Credits

• 2026 · The Gray House as Isham Worthy
• 2025 · Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story as Self
• 2021 · Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age as Self
• 2020 · B Positive as Peter
• 2020 · Chita: A Legendary Celebration as Self
• 2019 · On Broadway as Self (archive footage)
• 2019 · The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self - Guest
• 2019 · David Foster: Off the Record as Self (archive footage)
• 2018 · Magnum P.I. as Henry Barr
• 2017 · The Good Fight as Frederick Douglass
• 2016 · Star as Calvin
• 2016 · Bull as Willie Lambert
• 2015 · Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do as Self
• 2015 · Sneaky Pete as Porter
• 2013 · Cabaret: The Musical That Changed Musicals as Self
• 2010 · Hot in Cleveland as Mayor Deacon
• 2005 · How I Met Your Mother as Sam Gibbs
• 2005 · Grey's Anatomy as Archie Roche
• 2003 · NCIS as Lamar Addison
• 2002 · Fosse as Performer
• 2001 · The Painting as Whistlin' Willie Weston
• 2001 · Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Jeremiah Morris
• 1998 · Why Do Fools Fall In Love as Richard Barrett
• 1997 · The View as Self
• 1997 · Oz as A.R. Whitworth
• 1996 · Promised Land as
• 1996 · The Jamie Foxx Show as Royal
• 1995 · Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as Snake (voice)
• 1994 · Touched by an Angel as Ulysses Dodd
• 1994 · New York Undercover as Louie
• 1993 · The Nanny as Ben Vereen
• 1993 · Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as Dr. Andre Novak
• 1991 · Silk Stalkings as Ben Hutchinson
• 1990 · The Chipmunks Rockin' Through The Decades as Self
• 1990 · The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Lou Smith
• 1987 · Star Trek: The Next Generation as Dr. Edward La Forge
• 1984 · The Jesse Owens Story as Herb Douglas
• 1983 · Webster as
• 1982 · Faerie Tale Theatre as Puss in Boots
• 1981 · Walt Disney: One Man's Dream as Self
• 1981 · Pippin as Leading Player
• 1979 · All That Jazz as O'Connor Flood
• 1977 · The Love Boat as Dr. John Hanson
• 1977 · Roots as Chicken George Moore
• 1976 · The Muppet Show as Self - Special Guest Star
• 1976 · Donny & Marie as Self
• 1976 · Mary's Incredible Dream as Devil / Noah / Man
• 1974 · Dinah! as Self
• 1970 · Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. as Carlos
• 1967 · The Carol Burnett Show as Self - Guest / Various Characters
• 1967 · The Carol Burnett Show as Self
• 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
• 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Guest
• 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
• 1953 · The Oscars as Self
• Future · The Auction as
• 2017 · Making History as Dr. Cobell
• 2016 · The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again as Dr. Scott
• 2015 · Time Out of Mind as Dixon
• 2014 · Top Five as Carl Allen
• 2013 · Khumba as Mkhulu (voice)
• 2011 · Mama, I Want to Sing! as Horace Payne
• 2009 · Tapioca as Nuts
• 2008 · Accidental Friendship as Wes
• 2008 · Your Mama Don't Dance as
• 2007 · And Then Came Love as Chuck Cooper
• 2006 · Idlewild as Percy Senior
• 2001 · Feast of All Saints as Rudolphe Lermontant
• 1999 · I'll Take You There as Mr. Gwin
• 1997 · Vaudeville as Narrator
• 1996 · E! True Hollywood Story as
• 1996 · Second Noah as
• 1993 · Once Upon a Forest as Phineas (voice)
• 1992 · Intruders as Gene Randall
• 1991 · Breakfast with the Arts as
• 1990 · The Kid Who Loved Christmas as Morris
• 1990 · Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme as Itsy-Bitsy Spider
• 1989 · Booker as Carl McQueen
• 1989 · Buy & Cell as Shaka
• 1987 · J.J. Starbuck as Tenspeed Turner
• 1987 · CBS Summer Playhouse as Pianist in Bar
• 1987 · The Saint in Manhattan as Pianist in Bar
• 1986 · Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade as
• 1986 · Zoobilee Zoo as Mayor Ben
• 1986 · The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years as Self (archive footage)
• 1985 · Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade as Self
• 1985 · Lost In London as Paul Williams
• 1985 · Puss in Boots as Puss in Boots
• 1985 · Breakin' Through as
• 1985 · Jacques Cousteau: The First 75 Years as Self
• 1985 · The Zoo Gang as The Winch
• 1985 · A.D. as Ethiopian
• 1984 · Ellis Island as Roscoe Haines
• 1984 · Lynda Carter: Body and Soul as Self
• 1984 · The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team as Self - Performer
• 1984 · Don't Ask Me, Ask God as Self
• 1983 · Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade as Self - Host
• 1983 · The Charmkins as Dragonweed (voice)
• 1982 · Night of 100 Stars as Self
• 1982 · Sabine as Stanley
• 1980 · Tenspeed and Brown Shoe as E.L. 'Tenspeed' Turner
• 1979 · The Cheryl Ladd Special as Self
• 1978 · The Magic of David Copperfield as
• 1976 · The Captain and Tennille as Self
• 1976 · Louis Armstrong: Chicago Style as
• 1975 · Ben Vereen... Comin' at Ya as Host
• 1975 · Funny Lady as Bert Robbins
• 1969 · Sweet Charity as Dancer