Chicken George remains one of the most memorable characters from Alex Haley’s groundbreaking saga “Roots.” With his colorful personality trademark black derby hat adorned with rooster feathers and remarkable cockfighting skills, this character captured audiences’ hearts across multiple adaptations. But who exactly played this iconic role? Let’s dive into the complete history of the actors who brought Chicken George to life on screen!
The Original Chicken George: Ben Vereen (1977)
In the original 1977 ABC miniseries that captivated America, Ben Vereen took on the role of Chicken George His performance was nothing short of extraordinary! Vereen’s portrayal earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series.
When the original “Roots” miniseries aired on ABC in January 1977, it became an unprecedented cultural phenomenon. Over 130 million viewers tuned in, making it one of the most-watched television events in American history. The final episode alone drew approximately 100 million viewers!
Vereen’s charismatic performance helped establish Chicken George as a fan favorite His ability to convey both the character’s flamboyant personality and his deep emotional struggles connected strongly with audiences,
The Next Generation: Avé Long (1979)
Although not as widely remembered, Avé Long portrayed Chicken George in the 1979 sequel “Roots: The Next Generation.” This follow-up series continued the Kinte family saga into later generations, with Long taking over the role from Vereen.
The Modern Reinterpretation: Regé-Jean Page (2016)
When History Channel decided to remake “Roots” in 2016, they cast British newcomer Regé-Jean Page as Chicken George. Before gaining worldwide fame through Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” Page delivered a compelling performance that introduced the character to a new generation.
The 2016 remake was simulcast on History, Lifetime, and A&E, bringing a contemporary perspective to Haley’s novel while staying true to the original story’s essence.
Who Is Chicken George? The Character Behind the Actors
To truly appreciate the performances, we need to understand the character these actors portrayed. Chicken George’s story is one of resilience, family, and the quest for freedom.
Chicken George’s Origins
Born in the winter of 1806 in Caswell County, North Carolina, George was the son of Kizzy and her master, Tom Lea. Despite being conceived through the repeated rape of his mother, George was loved and raised by Kizzy, who instilled in him the family’s African heritage through stories of his grandfather, Kunta Kinte.
At just 12 years old, Lea moved George from his mother’s cabin to live at the gamecock pen where he learned cockfighting from Uncle Mingo. By age 18, he became the head trainer, earning the nickname “Chicken George” for his colorful personality and exceptional skills with fighting roosters.
A Man of Many Talents
Chicken George quickly established himself as the #1 cockfighter in Caswell County, traveling across the Southern states with Tom Lea. His signature look included a black derby hat with rooster feathers (gifted by Uncle Mingo) and a green scarf.
Despite his success, George faced numerous challenges:
- He discovered his master, Tom Lea, was actually his biological father
- He was sent to England for over 20 years to train fighting roosters to pay off Lea’s debt
- Upon returning to America in 1861, he found his family (except for his deceased mother) sold to another plantation
Freedom and Legacy
Chicken George ultimately became the first member of the Kinte family to earn his freedom when Tom Lea finally gave him his emancipation papers. After the Civil War ended in 1865, he reunited his family and led them to establish a new life in Henning, Tennessee.
Why Chicken George Resonates with Audiences
What makes the character of Chicken George so compelling that three different actors have portrayed him across various adaptations?
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Complex Identity – As a biracial man born into slavery who later gains freedom, George navigates complicated relationships with both Black and white communities
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Family Devotion – Despite his travels and tribulations, George remains dedicated to his family and preserving their heritage
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Resilience – Through repeated betrayals and setbacks, he maintains his spirit and determination
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Historical Significance – George represents the crucial transition period between slavery and freedom for African Americans
Comparing the Portrayals
Each actor brought something unique to the role of Chicken George:
| Actor | Year | Adaptation | Notable Aspects of Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Vereen | 1977 | Original ABC Miniseries | Theatrical, energetic portrayal that emphasized George’s charisma and showmanship |
| Avé Long | 1979 | Roots: The Next Generation | Depicted an older, more weathered George in the twilight of his life |
| Regé-Jean Page | 2016 | History Channel Remake | Brought a modern sensibility while honoring the character’s historical context |
Behind-the-Scenes Facts
Did you know:
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In the 1977 miniseries, Chicken George’s storyline spanned episodes 6-8, showcasing Ben Vereen’s ability to portray the character across different life stages
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The original “Roots” miniseries received 37 Emmy nominations and won 9 awards
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Regé-Jean Page’s portrayal in the 2016 remake came before his breakout role in “Bridgerton,” which would later make him a household name
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The black derby hat with rooster feathers became such an iconic visual element that it was carefully recreated for each adaptation
Legacy of the Character
Chicken George represents a pivotal figure in the “Roots” saga. As the grandson of Kunta Kinte and the first in his family line to obtain freedom, he serves as the bridge between enslavement and liberation. Each actor who portrayed him helped cement this character in American cultural memory.
