Broadway star Maurice Hines dies at age 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
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 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.'