We talk about multiculturalism today, and we get so caught up in the amount of color that we see on Broadway. 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. They'd put the lion makeup on me, and I was living this dream I once had. 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. Mr. Ross reprised his role in the 1978 film and in its sequel. '', He played the sensible chauffeur, Bitterman, to Dudley Moore's character in ''Arthur.'' 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.". 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. '', Mr. Ross had the recurring role of Dean Harris on both ''The Cosby Show'' and ''A Different World.'' He was one of the first people I saw that made me say, 'Oh, wow.

Ross, who was born in Ohio in 1934, made his Broadway debut in Oscar Brown Jr’s Buck White (1969).

But I got to play the Lion in 2009 at the New York City Center. And the fact that The Wiz was able to turn The Wizard of Oz on its head and say, 'Home is in you. Performances of the virtual concert series will take place at The Shubert Virtual Studios on Manhattan’s West Side. 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." All-Star Cast Set for Benefit Performance of Tony Kushner's, Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mandy Gonzalez & More. If we talk about who played the lion on the wiz, it will be none other than Ted Ross. André De Shields came backstage and said, 'You, sir, remind me of Ted,' and I almost lost my mind. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. He played the role of the cowardly lion in both the original production of the film whereas in 1978 film version as well. 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. To read the other entries in this series, click here. It felt right. I really want to do something like that. Home is wherever you go,' as a black kid, that meant everything. Photo measures 8 x 10. ): A Day-to-Day Schedule, The Great Work Begins! 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. Even now, whenever I get fearful or whenever I feel down, I still listen to, 'Be a Lion.'". Can You Name These 15 Broadway Thrillers? I always played the Lion because I wanted to be like Ted.

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See the article in its original context from. On television, he’s remembered for appearing in sitcoms like Benson, The Jeffersons, What’s Happening Now, The Cosby Show and A Different World. Sometimes we have to uproot ourselves to go live our dream. Can You Guess These Musicals From Only Their Character Names?

He won the Tony in 1975 for best supporting actor in a musical for his portrayal in ''The Wiz.'' Sign up for exclusive discounts and save up to 50% on tickets! ", "There was a swagger that Ted had to him. He appeared in Purlie (1970, 1972), Raisin (1973) and, in 1975, joined the original cast of The Wiz on Broadway.

Tony winners André De Shields, Rachel Bay Jones, Tony Shalhoub, Leslie Uggams, and more share titles from their recent reading lists. Most kids were playing basketball or football, and I had conned my friends into playing The Wiz. He also originated the role of Bobby in Memphis (2009) and is currently playing Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton.

But just imagine: Back in 1974, it was just The Wiz.

His movie career also included parts in ''Ragtime,'' ''Amityville II,'' ''Police Academy,'' ''Stealing Home'' and ''The Fisher King. There was Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, but the guy who changed everything for me was Ted Ross.

The Tony nominees performed an in-person concert September 26. One the eve of the premiere of his star turn in Netflix’s.

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"). I would even recreate The Wiz at my elementary school. 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. '", "I never got to meet him; he passed away before I got to Broadway. I loved him. Copyright 1991-2020 © Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In honor of Black History Month, Broadway.com asked actors, directors and playwrights to tell us about black theater-makers who inspired them. 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. 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. When Ted did The Wiz, nobody expected it to work. 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.

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. Ted Ross, 68, Actor; Starred in 'The Wiz'. 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 was an American actor and won the Tony award for this role. PHOTO FRONT PHOTO BACK 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.