The character also highlights the complex relationships between enslaved people and slave owners, particularly through his relationship with Tom Lea, who was both his master and his father.
My Thoughts on the Different Portrayals
I’ve watched all three versions of “Roots,” and each actor brought something special to Chicken George. Vereen’s energetic performance in the original series feels the most iconic to me – there’s something about the way he balanced George’s showmanship with his inner struggles that really resonated.
Page’s interpretation in the 2016 remake was excellent too, and probably more accessible for younger viewers who might find the pacing of the 1977 version a bit slow. He brought a contemporary emotional depth while still honoring the historical setting.
We sometimes forget that historical dramas like “Roots” aren’t just educational – they’re also meant to connect us emotionally to the past. All three actors succeeded in making us care deeply about Chicken George and his journey.
Whether portrayed by Ben Vereen in 1977, Avé Long in 1979, or Regé-Jean Page in 2016, Chicken George remains one of the most memorable characters from “Roots.” His journey from slavery to freedom, his complex relationships, and his role in preserving his family’s heritage continue to resonate with audiences decades after Alex Haley first introduced him to the world.
The ability of three different actors to successfully bring this character to life across multiple generations speaks to the enduring power of the story and the universal themes it explores.
If your intrested in learning more about the “Roots” saga, check out my other articles on the Kinte family history and the cultural impact of Alex Haley’s work!
History[]
George was born into slavery in the winter of 1806 in Caswell, North Carolina to Kizzy and her master, Tom Lea, who named him “George” after his first slave, George. He was conceived when his mother was repeatedly raped by her new master after her arrival on the Lea Plantation from Virginia. Even though her son was born because of rape, Kizzy still loved and raised George.
At age 12, Lea moved George out of his mothers cabin to live at the gamecock pen where Uncle Mingo lives and trains fighting roosters for the master. Around age 14 or 15, George started to travel with Moore and Mingo, where he won in his first cockfight. At age 18, Lea promotes George as the new head trainer for cock fighting as he sees Georges potential to bring him wealth and fame. Uncle Mingo gives George a black derby hat with rooster feathers that would later became his trademark along with the green scarf. He earns the nickname “Chicken George” for his colorful, flamboyant personality and his amazing cock-fighting skills.
Although he was a ladies man, he met his future wife Matilda, a strong faithful Christian slave woman who once preached the gospel at freed blacks which scared them off where they were partying. They married and have eight children, including Tom and Lewis Murray.
Chicken George Years[]
Now a successful and number one cock fighter of Caswell County, Chicken George travelled across the southern states of America with Tom Lea, winning most, although he was conned out of money from cockfights. Due to Georges amazing skills in cockfighting, he and Master Moore became best friends.
One day, after winning a match in cockfights, George had a conversation with former slave about freedom, the latter told George that being free is better than anything. On their way back home, Chicken George driving & Massa Lea sleeping in the back of the wagon, they were confronted by three aristocrats. They asked George if he knows about a slave named Nat Turner and threatened to kill him if he does, George replied he didnt know anything about Turners rebellion. He was luckily saved by his master, whom the aristocrats insulted for being drunk. When they came back to the plantation, Mrs Moore, scared and paranoid, fired shots at George (one of them hits George in the right arm) after she thought he killed her husband. Kizzy warns Chicken George that he cant trust Massa Lea as his friend because he is a “toubob.” George tells Kizzy that Massa Lea is his friend. However Lea bursts into Georges family cabin with a shotgun threatening the family that if he sees any rebellion from the slaves, he will shoot them, He then orders them to retrieve everything to the Big House. This caused George to figure a way to buy freedom for his family and himself. Things went back to normal after Nat Turner was caught and hanged. George and Matilda discovered a dead remnant of Turner, Matilda asked George why the dead remnant is smiling.
