# Samuel E. Wright
**Samuel E. Wright** (born 1946 or 1948; died May 24, 2021) was an American actor, singer, and voice performer from Camden, South Carolina, known as the original voice of Sebastian the crab in Disney's *The Little Mermaid* (1989) and as the original Mufasa in the Broadway production of *The Lion King* (1997).[1](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/) • [2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728) He was twice nominated for a Tony Award, for *The Tap Dance Kid* (1984) and *The Lion King* (1998).[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Camden, South Carolina, USA; sources differ on the year, 1946 or 1948[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728) • [3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/) |
| Died | May 24, 2021, at age 74[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) |
| Signature voice role | Sebastian in *The Little Mermaid* (1989), including lead vocals on "Under the Sea", which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/) |
| Signature stage role | Original Mufasa in Broadway's *The Lion King*, opened November 13, 1997[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728) |
| Broadway debut | Ensemble of *Jesus Christ Superstar*, 1971[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) |
| Tony nominations | Best Featured Actor in a Musical, 1984 (*The Tap Dance Kid*) and 1998 (*The Lion King*)[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728) |
| Other screen roles | Dizzy Gillespie in *Bird* (1988); Kron in *Dinosaur* (2000)[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/samuel_e_wright) |
## Broadway career
Wright made his Broadway debut in 1971 in the ensemble of *Jesus Christ Superstar*.[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) He then served as a replacement [Valentine](https://www.edgepedia.org/valentine) in the musical *Two Gentlemen of Verona*, played Sam in the [Sherman Brothers](https://www.edgepedia.org/sherman-brothers) musical *Over Here!*, and took over the Leading Player in the original Broadway production of *Pippin*, replacing [Ben Vereen](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-vereen).[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) • [3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/) After a break from the stage to work in television, he returned to Broadway in 1983 starring as William in *The Tap Dance Kid*, which brought his first Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) • [2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728)
He appeared in the original Broadway productions of *Welcome to the Club* (1989), as Bruce Aiken, and *Mule Bone* (1991), as Mayor Joe Clark.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728) In 1997 he originated the role of Mufasa in *The Lion King* on Broadway, earning his second Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 1998.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728) The *Lion King* opening followed the staging [Julie Taymor](https://www.edgepedia.org/julie-taymor) and songwriters [Elton John](https://www.edgepedia.org/elton-john) and [Tim Rice](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-rice) developed for Broadway in 1997.[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/)
## Sebastian and Disney
Wright voiced Sebastian, King Triton's court composer, in *[The Little Mermaid](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-little-mermaid-1989-film)*, which Walt Disney Animation released on November 17, 1989, directed by [John Musker](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-musker) and [Ron Clements](https://www.edgepedia.org/ron-clements).[6](https://www.disneyanimation.com/films/the-little-mermaid/) D23, the official Disney fan club and archives, records the crab's full name as Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian, voiced by Wright.[7](https://d23.com/a-to-z/sebastian/) The film won Academy Awards for Best Original Song ("Under the Sea") and Best Original Score, and Wright provided the lead vocals for the winning song.[8](https://d23.com/a-to-z/little-mermaid-the-film/) • [3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/) A D23 feature notes that voicing Sebastian realized one of Wright's lifelong goals, to be a Disney voice.[9](https://d23.com/d23-video/dont-guppy-check-exclusive-little-mermaid-clip/)
He continued to voice Sebastian in spin-offs and sequels through the rest of his career, including *The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea* (2000) and *[The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-little-mermaid-ariels-beginning)* (2008).[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/samuel_e_wright) In 2000 he also voiced Kron the [Iguanodon](https://www.edgepedia.org/iguanodon) in Disney's *Dinosaur*.[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/)
## Film and television roles
On screen, Wright played jazz trumpeter [Dizzy Gillespie](https://www.edgepedia.org/dizzy-gillespie) in *Bird* (1988), the biographical film about [Charlie Parker](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-parker).[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/) His film credits also include *Hollow Image* (1979), *The Keeper* (1996), and *Dinosaur* (2000).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/samuel_e_wright) [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) work listed on his credits includes *The Cosby Show*, *Law & Order*, *New York Undercover*, *Spenser: For Hire*, *All My Children*, and Disney's *House of Mouse*.[10](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/samuel-e-wright/credits/3030465036/)
## Death
Wright died on May 24, 2021, at age 74.[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) Coverage of his death described him as a two-time Tony nominee and Broadway's original Mufasa.[4](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74) A local [South Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-carolina) newspaper reported an acting career spanning five decades and noted discussion of a scholarship in his name.[11](https://eta.creativecirclecdn.com/sumter/files/20210528-203600-Binder1.pdf)
## References
1. [Samuel E. Wright – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/samuel-e-wright-65728)
2. [Samuel E. Wright (Actor) – Broadway & Theatre Credits, Bio, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Samuel-E-Wright/)
3. [Tony Nominee Samuel E. Wright Dies at 74, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/tony-nominee-samuel-e-wright-dies-at-74)
4. [Samuel E. Wright Movies & TV Shows, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/samuel_e_wright)
5. [The Little Mermaid, Walt Disney Animation Studios](https://www.disneyanimation.com/films/the-little-mermaid/)
6. [Sebastian, D23](https://d23.com/a-to-z/sebastian/)
7. [Little Mermaid, The (film), D23](https://d23.com/a-to-z/little-mermaid-the-film/)
8. [Don't Be Such a Guppy and Check Out This Exclusive The Little Mermaid Clip, D23](https://d23.com/d23-video/dont-guppy-check-exclusive-little-mermaid-clip/)
9. [Samuel E. Wright List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/samuel-e-wright/credits/3030465036/)
10. [School board removes..., The Sumter Item, May 28, 2021](https://eta.creativecirclecdn.com/sumter/files/20210528-203600-Binder1.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Voice performers › American voice performers › Animation and cartoon voice actors › Contemporary animation voice actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license