Samuel E. Wright
“Arielle” star has died
Samuel E. Wright was a celebrated Broadway actor.
© imago images / MediaPunch
Samuel E. Wright died at the age of 74. The actor and voice actor voiced a Disney character.
Samuel E. Wright is dead. The actor died last Monday (May 24th) after suffering from prostate cancer at the age of 74. His daughter confirmed this to the “Hollywood Reporter”. Previously, the city of Montgomery in the US state of New York had on Facebook honored their deceased resident, who died in his home in the Walden district: “He loved to entertain, he loved to make people smile and laugh and he loved to love.”
Samuel E. Wright was best known for the Disney film “Ariel, the Mermaid”, in which he voiced the red crab Sebastian in the US original. His song “Under the Sea” won the Oscar for Best Movie Song. The film song “Kiss the Girl” was also remembered with an Oscar nomination. Wright also played the role of Mufasa in the original cast of “The Lion King” on Broadway from 1997, for which he received a Tony nomination. He took on his first role there in 1971 in “Jesus Christ Superstar”. He received another Tony nomination in 1984 for his role in The Tap Dance Kid.
Samuel E. Wright also made a name for himself as a film and television actor. In Clint Eastwooods (90) music biopic “Bird” (1988) he played the jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. He also made guest appearances in series and sitcoms, including the famous “Bill Cosby Show” as well as “All My Children”, “Spencer For Hire” and “Jonny Zero”. Samuel E. Wright leaves behind his longtime wife, Amanda, and three children together.