Maurice Hines, Tap Dancing Broadway, TV and Film Star, Dies at 80
December 30, 2023 @ 12:39 PM
Maurice Hines, whose tap dancing prowess graced countless Broadway, TV and film productions as a dancer, choreographer and actor, died Friday, several of his longtime friends announced.
Debbie Allen, who starred alongside Hines in the all-Black cast of the 2001 tour of âGuys and Dolls,â confirmed Hinesâ death in a tribute post on social media on Friday, saying âI will always treasure our journey together. My tears are for my inability to speak with you or to hold you. I will always speak your name.â
Best known for his performance in Francis Ford Coppolaâs âThe Cotton Club,â Hinesâ Broadway credits include âEubie!,â âSophisticated Ladiesâ and âBring Back Birdie,â as well as âUptownâŠItâs Hot!â and âHot Feetâ which were both created, choreographed and directed by Hines. In 1986, he earned a Tony award nomination for best actor in a musical in âUptownâŠItâs Hot!â
Hines first appeared on Broadway at 5-years-old, when he and his brother Gregory (who died in 2003), debuted their tap dancing act â akin to that of the famed Nicholas Brothers â in the 1954 production of âThe Girl in Pink Tights.â
First debuting the act as the Hines Kids, the siblings were then known as the Hines Brothers before including their father, Maurice Sr., into the act, which was then called Hines, Hines & Dad. The trio performed in clubs across the country and in Europe, eventually becoming regular performers at New York Cityâs Apollo Theater and appeared on âThe Pearl Bailey Showâ and âThe Tonight Show.â
While the family decided to pursue solo careers, Maurice and Gregory reunited for a 1979 Broadway production of âEubie!â and played brothers Clayton Williams and Sandman Williams in 1984 film âThe Cotton Club.â In the movie, the Williams brothers reconcile after a falling out and perform tap number âCrazy Rhythm!,â which Hines revealed was completed in two takes in a 2008 interview.
The brothersâ roles in âThe Cotton Clubâ mirrored their real-life fractured relationship following a decade-long dispute, which the siblings eventually mended. Maurice paid tribute to Gregory in 2016 show âMaurice Hines Is Tappinâ Through Life,â stating that he didnât want his brother to be forgotten after he passed away years earlier in 2003 after a battle with cancer.
As a choreographer, Hines helmed âHarlem Suite,â which he also starred in, Louis Armstrong musical âSatchmoâ as well as âHavana Night in Cuba.â
Hines is also the subject of documentary âMaurice Hines:Â Bring Them Back,â which was executive produced by Allen.
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