Clifton Oliver, who starred on Broadway as Simba in The Lion King and as Benny in Within the Heights, has died. He was 47.
His sister, Roxy Corridor, shared on Fb that the actor died Wednesday morning. The reason for loss of life is unknown however Corridor famous that he had been within the hospital and hospice six weeks earlier than his loss of life.
“My child brother, Clifton Oliver, has had his last curtain name. It was peaceable. His associate, Richard, was singing to him the music Psalm 23 as he took his final breath,” her publish learn. “He had a Beautiful smile on his Lovely face!! He went twirling into the afterlife able to make his Grand Look because the Star of his Homecoming Celebration! My coronary heart is unhappy, and overjoyed on the similar time! I’ll miss him, however he’s lastly at peace!”
She continued, “He introduced a lot mild to this world! He introduced a lot mild to my life! He impacted the lives of individuals all through the world as he showcased his superb expertise, variety soul, and loving spirit to EVERYONE he met! He might be missed, however by no means forgotten! He lives inside all of us! Because the music goes in one in all his most distinguished roles of Simba in the Lion King on Broadway, He Lives In Me!”
Born in 1975, Oliver grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He knew he needed to pursue a profession within the arts early in life and ended up occurring to review on the Douglas Anderson College of the Arts. It wasn’t till 2010 when he moved to New York to begin his performing profession on Broadway.
His notable tasks embody Depraved, the place he joined the ensemble and served as an understudy for Fiyero, and Within the Heights, the place he took on the position of Benny, reverse Jordin Sparks, based on Playbill. Oliver additionally starred as Simba within the Broadway manufacturing of The Lion King in 2011 in addition to taking part in the identical position within the Las Vegas manufacturing and on the nationwide tour.
The actor additionally joined the excursions of Dreamgirls and Motown the Musical and carried out within the off-Broadway productions of Miracle Brothers and Bella: An American Tall Story.
The Instagram account for The Lion King — Musical shared a tribute to the actor by quoting Mufasa: “Take a look at the celebrities. The good kings of the previous look down on us from these stars.”
“Our Delight joins in remembering the legacy of the late Clifton Oliver, who shared his skills and light-weight with audiences throughout Broadway, Las Vegas, and our North American tour from 2000-2011,” the publish continued. “As we proceed to honor his legacy, a dimming of the lights will happen on the New Amsterdam Theatre on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at 5PM EST.”
Corridor stated extra data will come as they plan a celebration of life.