Who was Maurice Hines' brother, Gregory?
THE star siblings were both actors, dancers, and choreographers who rose to fame in the 1980s.
Gregory Hines is best known for starring alongside his brother, Maurice Hines, as siblings in Francis Ford Coppola's 1984 American musical crime drama film, The Cotton Club.
Who was Maurice Hines' brother, Gregory?
Gregory Oliver Hines was born on February 14, 1946, in New York City.
His father, Maurice Robert Hines, was also a dancer, musician, and actor.
Along with his older brother, Maurice, Gregory grew up in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Harlem.
When he was just two years old, he began tap dancing, eventually working his way up to dancing semi-professionally by the age of five.
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Along with Maurice, Gregory began studying with Henry LeTang, an acclaimed choreographer.
The duo, known as The Hines Kids, would perform with veteran tap dancers like The Nicholas Brothers and Howard Sims across venues and nightclubs nationwide.
They were later known as The Hines Brothers.
In 1954, Gregory made his Broadway debut alongside his brother, Maurice, in the musical comedy The Girl in Pink Tights.
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In 1963, the duo changed their name again after their father joined their act as a drummer.
By then, they referred to themselves as Hines, Hines, and Dad.
Throughout his life, Gregory advocated for tap dancing in America.
He even created National Tap Dance Day in May 1989, which is now celebrated annually on May 25 in more than 40 cities nationwide.
Gregory Hines received several awards and accolades for his dancing, choreography, acting, and singing career, along with multiple nominations.
He appeared in over 40 movies along with several theatrical and television productions in his decades-long career.
His first accolade was the Theatre World Award for Eubie! in 1979, followed by the 1988 Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture for the film Running Scared, which he starred in alongside Billy Crystal.
In 1992, he received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Jelly's Last Jam.
In 1998, Gregory took home the Flo-Bert Award for Lifetime Achievement in Tap Dance, awarded to him by the New York Committee to Celebrate National Tap Dance Day.
In 2003, just a few months before his death, Gregory took home an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for the TV series, Little Bill.
Gregory voiced Big Bill on the Nick Jr. Channel series.
When was the pair in The Cotton Club?
The Cotton Club is a 1984 American film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who also served as the movie's co-writer.
Coppola, a film director, producer, and screenwriter, is perhaps best known for The Godfather trilogy.
He is the father of Sofia Coppola, a director and filmmaker, and Roman Coppola, a screenwriter.
He is also the uncle of actors Jason Schwartzman and Nicolas Cage.
The Cotton Club is a musical crime drama based on the 1977 book written by James Haskins.
The film centers on the Cotton Club, a real New York City nightclub that operated from 1923 to 1940.
In the movie, set in the 1930s, the Cotton Club is a Harlem jazz club owned and operated by a mobster.
In the film, Gregory Hines stars as Delbert "Sandman" Williams, a dancer at the club.
Gregory's brother, Maurice, also starred in the movie, playing Sandman's brother, another club dancer.
The Cotton Club starred Gregory Hines, Richard Gere, Diane Lane, and Lonette McKee in starring roles.
The film's supporting stars included an ensemble cast made up of Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Bob Hoskins, James Remar, Gwen Verdon, and Fred Gwynne.
Though the film wasn't a box office success, positive reviews led it to be nominated for two Golden Globes, including Best Director and Best Picture.
The film was also nominated for two Oscars, including the Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Film Editing.
When did Gregory Hines die?
Gregory Hines died on August 9, 2003.
Gregory was reportedly on his way to a local hospital from his Los Angeles home.
He had been diagnosed with liver cancer just a year before and only chose to tell family and close friends.
At the time of his death, he was engaged to Toronto-based bodybuilder, Negrita Jayde.
While his funeral was held in Santa Monica, California, Gregory was buried at the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery.
The cemetery, also known as West Oak Memorial Gardens, is located in Oakville, Ontario.
At the time, he was survived by his father and brother, along with his daughter from his first marriage, a son from his second marriage, a stepdaughter, and a grandson.
Gregory's father, Maurice Hines Sr., passed away in a hospice-care facility after a brief illness on July 27, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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He was 88 years old.
Gregory's brother, Maurice, died on December 29, 2023, in Englewood, New Jersey, at the age of 80.
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