Gregory Hines Headshot

Gregory Hines

Date of Death: August 09, 2003 (57)

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Gregory Hines BIO

Gregory Hines was a jazz tap dancer, singer, actor, musician and choreographer as well as an avid improviser of tap steps, tap sounds, and tap rhythms alike. His improvisation was like that of a drummer, doing a solo and coming up with rhythms. He also improvised the phrasing of a number of tap steps, mainly based on sound produced.

Hines made his Broadway debut with his brother in The Girl in Pink Tights in 1954. He earned Tony Award nominations for Eubie! (1979), Comin' Uptown (1980), and Sophisticated Ladies (1981), and won the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Jelly's Last Jam (1992) and the Theatre World Award for Eubie!. Hines co-hosted the Tony Awards ceremony in 1995 and 2002.

In 1981, Hines made his movie debut in Mel Brooks's History of the World, Part I. He had a large role in The Cotton Club (1984), where he and his brother Maurice (in Maurice's sole film credit) played a 1930s tap-dancing duo reminiscent of the Nicholas Brothers.

Hines co-starred with Mikhail Baryshnikov in the 1985 film White Nights, and co-starred with Billy Crystal in the 1986 buddy cop film Running Scared. He starred in the 1989 film Tap opposite Sammy Davis Jr. (in Davis's last screen performance). He appeared alongside Whitney Houston and Loretta Devine in the highly successful 1995 film Waiting to Exhale and opposite Houston, Denzel Washington and Courtney B. Vance the following year in The Preacher's Wife. On television, he starred in his own sitcom in 1997, The Gregory Hines Show, which ran for one season on CBS, and had a recurring role of Ben Doucette on Will & Grace.

Hines died of liver cancer on August 9, 2003.

Gregory Hines STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1992
Jelly Roll Morton

[Off-Broadway]
1989
Feste

[US Tour]
National Tour, 1982
Featured Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1981
Featured Performer

Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Production, 1980
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1979
Scrooge

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1978
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1954
Shoe Shine Boy

Shoe Shine Boy

Gregory Hines Productions

 
[Broadway, 1992]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1980]
Choreographer
Choreographer

Gregory Hines Awards and Nominations

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1993 - Best Actor - Musical

Gregory Hines - , Jelly's Last Jam


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1993 - Best Choreography

Gregory Hines, Jelly's Last Jam


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1992 - Outstanding Actor - Musical

Gregory Hines, Jelly's Last Jam


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1992 - Outstanding Choreography

Gregory Hines, Jelly's Last Jam

Tony Awards - 1992 - Best Choreography

Gregory Hines, Jelly's Last Jam


winner
Tony Awards - 1992 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Gregory Hines, Jelly's Last Jam

Tony Awards - 1981 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Gregory Hines, Sophisticated Ladies

Tony Awards - 1980 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Gregory Hines , Comin' Uptown


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1979 - Best New Talent

Gregory Hines, Eubie!


winner
Theatre World Awards - 1979 - Performance

Gregory Hines, Eubie!

Tony Awards - 1979 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Gregory Hines , Eubie!

Gregory Hines Videos

Gregory Hines News


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BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that tap icon Maurice Hines has passed away at 80.

The Joyce Theater Foundation to Present Eight Edition of American Dance Platform


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Tapestry Dance Company to Present THE PRECIOUS PRESENT - LISTEN in Austin


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Cast Set for World Premiere of SUGAR HILL: THE ELLINGTON/STRAYHORN NUTCRACKER


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Bucks County Playhouse Education Offers Education Classes for Fall 2023


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Chicago Human Rhythm Project's 33nd Annual International Festival of American Tap presents performances, education programs and CHRP's annual Gala 'Jubalee' at five venues around Chicago featuring generations of celebrated artists from around the globe directed by CHRP Artistic Director, Jumaane Taylor. Running July 14 – 23.

Amber Iman, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Annie Golden & More to be Featured in Williamstown Theatre Festival Readings


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THE BRAT PACK Featuring Kathryn Allison, Sam Gravitte, Luke Hawkins & Jelani Remy to Return to Birdland


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MEL AND ELLA SWING! Starring Billy Stritch and Gabrielle Stravelli to Return to Birdland


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Theater for the New City Presents a Return Engagement For Smokey Stevens In I JUST WANT TO TELL SOMEBODY


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Gregory Hines FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Gregory Hines been in?

Gregory Hines has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.

How many West End shows has Gregory Hines been in?

Gregory Hines has not appeared in the West End

What awards has Gregory Hines been nominated for?

Gregory Hines has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his nominations include Best Actor - Musical and Best Choreography at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Jelly's Last Jam," Outstanding Actor - Musical and Outstanding Choreography at the Drama Desk Awards for "Jelly's Last Jam," Best Choreography and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Jelly's Last Jam," Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Sophisticated Ladies" and "Comin' Uptown," Best New Talent at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Eubie!," Performance at the Theatre World Awards for "Eubie!," and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Eubie!".

What awards has Gregory Hines won?

Gregory Hines has won several awards for his work in Broadway shows. He received the Best Choreography award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Jelly's Last Jam." He also won the Outstanding Actor - Musical award and the Outstanding Choreography award from the Drama Desk Awards for the same show. Hines further received the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical award at the Tony Awards for his performance in "Jelly's Last Jam." Additionally, he was honored with the Best New Talent award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Eubie!" and received a Performance award from the Theatre World Awards for the same show.

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