Actor and tap dancer Maurice Hines may have been best known for his roles on screen in films and TV shows including “The Cotton Club,” “The Equalizer,” “At Home with the Webbers,” and “Oops, Ups & Downs: The Murder Mystery of Humpty Dumpty.” He was also known for his roles on stage. In 1986 he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a musical for the Broadway musical “Uptown…It’s Hot!”
According to reports from family and friends, Maurice died in December 2023. For example, on Instagram, Debbie Allen shared a tribute to the late performer writing, “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.”
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Hines was born in New YorkCity and began performing when he was just five years old. His very first Broadway performance was in 1954 in “The Girl in the Pink Tights.” He went on to perform in other Broadway shows including “Eubie!,” “Sophisticated Ladies,” and “Bring Back Birdie.” He also performed in the national tour of “Guys and Dolls.”
Hines also performed frequently with his younger brother, Gregory Hines, and father under the name “Hines, Hines & Dad.” The trio performed together in New York, Las Vegas and Europe. They also performed on multiple TV shows including “The Tonight Show,” “The Pearl Bailey Show,” and “The Hollywood Palace.”
Both his brother and father preceded him in death. His brother died in 2003, and his father died in 2010.
You can watch Hines perform in the video below.
According to Playbill, Hines is survived by his niece Daria and his nephew Zach.
Rest in peace.
