Gregory Hines

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Gregory Oliver Hines (February 14, 1946 – August 9, 2003) was an American actor, singer, and dancer, regarded by many as the greatest tap dancer of his generation, and one who transcended the stage.

Born in New York City, Hines parents started him and his brother Maurice dancing at an early age and in no time they were studying with choreographer Henry Le Tang. Together with their father the three were known as "The Hines Kids" and later as "The Hines Brothers" only to have the name change again in 1963 to "Hines, Hines and Dad". (Lynch, Richard C. "For The Record-Gregory Hines." ShowMusic The Musical Theatre Magazine 1994: 40-42.)

Hines appeared in such movies as The Cotton Club, White Nights, Running Scared, and Tap. On television, he starred in his own series in 1997 called The Gregory Hines Show, as well as in a recurring role as Ben Doucette on Will & Grace.

He earned Tony Award nominations for Eubie!, Comin' Uptown and Sophisticated Ladies. Hines won a 1992 Tony for the musical Jelly's Last Jam and a Tony in 1977 for Eubie!. (Lynch, Richard C. "For The Record-Gregory Hines." ShowMusic The Musical Theatre Magazine 1994: 40-42.) He also sang a memorable duet with the late Luther Vandross titled "There's Nothing Better Than Love" in 1986.

Hines died of liver cancer at the age of 57 in Los Angeles, California. At the time of his death, he was engaged to bodybuilder Negrita Jayde.

In 1990, Hines visited his idol, Sammy Davis, Jr., as the great entertainer lay dying of throat cancer, unable to speak. After Davis died, a choked-up Hines told the press of how Sammy had made a gesture to him, "as if passing a basketball … and I caught it." It is not known if Hines was able to pass the ball on to anyone, though some people consider Savion Glover, who studied under Hines, may be a suitable contender.

[edit] Filmography

History of the World: Part I (1981)
Wolfen (1981)
Deal of the Century (1983)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) (Cameo)
The Cotton Club (1984)
White Nights (1985)
Running Scared (1986)
Off Limits (1988)
Tap (1989)
Eve of Desesssssssssssssstruction (film) (1991)
A Rage in Harlem (1991)
Kangaroo Court (1994) (short subject)
Renaissance Man (1994)
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Good Luck (1996)
Mad Dog Time (1996)
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
Subway Stories: Tales From the Underground (1997)
The Tic Code (1999)
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
Once in the Life (2000)
Walter and Henry (2001)
Bojangles (TV movie) (2001)
Venice: Lost and Found (2002) (documentary)
The Root (2003)
Keeping Time: The Life, Music & Photography of Milt Hinton (2004) (documentary)