Actor Gregory Hines Dies at 57

By Jack August 10, 2003 11:36 AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tony Award winner Gregory Hines, the tap-dancing actor who started on Broadway and in movies including "White Nights" and "Running Scared," has died, his publicist says. He was 57.

Hines died Saturday in Los Angeles of cancer, publicist Allen Eichorn said.

The dancer, among the best in his generation, won a 1993 Tony for the musical "Jelly's Last Jam."

Hines became internationally known as part of a jazz tap due with his brother, Maurice, and the two danced together in the musical revue "Eubie!" in 1978. The brothers later performed together in Broadway's "Sophisticated Ladies" and on film in 1984's "The Cotton Club."

In "The Cotton Club," Hines also had a lead acting role, which led to more work in film. He starred with Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1985's "White Nights" and with Billy Crystal in 1986's "Running Scared," and he appeared with Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett in 1995's "Waiting to Exhale," among other movies.

On television, he had his own sitcom in 1997 called "The Gregory Hines Show," as well as a recurring role on "Will and Grace." This past March, he appeared in the spring television series "Lost at Home."

Gregory Oliver Hines was born on February 14, 1946, in New York City. He has said his mother urged him and his older brother toward tap dancing because she wanted them to have a way out of the ghetto.

When he was a toddler, he said, his brother was already taking tap lessons and would come home and teach him steps. They began performing together when Gregory Hines was five, and they performed at the Apollo for two weeks when he was six. In 1974 they were cast in the Broadway musical "The Girl in Pink Tights," starring French ballerina Jeanmaire.

"I don't remember not dancing," Hines said in a 2001 interview with The Associated Press. "When I realized I was alive and these were my parents, and I could walk and talk, I could dance."

Paired with his brother Maurice, he was a professional child star. In his teens, joined by their father, Maurice Sr., on drums, they were known as Hines, Hines and Dad. Later he earned Tony nominations on Broadway in "Eubie," "Comin' Uptown" and "Sophisticated Ladies." He won a Tony for best actor in a musical playing jazz legend "Jelly Roll" Morton in "Jelly's Last Jam."

There was a time, he said, when he didn't want to dance. He was in his mid-20s, "a hippie" in a brief moment of rebellion, he said in 2001.

"I felt that I didn't want to be in show business anymore. I felt that I wanted to be a farmer," he said with a laugh. Invited to work on a farm in upstate New York, he quickly learned a lesson. Beginning before dawn, "I was milking cows and shoveling terrible stuff and working all day. By the end of the day all I wanted was my tap shoes - I thought, `What am I doing? I better get back where I belong on the stage where we work at night and can sleep late!'"

Hines had a falling out with his older brother in the late 1960s because the younger was becoming influenced by counter-culture and wanted to perform to rock music and write his songs. In 1973, the family act disbanded and Hines moved to Venice Beach.

"I was going through a lot of changes," Hines told the Washington Post in 1981. "Marriage. We'd just had a child. Divorce. I was finding myself."

He returned to New York in 1978, partly to be near his daughter, Daria, who was living with Hines' first wife, dance therapist Patricia Panella. His brother, with whom he had reconciled, told him about an audition for the Broadway-bound "The Last Minstrel Show." He got the part, but the show opened and closed in Philadelphia.

Hines landed his first film role in the 1981 Mel Brooks comedy "History of the World Part I," in which he played a Roman slave as a last-minute replacement for Richard Pryor.

Hines' has been nominated for a number of Emmy Awards, most recently in 2001 for his lead role in the mini-series "Bojangles." His PBS special "Gregory Hines: Tap Dance in America" was nominated in 1989, and in 1982 he was nominated for his performance in "I Love Liberty," a variety special saluting America.

He also won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1999 for his work as the voice of "Big Bill" in the Bill Cosby animated TV series "Little Bill" and NAACP Image Awards for "Bojangles" and "Running Scared."

| comments: 18

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gregory hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on September 17, 2003 8:20 AM

ur website was totally copied from another site

The Death of Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on September 22, 2003 1:36 PM

I have always loves Gregory Hines, I am truely furious that he died over a month ago and I did not here about it until the Emmy's. What a shame he didn't get the recongnition that others have gotten.

As per "copied"...   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on September 22, 2003 3:17 PM

It's a tragedy that he died...he was so young...but anyway...

