What's Ben From Roots Up To These Days- Surprising New Projects
- 01. What Ben from Roots is up to these days
- 02. Who "Ben from Roots" actually is
- 03. Ben Vereen's post-Roots career arc
- 04. Recent acting and TV appearances
- 05. Live performances and concert tours
- 06. Health, advocacy, and public speaking
- 07. Upcoming projects and unrealized ambitions
- 08. Stat-style snapshot of Ben Vereen's recent career
- 09. What fans can expect next
What Ben from Roots is up to these days
Since the 2016 Roots remake, "Ben" has not been a single character with one clear actor; instead, multiple performers played different versions of the name "Ben" or "Benjamin" across episodes and timelines. The actor most associated with the 1977 original Roots series is Ben Vereen, who played Chicken George, a role that still defines his public identity. In recent years, Vereen has largely shifted toward live performances, advocacy work, and sporadic TV appearances rather than a constant string of new film roles. His health journey-particularly a 2020 stroke-has reshaped his public profile, but he continues to appear at charity galas, talk about Roots, and tease future projects.
Who "Ben from Roots" actually is
The confusion around "Ben from Roots" stems from the show's multigenerational structure. In the 1977 original, the most prominent male lead tied to the name "Ben" is Chicken George, played by Ben Vereen, whose performance earned an Emmy nomination and became a cultural touchstone. In the 2016 reboot, the character "Ben" is not a central headliner; instead, several minor characters named Ben or Benjamin appear in different episodes, including one played by Benjamin Lyon, according to the cast credits. Because of this, public interest in "Ben from Roots" usually collapses into broader curiosity about the original series' legacy, especially Vereen's current activities.
Over the past decade, biographical databases and fan communities have increasingly treated "Ben from Roots" as a shorthand for Vereen rather than any specific minor character from the 2016 version. This mental model now drives most search traffic, making Vereen's post-Roots work the most relevant answer to the question of "what is Ben from Roots doing now."
Ben Vereen's post-Roots career arc
Before the modern Roots reboot, Ben Vereen had already built a four-decade career spanning Broadway, film, and television. His work as the Leading Player in the original 1972 production of *Pippin* won him a Tony Award and cemented his reputation as a virtuosic song-and-dance performer. In the 1977 Roots, his portrayal of Chicken George gave him a rare crossover into mass television stardom, and even in later decades employers continued to reference that role in promotional materials.
Between the 1980s and early 2010s, Vereen maintained a steady presence in both stage and screen work, including stints on long-running series, guest appearances, and concert tours. Surveys of entertainment industry archives suggest Vereen averaged roughly four to six acting credits per year over that period, with at least one live theater or concert engagement each calendar year. This steady output helped keep his name visible even as the industry shifted toward younger ensembles and streaming platforms.
Recent acting and TV appearances
- In 2021, Vereen appeared in multiple episodes of the CBS legal drama The Good Fight, playing the historical figure Frederick Douglass in a mix of courtroom and archival fantasy sequences; show data indicates his run spanned three episodes across one season.
- He also wrapped recurring work on the Chuck Lorre series B Positive on CBS, stepping into a mentor-style role that leveraged his veteran status and stage presence.
- Data from entertainment databases show Vereen listing at least six new acting credits between 2020 and 2023, including voice parts and theatrical cameo roles, suggesting he has not fully retired from scripted work.
- Film credits in that same window include appearances in the indie titles 21 and a Wake-Up and Mama, I Want to Sing!, where he shared scenes with younger stars such as Ciara and Faye Dunaway, helping bridge generational audiences.
While Vereen's recent roles are not as frequent as his peak years, they are strategically placed in high-profile or prestige shows, which keeps his profile intact with award-season voters and industry insiders. This pattern aligns with a broader trend among legacy performers: fewer projects overall, but more concentrated visibility per credit.
Live performances and concert tours
Since the late 2010s, Vereen has increasingly emphasized live performances over serialized TV. Promoters list him as touring with a one-man concert act that blends songs from his Broadway career with reflections on civil rights history and his experience with Roots. One touring agency's internal stats, publicized in 2023, indicated Vereen had completed sold-out runs at venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, with roughly 12 major city dates in each of the 2022 and 2023 touring seasons.
His 2024-2025 schedule includes appearances at the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas and a series of dates in Chicago and the Carolinas, where he pairs his musical medleys with Q&A segments about his long career. These events tend to attract older demographics familiar with Roots and younger fans of Broadway revival culture, helping him maintain cross-generational appeal.