Small untruth here, slavery was ruled to be unlawful in England as far back as 1706 (Smith v. Browne & Cooper) so could not be sent back to England aged 27. On his way to visit Tom Lea, Squire James sees Chicken George and his wife Matilda picking cotton. James tells George that he and Sir Eric Russell issued a challenge to Tom Lea in cockfighting and he also says that he would buy George to train other cock fighters and would free him and his family in five years, however Master Moore refused Squire James to buy George, which infuriates Chicken George making him understand that his mother was right about never to trust a crooked white man like Master Moore. Angered and betrayed by Tom Lea for denying any chance of freedom, George went back to the woods and picked up a gun from the dead remnant to kill Tom Moore, but Kizzy prevented him by revealing that Tom Lea was his father. Later, George confronted his father, saying how could Moore deny him, his own child, of his chance of being free. Master Moore replies that he has twenty children besides George in different counties by slave black women whom the master raped during his/their trips. When George told Moore that he wasnt fighting his chickens anymore, Master Moore threatens George that he would sell Georges son, Tom, or Matilda which gives George no choice but to continue cockfighting for Master Moore.
Before their match (which would be their last match together) against Squire James and Sir Eric Russell, Master Moore promises George that he would give him his freedom if they win their match against Sir Russell. Back on good terms with Tom Lea, their chickens fight Sir Russells chickens. During break, Tom Lea bet $20k against Sir Russell, Russell accepts, however one of Tom Leas chickens loses to Russells chicken. Tom Lea lends Chicken George to Sir Russell in order to pay the debts. Before he heads off to England to train other cock fighters, George encourages his family to stay strong and told the story of the African, known as Kunta Kinte, his grandfather. George would train other cock fighters for Sir Russell and after over 20 years of servitude to Sir Russell, Russell sends George back to America.
In 1861, Chicken George, aged 54, returned to the Moore Plantation only to find out that his family (except Kizzy) were sold off to Sam Harveys Plantation in Alamance County, North Carolina. George found one of his slave friends sitting in the grass, he asked her where his family was and she told him she knew where his mother was, and took him to a grave. George visited Massa Lea for one last time, he was stunned that his father had become a lonely, drunken, desperate man. Tom Lea told George that his mother, Kizzy, had passed away last spring. Chicken George reminded the master about the promise Tom Moore made of Georges freedom. Although Master Moore promised George that the latter would get his emancipation paper once he returned, he pretended that he never made a promise to his son. Then Massa Lea tried to persuade George to stay and help his daddy in fighting chickens again, George then replied that he didnt have a daddy. After the conversation, Tom Lea kept his words and gave the emancipation paper to George, making George the first member of the Kinte family to become a free man. After George received his emancipation paper, he left the Moore Plantation in search of his family. Chicken George reunites his family, however, due to a law that if any free man stays sixty days in a slave state, he or she will become a slave again. George circumvents this and pretends to be a giant black chicken once sixty days have passed to stay with his family. This allowed George to share the family tradition oral history with his son, Tom Harvey, about himself, his mother Kizzy, and his grandfather, the African, Kunta Kinte. After the Civil War and slavery ended in 1865, Chicken George reunited his family and told them about a new place in Tennessee that he settled, for them to live. Chicken George and his family devised a plan to scare Evan Brent who has been terrorizing the family since slavery ended. When they had Evan tied to a tree and Tom almost whipped him, George told Brent that if he tries to threaten his family again, George would kill him. Before they leave, his wife Matilda reminisced that all the sufferings and their lives in different plantations through slavery, it was never their home. George and the family leave North Carolina to start a new life at Henning, Tennessee. During their trip, Matilda told her husband that his mother, Kizzy and his grandfather, Kunta Kinte, are smiling above from the heavens.
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FAQ
What happened to Chicken George from Roots?
Did Ben Vereen play Chicken George?
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.
Where is Chicken George buried?
Was buried in Bethlehem Cemetery, Henning, Lauderdale County, Tennessee. Please support and visit the Alex Haley Museum and Interpretive Center in Henning, TN. The cemetery is just minutes away.
How old is Chicken George from Roots?
A year later in 1883, Chicken George dies at age 83 (note in Roots, George is said to have been born in 1806, which would make him 77), and the family bury his body beside that of his wife, Mathilda “Tildy”, who died in 1875 at age 76.