Ted Ross, actor, dies at 68 (S) Ted Ross, a television, movie and stage actor who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of the Cowardly Lion in ''The Wiz,'' died here on Tuesday. Mr. Ross, who moved here from Zanesville, Ohio, when he was 7, achieved his greatest acclaim onstage in a role that called to mind one of his earliest successes: when he was 18, he won $5 in an amateur-night contest by singing ''Somewhere Over the Rainbow'' from ''The Wizard of Oz. Stars jumped at the chance to honor those who came before them, and in the process, taught us about the fundamental contributions of black artists to the American theater. On television, he’s remembered for appearing in sitcoms like Benson, The Jeffersons, What’s Happening Now, The Cosby Show and A Different World. Ted wasn't a small guy, and for him to be floating on stage effortlessly let me know that I could do this, that there's room for me to be a big guy and do what I do. I loved him. Even now, whenever I get fearful or whenever I feel down, I still listen to, 'Be a Lion.'". Most kids were playing basketball or football, and I had conned my friends into playing The Wiz. Ted Ross, the big-voiced actor who won a Tony Award for playing The Cowardly Lion in the Broadway musical, Playbill Vault's Today in Theatre History: October 1, Celebrate Stage and Screen Star Julie Andrews With a Look at Her Greatest Performances. I really want to do something like that.

Photo measures 8 x 10. '', Mr. Ross had the recurring role of Dean Harris on both ''The Cosby Show'' and ''A Different World.'' Michael Ball, Lizzie Bea, and Marisha Wallace star in the production, set to begin in April 2021. He was born on June 30th, 1934 and his soul left on 3rd September 2002. When Ted did The Wiz, nobody expected it to work.

Ted Ross (June 30, 1934 – September 3, 2002) was born in Zanesville, Ohio. Sometimes we have to uproot ourselves to go live our dream. He won a Tony for that role and reprised his Lion in the 1978 film version starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor and Nipsey Russell. He had a stroke in 1998 and later moved into a nursing home. It was a dream come true. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. If we talk about who played the lion on the wiz, it will be none other than Ted Ross.

In honor of Black History Month, Broadway.com asked actors, directors and playwrights to tell us about black theater-makers who inspired them. See the article in its original context from. According to the wire service, Mr. Ross moved to Dayton from Zanesville when he was seven. Tony winners André De Shields, Rachel Bay Jones, Tony Shalhoub, Leslie Uggams, and more share titles from their recent reading lists. BROADWAY SHOWS SUSPENDED THROUGH JANUARY 3rd. He also appeared in many stage shows and films with famous actors like James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor, and Billie Dee Williams. The bill allocates $2.2 trillion across stimulus checks, increased unemployment benefits, and more.

The actors of the African American adaption of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. What To Do (Without Broadway! Mr. Ross, who also worked in film and TV, was 68 years old and had lived in a nursing home following a stroke in 1998. He, like Bert Lahr, is best known for his role as the Lion in The Wiz on Broadway( he won a tony award for it) and in the film adaptation along with Mabel King as Evillene. He died in Dayton, Ohio, where he grew up, in 2002 at the age of 68. He appeared in Purlie (1970, 1972), Raisin (1973) and, in 1975, joined the original cast of The Wiz on Broadway. His movie career also included parts in ''Ragtime,'' ''Amityville II,'' ''Police Academy,'' ''Stealing Home'' and ''The Fisher King. He was one of the first people I saw that made me say, 'Oh, wow. 1978 Press Photo Ted Ross Lion Courage Actor The Wiz - RRU57013 Ted Ross, as the Lion who is looking for courage, is often afraid of his own shadow as he eases down the road that winds through the fantastic, fun-filled and often awe-inspiring world of Oz in "The Wiz." PHOTO FRONT PHOTO BACK He was 68. Ted Ross as the Lion in the original Broadway production of "The Wiz. Ted Ross, 68, Actor; Starred in 'The Wiz'. And the fact that The Wiz was able to turn The Wizard of Oz on its head and say, 'Home is in you. He was an American actor and won the Tony award for this role. He also originated the role of Bobby in Memphis (2009) and is currently playing Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton. Cast members from the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical—including Lin-Manuel Miranda himself—offered a voter mobilization twist to the show’s lyrics on National Voter Registration Day.

