Ben Vereen is an American actor, dancer, and singer who has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1960s. He is best known for his Tony Award-winning performance in the Broadway musical Pippin and for his role as Chicken George in the miniseries Roots. He has also appeared in films such as Sweet Charity, Funny Lady, and All That Jazz. Vereen has won numerous awards for his work, including a Drama Desk Award, an Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.