Broadway star Maurice Hines has died at the age of 80.
The actor was best known for his work as a tap dancer, appearing on musical such as Sophisticated Ladies, Bring Back Birdie and Uptown… It’s Hot, for which he received a Tony nomination for best actor in a musical in 1986.
He conceived, directed and choreographed the show, along with 2006’s Hot Feet.
Maurice passed away Friday of natural causes at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, his cousin and rep, Richard Nurse, told The Hollywood Reporter.
According to his cousin, the actor had lived at the facility for a couple of years.
Broadway star Maurice Hines has died, just weeks after his 80th birthday
Born December 19, 1943, Maurice Hines began working in showbusiness when he was only five or six with his younger brother, Gregory as the Hines Kids.
They made their Broadway debut in 1953’s The Girl In Pink Tights, which was 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, re-naming 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 got their big movie break appearing in 1984’s The Cotton Club.
‘In the movie, all our scenes were never scripted. Everything Gregory and I did was improvised, he said in an interview on Profiles.
He relayed that director Francis Ford Coppola told them, ‘”I can’t give you dialogue on how to be brothers, just do that,” and we did.’ revealing they completed their part in just two takes.
That was the last film the brothers made together.
The two became estranged through some sort of rift and didn’t speak to each other for a decade, but reconciled prior to 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 leading lady in a show, “Guys and Dolls” and I will always treasure our journey together,’ the actress, dancer and director wrote next to video and photos of her late friend.
‘My tears are for my inability to speak with you or to hold you. I will ALWAYS SPEAK YOUR NAME. See you on the other side.❤️❤️’