In Remembrance: Gregory Hines

     Actor and dancer Gregory Hines, equally well known for his work on stage and the silver screen passed away on Saturday August 9, 2003 in Los Angeles. He was 57.

     Born on February 14, 1946, Hines bagn dancing at an early age. At age six, he and his brother Maurice were performing tap at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. In 1954 they joined the cast of the Broadway musical The Girl In Pink Tights. By their teen years, their father had joined the act as a drummer and the trio toured as Hines, Hines and Dad. The trio toured the world and performed on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The trio split in the late 60s when the three disagreed over the artistic direction of the act.

     After a period where he had withdrawn from show business, Hines returned to New York to reconcile with his brother. They both went on to land roles in the 1978 Broadway show Eubie!, which featured the music of jazz great Eubie Blake. Hines’ performance would earn him the first of five Tony Award nominations. He would finally win a best actor Tony in 1992 for his roll in Jelly’s Last Jam.

     His first film role was the wisecracking slave Josephus in Mel brooks History of the World: Part 1(1981). It would be the first of many comedic parts Hines would take. He would also appear in the comedies Deal Of The Century (1983), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994).

     Hines had also been selected to star opposite Nick Nolte in the buddy action feature 48 Hours, but was unable to do the project due to a scheduling conflict with a Broadway production. The part went to Eddie Murphy.

     Hines would be able to feature his dancing in dramas The Cotton Club (1984) and Tap (1989). His last film, The Root, based on Gary Richards novel, is scheduled for release later this year.

     Hines also received several Emmy Award nominations, most recently for his lead in role as tap dancer Bill Robinson in the 2001 mini-series Boojangles.

     As a dancer, Hines drew inspiration from the style and talents of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, The Nicholas Brothers and Sammy Davis, Jr. Some critics even compared him to Fred Astaire.