American actor Samuel E Wright, best known for voicing Sebastian in the 1989 Disney animated film The Little Mermaid, has sadly passed away aged 74 after a three-year battle with prostate cancer.

Wright also played Mufasa in the original Broadway production of The Lion King, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for. Upon hearing the news, a billboard tribute has been erected at the musical’s original New York venue.

He also featured in the original Broadway cast of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1971, replaced Ben Vereen in the musical Pippin and received a Tony nomination in 1984 for musical, The Tap Dance Kid.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.