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An accomplished dancer, Gregory Hines grew up as a member of the tap dancing act, "Hines, Hines, and Dad" with his father and brother. Having danced from the age of five, his first forays into theatre were built on his skills as a dancer. He appeared in many Broadway productions including "Jelly's Last Jam" for which he won a Tony award in 1992. His first film role was as a Roman slave in Mel Brooks' 1981 comedy History of the World Part One. He had leading roles in Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club opposite Richard Gere; White Nights with ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov; and Running Scared with Billy Crystal. Hines had one of his best screen roles as a jazz musician afflicted with Tourette Syndrome in The Tic Code (1998).
Hines was born on February 14, 1946, in New York, NY, and grew up in a show-business family. Having appeared in numerous television shows, including an ongoing role in the sitcom, Will and Grace, he received several Emmy Award nominations, most recently for his lead role as tap dancer Bill Robinson in the 2001 miniseries "Bojangles," and he won a 1999 Daytime Emmy Award as the voice of "Big Bill" in the Bill Cosby animated TV series "Little Bill."
Gregory Hines died of cancer, aged 57, on August 10, 2003. Besides his father and brother, survivors include a daughter from his first marriage; a son from his second marriage; a stepdaughter; and a grandson. His marriages to dance instructor Patricia Panella Hines and theatrical producer Pamela Koslow Hines ended in divorce. At his death, Hines was engaged to bodybuilder Negrita Jayde.
Last updated: June 15, 2004.
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