- The German-born American star – who played the role of the scarecrow in Broadway’s The Wiz – died on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
- Battle made his Broadway debut in 1975 in the original production of Broadway’s The Wiz – playing a role played by Michael Jackson in the 1978 film.
- He won three Tony Awards in the Featured Actor in a Musical category for Sophisticated Ladies (1981), The Tap Dance Kid (1984) and Miss Saigon (1991).
- He played Wayne in the 2006 film musical Dreamgirls alongside Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce
Actor and singer Hinton Battle has died at the age of 67 after a long illness.
The German-born American star – who played the role of the Scarecrow in Broadway’s The Wiz – died on Tuesday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a representative confirmed. THR.
Battle made his Broadway debut in 1975 in the original production of Broadway’s The Wiz – playing a role played by Michael Jackson in the 1978 film.
He won three Tony Awards in the lead role in a musical category for Sophisticated Ladies (1981), The Tap Dance Kid (1984) and Miss Saigon (1991).
He played Wayne in the 2006 movie musical Dreamgirls alongside Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce – after starring in the Broadway musical – and received SAG and Critics Choice nominations for his work in the hit film’s ensemble.
Actor and singer Hinton Battle has died at the age of 67 after a long illness
He played Wayne in the 2007 film musical Dreamgirls alongside Jennifer Hudson, who paid an emotional tribute to him
Oscar winner Hudson took to X to pay tribute to him and fellow late Broadway star Chita Rivera, writing, “We lost two irreplaceable Broadway icons this week. Chita Rivera and Hinton Fight! I will always be grateful for their unique artistry and impact and the way our lives intersected! Rest in peace, legends!’
Hinton is survived by his sisters, Eddie and Lettie Battle, and his nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was born in Neubrücke, Hoppstädten-Weiersbach, West Germany, part of the Baumholder Army military community, and raised in Washington, D.C. and New York City by his housewife mother and U.S. Army officer father.
Demonstrating an aptitude for dance at the age of nine, he studied ballet for three years at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet.
The star subsequently received a scholarship to The School of American Ballet, where he studied under George Balanchine until the age of fifteen.
He debuted in his breakthrough role in The Wiz in January 1975 at the Majestic Theater on Broadway.
Battle’s other Broadway starring roles included Dancin’, Chicago (Billy Flynn) and Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker Jr.).
Battle made his Broadway debut in 1975 in the original production of Broadway’s The Wiz – playing a role played by Michael Jackson in the 1978 film.
He played Wayne in the 2006 film musical Dreamgirls (pictured right with Jamie Foxx and Keith Robinson)
Hinton is pictured with Patti LaBelle in 2006
He debuted in his breakthrough role in The Wiz in January 1975 at the Majestic Theater on Broadway
His role in The Tap Dance Kid also earned Hinton the NAACP Award and the Fred Astaire Award.
His film and TV credits include Quantum Leap and Touched by an Angel.
He guest-starred as Sweet the jazz demon, in the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, in which his spell forces the characters to sing their greatest secrets and fears.
An acclaimed choreographer, he worked on The Golden Globe Awards, Dance in America; the sitcoms Fired Up, Sister, Sister, The Trouble with Normal and The Boys.
He was Associate Choreographer at the 65th and 66th Annual Academy Awards with Debbie Allen.
In 2014, Battle starred in the off-Broadway production Cindy: The Musical.
His brief singing career included the song Think We’re Gonna Make It, which was featured on the soundtrack of the 1986 film Playing for Keeps. He released one solo album that year, Untapped.