Role

:

Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

February 14, 1946 in New York City, NY

Death

:

August 9, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre

:

Film

 

Gregory Hines was a renowned American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer who was born on February 14, 1946, in New York City. He was the youngest of five children born to Alma Iola and Maurice Robert Hines Sr. His father was a dancer, musician, and actor, and his mother was a dancer and choreographer. Hines grew up in a family of performers, and he began dancing at the age of three. Hines' parents divorced when he was six years old, and he and his older brother, Maurice, were raised by their mother. Hines attended the Henry Street Settlement School of the Performing Arts in New York City, where he studied tap dancing, ballet, and acting. He made his Broadway debut at the age of 11 in the musical "The Girl in Pink Tights." In the 1960s, Hines and his brother formed a dance duo called "The Hines Kids." They performed on television shows such as "The Tonight Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show." In 1973, Hines made his film debut in "The Cotton Club," directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He also appeared in the films "Wolfen" and "History of the World, Part I." Hines' breakthrough role came in 1981 when he starred in the Broadway musical "Sophisticated Ladies." He received a Tony Award nomination for his performance. He went on to star in several other Broadway productions, including "Eubie!" and "Jelly's Last Jam," for which he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1992. Hines was also a successful television actor. He starred in the NBC sitcom "The Gregory Hines Show" in 1997 and appeared in several episodes of "Will & Grace." He also hosted his own talk show, "The Gregory Hines Show," in 1998. In addition to his acting career, Hines was a renowned tap dancer and choreographer. He was known for his innovative style, which combined traditional tap dancing with elements of jazz and hip-hop. He performed with some of the greatest jazz musicians of his time, including Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton. Hines was also a passionate advocate for the arts. He served on the National Endowment for the Arts and was a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. He was also a co-founder of the Tap Dance Foundation, which promotes the art of tap dancing and provides scholarships to young dancers. Hines received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to his Tony Award, he received an Emmy Award for his performance in the television movie "The Little Match Girl" in 1987. He was also inducted into the Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2003. Tragically, Hines passed away on August 9, 2003, at the age of 57. He had been diagnosed with liver cancer earlier that year. His death was a great loss to the world of dance and entertainment, but his legacy lives on through his performances and the many young dancers he inspired.

More....