<P> Theodore Ross Roberts ( June 30 , 1934 -- September 3 , 2002 ) , known as Ted Ross , was an American actor who was probably best known for his role as the Lion in The Wiz , an all - African American reinterpretation of The Wizard of Oz . He won a Tony Award for the original 1975 Broadway production , and went on to recreate the role in the 1978 film version which also starred Diana Ross ( no relation ) , Michael Jackson and Nipsey Russell . Ross went on to appear in films including the role of Bitterman in the classic Arthur , and on the television sitcoms The Jeffersons , Benson , The Cosby Show , and its spin - off A Different World . His final role was in the 1991 movie The Fisher King . </P>
<P> Theodore Ross Roberts ( June 30 , 1934 -- September 3 , 2002 ) , known as Ted Ross , was an American actor who was probably best known for his role as the Lion in The Wiz , an all - African American reinterpretation of The Wizard of Oz . He won a Tony Award for the original 1975 Broadway production , and went on to recreate the role in the 1978 film version which also starred Diana Ross ( no relation ) , Michael Jackson and Nipsey Russell . Ross went on to appear in films including the role of Bitterman in the classic Arthur , and on the television sitcoms The Jeffersons , Benson , The Cosby Show , and its spin - off A Different World . His final role was in the 1991 movie The Fisher King . </P>
who played the lion in the wiz with michael jackson
who played the lion in the wiz with michael jackson
Ted Ross
Ted Ross