Sam Wright


Sam Wright (Sebastian) was born in Camden, S.C., and studied drama at South Carolina State College and C.W. Post College. His Broadway credits include "The Tap Dance Kid" (for which he received a Tony nomination); the musical "Welcome to the Club" (with Mermaid co-star Jodi Benson); "Jesus Christ, Superstar," Two Gentlemen from Verona," "Pippin" and "Over Here." Wright traveled extensively across the country in a touring production of "I'm Not Rappaport" in which he played Midge and has starred in the Ken Hall musical production of "Phantom of the Opera."

On screen, Wright appeared as legendary musician Dizzy Gillespie in Clint Eastwood's "Bird." His television credits include recurring roles on such daytime dramas as "All My Children" and "Search for Tomorrow" and guest stints on shows such as "The Cosby Show," "Simon & Simon" and "Spencer: For Hire." He has also starred in two TV series: "Enos," a spinoff of "The Dukes of Hazzard," and the baseball comedy "Ball Four." He was also the talking grape in the long-running Fruit of the Loom underwear commercials.

"(Working in an animated feature) is something I've been dying to do all my life," says Wright. "In fact, it's the most important thing I've ever done, including some very heavy stuff. I'd always read how they selected the voices and how picky they were. I'm proud to be part of what I know is going to be a classic. I get a big smile on my face every time I think about it."

For Sebastian's distinctive dialect, Wright drew on memories of two college roommates from Trinidad. According to the actor, the crab's patois even sounds kind of Irish at times.

During the recording sessions for the musical number "Under the Sea," the actor was asked to improvise some movements to help inspire the animators. "I lost myself and went a little wild," remembers Wright. "I was doing barrel turns, flipping over, all these people were staring at me. I'd never done anything like that before."

He reprised his role as Sebastian in the CBS television series "Disney's The Little Mermaid" and in two children's videos for Walt Disney Home Vide. He also was featured as Sebastian on two Walt Disney Records CDs - "Sebastian" and "Sebastian's Carribbean Jamboree."

In 1991 he performed in the Lincoln Center production of Langston Hughes' "Mule Bone."

Also in 1991, he co-starred with Sidney Poitier in the miniseries "Separate But Equal," and in 1992 Wright co-starred in Alex Haley's miniseries "Queen."


Wright is currently appearing in the Tony Award-winning Broadway version of Disney's "The Lion King."