40 | JANUARY 20 • 2022 

W

hen Matthew Lipitz was in 
first grade, his teacher told 
the students to draw a picture 
of their parents in their occupational 
garb. Upon seeing Lipitz’s rendering, the 
teacher told Lipitz that his 
drawing was a nonsensical 
fabrication and sent the first 
grader crying to the princi-
pal’s office.
When the principal 
returned to class with Lipitz 
in tow, the principal repri-
manded the teacher, announcing that yes, 
indeed, Lipitz’s dad truly was Pumbaa.
And to that embarrassed, small-mind-
ed teacher, the young Lipitz smiled and 
boldly remarked, “Hakuna Matata.”
Ten years later, Ben Lipitz still kvells, 
recounting the legendary tale about his 
son, who is now 16.
For nearly 19 years, Ben Lipitz has 
starred on Broadway, and on tour, 
as the wildly funny, beyond-lovable, 
scene-stealing Pumbaa in Disney’s The 
Lion King coming to the Detroit Opera 
House Jan. 27-Feb. 20.

“I’ve been playing Pumbaa for so long 
that I’ve gotten a special dispensation 
that I’m now kosher,” laughs the actor 
who has played the “Hakuna Matata”-
singing warthog for more than 6,400 
performances.
This will be the fifth time that The 
Lion King comes to Detroit, and Lipitz 
has been in all the productions. For the 
actor who has spent the majority of his 
time on the road since 2003 touring 
with the Tony Award-winning musical 
penned by Elton John and Tim Rice, the 
pandemic brought Lipitz home for 18 
months while Broadway and tours were 
halted.

LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC
“Like every other artist, I did a lot of 
Zoom teaching, singing for benefits 
via video, taking classes and creating 
opportunities to support my colleagues 
emotionally,” says Lipitz, 57, who lives 
with his son, wife, Rosalie, “a recovering 
actress,” and daughter, Mikaela, 13, just 
outside of New York City. Mikaela’s bat 
mitzvah is on hold for now until they feel 

Nick Cordileone as Timon 
and Ben Lipitz as Pumbaa in 
Disney’s The Lion King.

JOAN MARCUS

Ben Lipitz

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

Ben Lipitz is Disney’s The Lion King’s Pumbaa for 19 Years
Ben Lipitz is Disney’s The Lion King’s Pumbaa for 19 Years
Ain’t No Passing Craze

JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DETAILS
The Lion King will be performed at the 
Detroit Opera House from Jan. 27-Feb. 
20. The Lion King will play Tuesdays 
through Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 
at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays 
at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are 
available at the Fisher Theatre Box 
Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and 
BroadwayInDetroit.com or by calling 
(313) 871-1132. 
Patrons will be required to show 
proof of a negative COVID test within 
72 hours of the performance date or 
proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. 
All patrons are required to wear a 
mask. Disney recommends its pro-
ductions for ages 6 and up. Children 
under the age of 2 will not be admitted. 
Children ages 2-11 will not need to 
show proof of negative COVID test or 
vaccine to attend The Lion King at the 
Detroit Opera House.

