Ben Vereen talks playing Will Smith's deadbeat father on Questlove Supreme Podcast

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Ben Vereen joins Questlove Supreme with his daughter Kabara. What begins as a conversation about a legendary, award-winning career in theater, film, and television organically goes someplace much deeper. Ben Vereen shares discoveries about his identity and traces his knowledge of self while speaking about Roots, Sweet Charity, and his unforgettable appearance on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. This QLS episode is a powder keg of emotions, realizations, and timely calls for history and truth from one of our great elders, who is finishing his memoir.

(41:18):

Just right down to where you were you were born and you'll send you your birth certification. We've got the passport and you're gone. I said, okay, so right down to Florida, Miami. Fund I get this letter back saying we do not have a Benjamin Augustus Vereen born to an Essie Vereen, born to a Pauline Vereen. However, we do have a Benjamin Augustus Middleton born to an Essie Middleton on that date.

Ben Vereen tells Questlove and company his life story and details discovering he was adopted, meeting his biological mother and his family, not knowing who his biological father is, and the emotional toll playing Will Smith's father Lou Smith on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."