Like so many others, Broadway success meant a chance to break out into other media. Vereen had first appeared in feature films as a frug dancer in Bob Fosse's "Sweet Charity" (1969), a lesser role than what he had played on tour. He had a good shot in "Funny Lady" (1975) playing legendary stage performer Bert Robbins, but much of his work landed on the cutting room floor and the end result was practically a cameo. He co-starred in "All That Jazz" (1979), Fosse's semi-autobiographical film, in which Vereen could have been playing himself. By the 80s, however, there were only parts in low-budget independent films like 1988's "Buy and Cell" (1988).
The small screen proved more hospitable. "Ben Vereen...Comin' At Ya" (NBC, 1975), was his shot at a variety series, but the summer tryout, while proving popular with critics and the audience, was too near the end of the variety show cycle. In 1980, ABC teamed Vereen with Jeff Goldblum in "Tenspeed and Brownshoe" in which Vereen was the former, a con artist detective. The first episode of the show was a smash, but the ratings inexplicably collapsed and the show was canceled after its initial short run. In 1984-85, Vereen played Uncle Philip, the diabetic relative of "Webster" on the ABC sitcom, but by 1986, he was the mayor of "Zoobilee Zoo," the syndicated kids show, off primetime TV. He hosted the syndicated tryout show "You Write the Songs" (1986-87) and reprised the character of "Tenspeed Turner" on "J.J. Starbuck" (NBC, 1988). Vereen displayed his versatility and dramatic abilities in roles ranging from the trumpeter in "Louis Armstrong: Chicago Style" (ABC, 1976) and Chicken George, the grandson of Kunte Kinte who wins his freedom, but not that of his wife and children, in the landmark miniseries "Roots". Vereen also appeared in the miniseries "Ellis Island" (CBS, 1984) and "A.D." (NBC, 1985). Additionally, he was Emmanuel Lewis' father estranged from his wife in "Lost in London" (CBS, 1985). Vereen also continued as a variety performer, playing several characters in the heralded Mary Tyler Moore special "Mary's Incredible Dream" (CBS, 1976), headlining "Ben Vereen--His Roots" (ABC, 1978) and guesting on specials hosted by Lynda Carter and David Copperfield.
In 1987, Vereen's daughter Naja was killed in a freak accident when a truck overturned on the car in which she was a passenger. The actor curtailed his workload somewhat, but re-emerged in 1991 as the grumpy boss of the detectives on "Silk Stalkings", a USA Network series on which he appeared for two seasons. In 1992, Vereen was walking on Pacific Coast Highway and was struck by a car driven by record producer and composer David Foster. While he was severely injured and early reports were that he might not survive, within a year he was wowing audiences on Broadway as Keith David's replacement in "Jelly's Last Jam". In 1995, Vereen co-starred in a musical version of "A Christmas Carol" for the holiday season.