Dancer, choreographer, actor, composer, designer, painter, photographer, sculptor, and writer -- via the New York Times. Won Tony awards for music direction and costume design on "The Wiz"; best remembered as the spokesman for 7-Up. Broadway debut in 1954 as featured dancer in "House of Flowers." He received a Guggenheim fellowship -- in painting. In film, he was a character actor seen in "Live and Let Die," the original adaptation of "Dr. Doolittle," and "Annie." His distinctive deep voice was used as the narrator in Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." One of the best laughs ever.
