Who are Samuel E Wright's children? Inside family of 'The Little Mermaid' voice actor after his death at 81
Samuel E Wright, who was well-reckoned as the voice of Sebastian the Crab from Disney's 'The Little Mermaid', has died at the age of 74. He was also known for essaying the role of Mufasa in the Broadway run of The Lion King. His death was announced by the town of Montogomery, New York, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
Wright died peacefully on Monday night, May 24, at his home in Walden, New York, after a three-year battle with prostate cancer, his daughter Dee Kelly informed The Hollywood Reporter. Remembering her father's legacy, Dee said, "He was the brightest light." The two-time Tony Award nominee is survived by his wife Amanda Wright and three children - Keely Wright, Sam Wright, and Dee.
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Who are Samuel E Wright's children?
Married to Amanda Wright for 49 years, Wright was also a doting father to the couple's three children - Keely, Sam and Dee. The family resided in Montgomery, New York, which Wright once described as, "a little town in Upstate New York, so beautiful you think you’re living in a Disney cartoon. Tree-lined streets, a little river below the hill--my heart breaks whenever I leave it.”
"Every time I pass one, I genuflect and say, ‘Thank you for the house, my kids' education, and the fact that we don't have to eat cheese grits anymore,” Wright had shared about his family life with Los Angeles Times.
Together with his wife Amanda and Pam Murphy, Wright founded the Hudson Valley Conservatory, which went on to become a leading arts center in the area. The school offers lessons in acting, music, and dance and boasts of many successful alumni with remarkable achievements.
Wright's own daughters Keely and Dee have been closely associated with the HVC. According to her bio on the center's website, Keely has trained at HVC Fine Arts. A brilliant dancer, she has choreographed for VH1 'Can You Hear the Music' and for the R&B group ‘Elan’. She has also worked with the female hip hop company Deca Dance and the ASEID Contemporary Dance Company.
Dee Kelly has been associated with the HVC as a faculty since it was founded in 1994. Trained in ballet, jazz, and tap dance, Dee received direct training from her parents as well as Pamela Murphy, Paige Cummings, and Hilda Morales. Dee has performed in regional productions of 'Play On!', 'The Wiz', 'All My Sons', 'Raisin in the Sun'. She has acted on Broadway as well for the First National tour of Disney's AIDA. Dee presently teaches ballet at the HVC. Dee celebrated her father’s life with a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 24. “My beautiful, strong, loving daddy is off to his next adventure,” she wrote.
Not much is known about Sam Wright, except that he grew up under the love, care, and able guidance of his talented father.