December 31st 2023.
Maurice Hines, one of the tap-dancing legends of Broadway, passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 80. Before his death, he had been living at an assisted living facility for elderly entertainers in Englewood, New Jersey. According to the executive director of the facility, Jordan Strohl, he died of natural causes.
Hines was born in Harlem, New York, and was part of a family of performers. Along with his brother, Gregory, and their father, Maurice Sr., he formed the act “Hines, Hines & Dad”. Their success led to an appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1963.
Maurice Hines had a long-standing career on Broadway, starting in 1954 with “The Girl In Pink Tights”. He was nominated for a Tony Award in 1986 for his role in the musical “UpTown…Its Hot!”, which he also created and directed.
His relationship with his brother Gregory was often tumultuous, and a 2019 documentary revealed that the two did not speak for almost a decade. After Gregory passed away due to cancer in 2003, Maurice paid tribute to his legacy by going on the “Tappin’ Thru Life” tour.
Apart from his performances, Hines was also an acclaimed director and choreographer. He worked on the national tour of Louis Armstrong’s musical biography Satchmo. Debbie Allen, an African-American legend in theater and film, expressed her condolences for her former director: “Maurice Hines, I was your first leading lady in a show, ‘Guys and Dolls’” and I will always treasure our journey together. 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.”
Maurice Hines will be remembered for his contributions to the performing arts, as well as his lasting legacy in the world of Broadway.
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