Home is wherever you go,' as a black kid, that meant everything. When asked what black theater artist inspired him, Iglehart said Ted Ross, the Tony-winning actor who originated the role of the Lion on Broadway in The Wiz.

The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown.It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) in the context of contemporary African-American culture.It opened on October 21, 1974, at the Morris A. He played the role of the cowardly lion in both the original production of the film whereas in 1978 film version as well. On the Shelf: 27 Theatre Artists Reveal What They've Been Reading Since the Theatre Shutdown, How Robin De Jesús Defied Naysayers to Become a 3-Time Tony Nominee, Watch Vanessa Williams and Renée Fleming Perform Live Together at The Kennedy Center. Ted Ross, the big-voiced actor who won a Tony Award for playing The Cowardly Lion in the Broadway musical, The Wiz, died Sept. 3 at a Dayton, OH, hospital, according to The Associated Press. Can You Name These 15 Broadway Thrillers? But I got to play the Lion in 2009 at the New York City Center. André De Shields came backstage and said, 'You, sir, remind me of Ted,' and I almost lost my mind. But just imagine: Back in 1974, it was just The Wiz. Ted Ross, a television, movie and stage actor who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of the Cowardly Lion in ''The Wiz,'' died here on Tuesday. His films include "Arthur" (he was Dudley Moore's chauffeur, Bitterman), "Ragtime," "Police Academy," "Stealing Home" and "The Fisher King." All-Star Cast Set for Benefit Performance of Tony Kushner's, Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mandy Gonzalez & More. James Monroe Iglehart won a Tony in 2014 for originating the role of Genie in Aladdin on Broadway. It felt right. They broke the door down. Can You Guess These Musicals From Only Their Character Names? Every night I was basically a kid. To read the other entries in this series, click here. '", "I never got to meet him; he passed away before I got to Broadway. He was a recurring character, Dean Harris, on "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World" and was seen on series such as "Benson,""The Jeffersons" and "The Equalizer.". Iglehart on Ross: "When I was little, I watched this movie called The Wiz. Sometimes as an African American you feel isolated, and the sentiment that, 'You take home with you' will always have a special place. The Tony nominees performed an in-person concert September 26. Debbie Allen directs and choreographs the new movie, featuring 14 original songs by Parton. Test your knowledge of musical theatre characters both old and new with this challenging quiz. His 1975 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical helped land him the role in the 1978 film version of the stage show, a blues-and-gospel take of the L. Frank Baum classic, "The Wizard of Oz.". They'd put the lion makeup on me, and I was living this dream I once had. Sign up for exclusive discounts and save up to 50% on tickets! At age 18, he won $5 in an amateur-night contest, singing (ironically) "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (heard in the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz"). One the eve of the premiere of his star turn in Netflix’s. Ross, who was born in Ohio in 1934, made his Broadway debut in Oscar Brown Jr’s Buck White (1969). My mom even made a lion costume for me, and I sang, 'I'm a Mean Old Lion' at my church talent show. He won the Tony in 1975 for best supporting actor in a musical for his portrayal in ''The Wiz.'' I always played the Lion because I wanted to be like Ted. Performances of the virtual concert series will take place at The Shubert Virtual Studios on Manhattan’s West Side. There was Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, but the guy who changed everything for me was Ted Ross. Photo date is: 10/10/1978. I would even recreate The Wiz at my elementary school. '', He played the sensible chauffeur, Bitterman, to Dudley Moore's character in ''Arthur.'' ", "There was a swagger that Ted had to him. House Democrats Unveil Updated Heroes Act, Including $10 Billion Save Our Stages Stimulus for the Arts, Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis, More Star in Dolly Parton’s Netflix Movie Musical, Patti LuPone, Vanessa Williams, Laura Benanti Part of.

Copyright 1991-2020 © Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ted Ross, the big-voiced actor who won a Tony Award for playing The Cowardly Lion in the Broadway musical, The Wiz, died Sept. 3 at a Dayton, OH, hospital, according to The Associated Press. The Wiz (Original, Musical, Comedy, Broadway) opened in New York City Jan 5, 1975 and played through Jan 28, 1979. He appeared in many television shows, including ''Benson,'' ''The Jeffersons'' and ''The Equalizer.''. Mr. Ross reprised his role in the 1978 film and in its sequel. ): A Day-to-Day Schedule, The Great Work Begins! We talk about multiculturalism today, and we get so caught up in the amount of color that we see on Broadway.

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