‘The Lion King,’ & ‘In The Heights’ Broadway Actor Dead at 47

Clifton Oliver has died at the age of 47. The Broadway star was best known for his roles in “The Lion King” and “Wicked,” he also starred alongside Jordin Sparks in “In The Heights.” Clifton’s sister, Roxy Hall, confirmed the heartbreaking news on Facebook on Wednesday. “My baby brother, Clifton Oliver, has had his final curtain call. It was peaceful. His partner Richard, was singing to him the song Psalm 23 as he took his last breath this morning at 3:20 AM,” she wrote. According to Playbill, the musical star began his career in New York City in 2010 after studying at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Florida. He starred as Simba in the hit Disney show in 2011. “As the song goes in one of his most prominent roles of Simba in the Lion King on Broadway, He Lives In Me! I will value my time with him the last six weeks of his life that I spent at his bedside in the hospital and then finally hospice. I was able to love on my baby brother, and I will always cherish the memories of having an honor and privilege to do just that! There will be more information to come, as we begin to plan the Celebration of Clifton Oliver!” Roxy concluded.