Broadway star Maurice Hines dies at the age of 80, just weeks after his birthday
Broadway star Maurice Hines has died at the age of 80.
The actor was best known for his work as a tap dancer, appearing in musicals such as Sophisticated Ladies, Bring Back Birdie and Uptown… It’s Hot, for which he received a 1986 Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
He created, directed and choreographed the show, along with 2006’s Hot Feet.
Maurice died Friday of natural causes at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, his cousin and representative, Richard Nurse, said. The Hollywood Reporter.
According to his cousin, the actor had been living at the facility for a few years.
Broadway star Maurice Hines has died just weeks after his 80th birthday (pictured in New York in May 2016)
Born December 19, 1943, Maurice Hines started working in show business when he was just five or six with his younger brother, Gregory as the Hines Kids.
They made their Broadway debut in 1953 with The Girl In Pink Tights, choreographed by Agnes DeMille.
As they grew, the duo became known as The Hines Brothers, and their father, Maurice, Sr., joined them on stage in 1963, renaming their act Hines and Dad.
They became regular performers at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, as well as popular guests on The Tonight Show and The Pearl Bailey Show.
Maurice and Gregory had their big film breakthrough in 1984 in The Cotton Club.
“In the movie, all of our scenes were never written. Everything Gregory and I did was improvised, he said in an interview Profiles.
He said director Francis Ford Coppola told them, ‘I can’t give you a dialogue about how to be brothers, just do that,’ and we did that.” revealing that they completed their roles in just two takes.
That was the last film the brothers made together.
The actor was best known for his work as a tap dancer. He received a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for Uptown…It’s Hot in 1986. He created, directed and choreographed the show, along with 2006’s Hot Feet (pictured in New York in May 2016).
Maurice began working in show business at the age of five or six with his younger brother, Gregory as the Hines Kids, later the Hines Brothers
The brothers appeared in The Cotton Club, directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1984. It was their last film together, as a rift of sorts left them estranged but did not speak about it publicly. They reconciled before Gregory’s death in 2003
Debbie Allen took to social media to mourn her friend and Guys and Dolls co-star. “Maurice Hines, I was your first leading actress on a show, ‘Guys and Dolls’ and I will always cherish our journey together… I will ALWAYS PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. See you on the other side.❤️❤️’
The two became estranged over a rift of sorts and did not speak for a decade, but reconciled before Gregory’s death from cancer in 2003 at the age of 57.
Debbie Allen paid tribute to her late friend on social media.
“Maurice Hines, I was your first lead actress on a show ‘Guys and Dolls’ and I will always cherish our journey together,” the actress, dancer and director wrote alongside video and photos of her late boyfriend.
“My tears are because of my inability to talk to you or hold you. I WILL ALWAYS PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. See you on the other side.❤️❤️’