Ted Neeley plays the titular figure in 1973’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” in his first credited film role. However, he was already well-suited to portray such an important individual, as he was cast as the Jesus understudy in the 1971 Broadway production. After the film performance, Neeley practically became synonymous with the character, and he’s continued to reprise the role in numerous shows over the years. In 2014, he starred in a Roman production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” proving that after 40 years, no one embodied Jesus quite like him.
He’d have numerous other roles throughout his career, even appearing in 2012’s “Django Unchained,” one of Quentin Tarantino’s best movies. He’d also star in various other rock musicals for the stage, including The Who’s musical, “Tommy,” in the lead role. However, it’s safe to say he’ll always be affiliated with “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
In 2021, to celebrate 50 years of the musical, Neeley spoke with TheaterMania about whether he ever gets tired of singing the same songs repeatedly. Talking about continuing to perform “Gethsemane” at live shows, he said, “Every time I have had the pleasure of singing that song is like the first time. You can feel the power of the audience coming up and holding you.”
