Samuel E. Wright (November 20, 1946 - May 24, 2021) was an American actor, vocal actor, and singer, best known as the voice of Sebastian in Disney's The Little Mermaid, Dizzy Gillespie in Bird, and the part of Mufasa in the original cast of The Lion King on Broadway.
In Disney's beguiling animated romp, rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface, which are forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton, she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.