birthday party, Kardashian despises Kanye's new 'wife': 'Kim hates pretty girls', Lisa Marie Presley's kids: Her 4 children and their fathers, 'Boy Meets World' star William Daniels had affair that left wife 'devastated', Listen to chilling 911 call ahead of Lisa Marie Presley's cardiac arrest, See first photos of new couple Selena Gomez and Drew Taggart on bowling date, Britney Spears pokes fun at 'manic' restaurant video: Best part 'was the pasta', I went to McDonalds drive-thru for lunch but left with bags of cash instead. Ben was featured in the movie, On The One - Preaching to the Choir directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. This Christmas Free Gift International Film and Theater Ministry will be staging an iconic stage play at the Muson Center, As we count down to the heart of the festive season, Nigerias premier brewing company, Nigerian Breweries, is going all About 250 entrepreneurs, investors, influencers, and government leaders took part in the investment-focused Innovators Gathering, honouring the influx of two-way 2020 - brandiq.com.ng. The marriage, which produced son Ben Jr., lasted only a Why Famous: N/A. The stage sharpens the creative instrument and encourages you to go deeper inside and try new things," states Ben.On Broadway, Ben Vereen has appeared in Wicked, Fosse, I'm Not Rappaport, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin,Grind, Jelly's Last Jam and A Christmas Carol. While Vereen was married once to Andrea Townsley back in 1966, theres now talk that there could be someone else waiting in the wings for the veteran performer. 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