He is known for portraying the title role in the 1973 film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and has reprised numerous times.

This particular opportunity led to his taking on the title role in the Los Angeles stage version (which played at the Universal Amphitheatre in 1972),[7] after receiving a standing ovation during a performance earlier in the tour.

From then on, he was a frequent musical guest star on network variety programs such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour [as lead singer in The Teddy Neeley Five], Sonny and Cher and A Touch of Gold, and as a guest actor in films such as The Shadow of Chikara (1977) and Hard Country (1981), network dramas during the 1970s and 1980s, such as Starsky and Hutch.

At the same time, Neeley provided his abilities as singer, songwriter, vocal arranger, and producer to albums and to appearances by such artists as Nigel Olsson, Tina Turner, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, Ray Charles, Richie Havens, The Kinks, Ben Vereen, Bo Diddley, Keith Carradine, and Meat Loaf.

He worked with songwriter Michael Rapp, who wrote such hit concept albums as Ulysses: The Greek Suite, The Ring and The Enchanter exclusively for showcasing Neeley's vocal talents.

Other notable leads included Stevie Wonder's former wife Syreeta and Irene Cara of Fame as Mary, and Dennis DeYoung of Styx as Pilate.

In 2004, Neeley worked with RTC once again, appearing as Lucky in the Rubicon Theatre Company's production of Waiting for Godot, which was the centerpiece of their BeckettFest.

In August 2006, Neeley was asked to perform the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar live in concert for a one-night-only benefit at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Produced and directed by Gary Goddard, this production reunited him with several of his former co-stars from the original Broadway cast and 1973 film (Ben Vereen, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen) and also paired him with current celebrities (Jack Black as Herod and Clint Holmes as Simon).

Glover left the show to rejoin Living Colour in June 2008, and actor James Delisco took over the Judas role, along with several new cast members for the third (2009) leg of the tour.

In 2012, following successful stage tours, film and television work, Neeley continued his childhood dream of singing in a rock and roll band.

He hit the road with "The Little Big Band" and the first stop was a benefit concert for the performing arts program at the high school in Virginia where Carl Anderson began his career.

Produced by Frank Munoz (Ace Frehley's Anomaly, Jason Newsted's Metal), Rock Opera was available on iTunes and his web site.