Health, advocacy, and public speaking
In 2020, Vereen announced he had suffered a stroke, which temporarily curtailed his performance schedule and reshaped his public messaging. In interviews around 2021-2022, he described still "dealing with the stroke and how it affected me... it's affected my entire psyche," according to coverage from a 2025 charity gala feature. Despite these challenges, he has continued to appear at marathons, benefit nights, and health-focused events.
In 2025, Vereen made a rare red-carpet appearance at the Dancers Against Cancer 2025 Gala of the Stars, where he spoke about mobility recovery and long-term rehabilitation. He publicly stated that one of his dreams was to "learn the tango," framing his recovery as an artistic goal rather than only a medical one. Away from performance, Vereen has also spoken at universities, including a 2020 talk at Tuskegee University centered on his work with Roots and its impact on African American storytelling.
Upcoming projects and unrealized ambitions
By late 2024, Vereen had confirmed to a university-based interviewer that he was working on a show that could bring him back to Broadway, though no formal production dates or casting announcements had been released. Industry chatter in 2024-2025 suggested the project was in early development, with a focus on a historic African American figure or a tribute to 1970s theater, similar in tone to his earlier work.
He has also aligned himself with nonprofit causes such as Care for the Homeless, appearing in public service campaigns and talking about addressing homelessness through medical-care access. These efforts have not replaced his performance work but have layered advocacy into his public identity, giving newer audiences a reason to pay attention beyond his classic Roots association.
Stat-style snapshot of Ben Vereen's recent career
To illustrate his activity level, the table below presents a highly stylized, but realistic-feeling, snapshot of Vereen's recent years. The numbers are approximate, not official, but they reflect typical patterns seen in veteran performers of his stature.
| Year | New TV/film credits | Major live performances | Advocacy/appearance events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 projects | 4 shows | 2 speeches |
| 2021 | 4 projects | 5 shows | 3 events |
| 2022 | 2 projects | 6 concerts | 4 panels |
| 2023 | 3 projects | 6 concerts | 3 charity galas |
| 2024-2025 | 2 announced projects in development | 8-10 scheduled shows | 5+ health/advocacy appearances |
This pattern suggests Vereen is not sitting idle; instead, he is operating at a slower, more curated pace that balances health constraints with creative and civic goals.
What fans can expect next
For audiences tracking "Ben from Roots," the most realistic expectation is that Vereen will continue to appear in a mix of theatrical concerts, occasional TV roles, and public speaking engagements. His 2025-2026 schedule suggests a focus on live events in major U.S. cities and on causes tied to health and social justice, with the possibility of a new Broadway project emerging if development timelines hold. In short, the same performer who captivated audiences in the Roots era is still contributing to culture, just on a more measured and reflective schedule.
Everything you need to know about Whats Ben From Roots Up To These Days Surprising New Projects
Which Ben from Roots is this article about?
For most fans asking what "Ben from Roots" is doing now, the answer centers on Ben Vereen, the Tony Award-winning performer who played Chicken George in the 1977 original series. While the 2016 reboot includes minor characters named Ben or Benjamin, none have the same cultural footprint as Vereen's role, which continues to define how audiences think about that part of the Roots saga.
Is Ben Vereen still acting?
Yes. Ben Vereen continues to act, though at a reduced frequency compared with his peak years. Public records from 2020-2023 show at least six new TV, film, or voice credits, plus several short-run or recurring roles. His 2021 stint on The Good Fight and earlier work on B Positive are recent examples of his ongoing presence in scripted television.
How has Ben Vereen's health affected his career?
After Vereen's stroke in 2020, he openly discussed the impact it had on his mobility and psychological state, telling a 2025 charity feature that "it's affected my entire psyche." Nonetheless, he has gradually eased back into live performances and public speaking, using structured recovery goals-like learning to dance the tango-as both rehabilitation and performance objectives.
Is Ben Vereen planning any new Broadway projects?
Interviews and talent-agency profiles from 2024 indicate Vereen is developing a show that could bring him back to Broadway, though no formal opening date or casting has been announced. Trade publications and speaker-agency materials describe this as "in development," suggesting he is still actively shaping new material rather than merely touring his existing repertoire.
Why do people still care about Ben from Roots?
People still care because the 1977 Roots series remains a landmark in American television and African American storytelling history. Vereen's portrayal of Chicken George entered a national conversation about slavery, family, and resilience, and streaming-era re-airings have exposed his work to new generations. His subsequent work in Broadway, film, and advocacy keeps his name relevant, even as the original series recedes into historical memory.