Nancy Bruner
Nancy Bruner is the longtime wife of veteran actor, dancer and singer Ben Vereen –best known for his numerous Broadway performances.
While Nancy’s husband is certainly a consecrated figure on Broadway, his reputation has suffered following accusations of sexual misconduct. At least three actress from his Broadway play ‘Hair’ have come forward accusing the iconic actor of such behavior.
The women say Vereen forced unwanted kisses, hugged them aggressively, stripped naked during an acting exercise and made degrading comments about their weight, sex appeal and personal lives.
The Tony winner acknowledged the accusations in a statement saying he ‘hoped these women will find it in their hearts to accept my sincere apology and forgive me.’
Vereen born October 10, 1946 attended Manhattan’s High School of Performing Arts. At age 14, he studied choreography under Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins.
In his early 20’s he discovered he was adopted at age twenty-five, when his passport application was denied. His real name, he found, was Benjamin Augustus Middleton. He was adopted by James Vereen, a paint-factory worker, and his wife, Pauline.
He won a Tony Award for his performance in Pippin in 1973, after being nominated the previous year for Jesus Christ Superstar. He also played the manipulative Billy Flynn in the U.S. and Canadian tour of Chicago, and starred as the iconic Wizard of Oz in Wicked on Broadway from 2005 to 2006. He’s also appeared in numerous films and television series.
As for his love life, Ben was allegedly married to two women at the same time. According to People he was first married to Andrea Townsley with whom he originally filed for divorce from in 1972. At the time of their separation Andrea was only 14 and was left to raise Ben’s son by herself.
Thinking that he was already a divorced man he went onto marry second wife, Nancy Bruner in 1976. However, first wife Andrea, learned that the marriage was not legally dissolved recently when she went to collect Social Security.
His marriage to second wife Nancy Bruner also came to an end in 2012 when he filed for divorce after 36 years citing irreconcilable difference. Nancy and Ben met on the set of a play and together have several children including daughters, Malaika, Naja, Karon and Kabara Vereen.
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