COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Samuel E. Wright, the South Carolina native who famously voiced “Sebastian the Crab” in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and had an performing profession spanning 5 a long time, died this week. He was 72.
Wright died Monday in New York after a three-year bout with prostate most cancers, in response to his household’s obituary.
“My lovely, sturdy, loving daddy is off to his subsequent journey,” one in every of Wright’s daughters, Dee Kelly, wrote Tuesday on Fb. “My coronary heart has a lot to say however I’m nonetheless processing the truth that the sunshine that was and is my daddy won’t be able to bodily be right here with me.”
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Born in Camden, South Carolina, in 1948, Wright bought his begin in performing whereas a scholar at South Carolina State College within the Nineteen Sixties, in response to the college, the place he helped launch an performing division. A standout athlete, Wright additionally carried out in reveals together with Tennessee Williams’ “Summer time and Smoke” and the Greek tragedy “Medea.”
“Sam was a really sort coronary heart. He was a candy younger man,” stated Sandra Salley, who served for almost 40 years because the drama division’s secretary. “He was very lovable.”
Transferring to New York Metropolis in 1968 to strive his hand on the stage, Wright in the end landed roles in additional than 18 Broadway productions, changing Ben Vereen in “Pippin” and changing into an authentic forged member of “Jesus Christ Famous person.” He was twice nominated for Tony awards: in 1984 for “The Faucet Dance Child,” and in 1998 as the unique “Mufasa” in “The Lion King.”
There have been film roles as nicely — Wright performed jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie to Forest Whittaker’s Charlie “Fowl” Parker within the Clint Eastwood movie, and he often confirmed up on the small display: Within the Seventies, Wright portrayed the purple grape in an iconic sequence of Fruit of the Loom underwear commercials.
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In 1984, Wright co-founded the Hudson Valley Conservatory, a performing arts faculty in Walden, New York. On its Fb web page, the group introduced the creation of a scholarship in Wright’s reminiscence, saying it was “overwhelmed with the love being despatched our means.”
Nevertheless it was in 1989 that Wright acquired a job that might introduce him — or at the very least his voice — to new generations: that of “Sebastian the Crab” in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” Wright was awarded a finest authentic tune Grammy for “Beneath the Sea,” which additionally achieved double platinum standing.
“As a child, I used to be fascinated with ‘The Little Mermaid’ and extra so now after studying that Mr. Wright was the voice that introduced a lot pleasure into our lives,” stated Davion Petty, S.C. State’s alumni relations director.
A household service was held for Wright on Thursday. A memorial visitation was deliberate for Friday in Walden, New York.
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This story has been corrected. Wright was 72, not 74.
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The put up Voice Of Disney’s ‘Sebastian the Crab’ Dies At Age 72 appeared first on The Black Chronicle.
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