As for the reader that said "this is totally copied", do you see that (AP) next to "LOs Angeles"? That means "Associated Press". They report on a number of subjects and send the same article to multiple sources...this isn't "copied", it's associated press.

RE: The Death of Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on September 22, 2003 3:29 PM

you are so damn right man ... he didn't get the recognition he deserves ... he was such a great black actor and it seems as if noone cares about his death ... it's a shame

Gregory Hines Death   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on September 22, 2003 9:50 PM

The death of gregory hines is A true loss to american artistic culture, in my oppinion he along with others ie. sammy davis jr. brought attention to the highly underrated art of tap. I will mourn his loss along with other fans of what he so briliantly brought to our culture

Gregory Hines Death   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on September 22, 2003 9:52 PM

I too, was shocked while watching the Emmies.  I have always loved watching Gregory Hines.  Running Scared, White Nights, Will and Grace.  I've watched Running Scared at least 7 times.  I will truly miss seeing anything new with him.  He put a smile on my face and may he have one on his in God's loving arms.  He was the best and will be greatly missed.  God Bless You, Gregory.

RE: The Death of Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on September 24, 2003 8:15 PM

I too am angered at the fact that I did not hear of his death until the Emmy's!!  He was truly an incredible entertainer!!

RE: Gregory Hines Death   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 29, 2003 2:01 PM

i love you

Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on November 20, 2003 1:21 PM

I too was very sad that he did not get the recoginition that he should of gotten.
All these award shows and yet I did not hear an announcement like they did for Alliyah and Lisa "LeftEye" Lopez.

Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 16, 2004 2:53 AM

I am really saddened that I was unaware of Gregory's death until the British Bafta Awards on 15th February 2004 - how very very sad - he was such an enormous talent.....

Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 13, 2004 11:45 AM

I just now found out that Gregory HInes had passed away.  I have always loved dance and not so much tap, but he changed my mind.  He was such an exciting dancer to watch.  His face echoed the gentleness in his heart, too.  No one with those qualities, whether white or black or any other color has ever been more gracious, yet exhilarating.  I close my eyes and see him and I am still moved.

I'm shocked...   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 13, 2004 8:11 PM

My fiance' taped the NAACP Image Awards and we watched it today. I just found out that Gregory has died. I am totally ticked off that I am just finding out. It's a crying shame. Stuff I don't want to hear about, I hear. The things I need to hear about, I don't. Tell that to the FCC!

Even Now 3/17/04   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 18, 2004 7:58 PM

I still miss you. Right now as I write these words the tears are falling. You were so great and and wonderful and people just didn't want to let you be recognized for your greatnesss even in your death; it was quiet and quick, just like your life. You didn't know me but I knew you through watching you and enjoying a great and wonderful man. And you didn't look bad Either. I'm sorry to have lost you and at such a young age Bless your family and may we all try to find some kind of peace in losing you. Priscilla

Death of Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 25, 2004 12:09 PM

When I first saw him on History of the World, I thought he was a comedian, then I saw White Nights, and I saw how enormously talented a man he truly was. I also enjoyed Running Scared immensely, among many of his great works and I am heart-broken that I will never be able to enjoy anything new from him. He was my favorite actor of his class and He will be soarly missed.

RE: Death of Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 25, 2004 12:17 PM

Correction: He will be sorely missed. I had looked forward to more of his works. Now we must enjoy him for what he has left. Although we know he was capable of so much more,(had cancer not cut him down in his prime) I am sure he is proud of what he has left us to honor him and enjoy his talent with.

Goodbye Gregory   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 29, 2004 8:10 PM

You'l always be a part of Americana.

Let's kick cancer in the #($&!  It took our friend.

Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on August 26, 2004 6:25 PM

I am so sorry that Mr. Hines did not live a long life. I find that
so many entertainers give their lives to
entertainment and soon are they forgotten and barely given tribute after their death. They are grist for the mill as long as they live and when they pass they are really forgotten.  It is a really hard business and if only the young could understand that is an effort in futility to become an entertainer.
I hope for his family God's blessings.  His mother encouraged him and his brother because few avenues are opened and she made a mistake but his talent was seen by many. Hopefully our people will wake up to what they really should do and leave this terrible world of entertainment alone.

We Miss you Gregory Hines   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 17, 2005 4:10 PM

Rest in Peace Gregory Hines you where the best you are the greatest ever