Gregory Hines Is Dead At 57

[Stephe96]

From the AP:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Tony Award winner Gregory Hines, the tap-dancing actor who started on Broadway and in movies including "White Nights" and "Running Scared," has died, his publicist says. He was 57.
Hines died Saturday in Los Angeles of cancer, publicist Allen Eichorn said.

[Askia]

DAMN! I thought he was looking thinner on 'Will and Grace'... but I didn't think he was ill. Whoa.

[CadburyAngel]

Oh, no. I never even knew he was ill.

I raise a glass to a very talented and classy man. I imagine that he's up there teaching a tap routine to the apostles, trademark smile in place.

[Zeldar]

Here's his IMDB page (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Hines,+Gregory) to see all he's done. At this posting IMDB hasn't updated his page with the announcement of his passing.

[SnoopyFan]

Nooooo!

What a shame.

:(

[monstro]

I just found out on Yahoo news. I'm speechless.

[Arden Ranger]

Aw, man. I loved that guy.

[Krisfer the Cat]

well crap!

Rest in Peace... or dance in peace...

[rockle]

I didn't know he was ill either. Terrible shame. I actually respected the guy - and there aren't many I can say that about.

[Sylkyn]

Crap. 2003 has been a very bad time for the show business industry. I really hate this. A great talent taken from us too soon.

:(

[Mahaloth]

I was shocked as well. I had no idea he had cancer.

[kung fu lola]

How sad. May he rest in peace.

[twickster]

A fine gentleman, and a fine dancer. He'll be missed.

[Revtim]

I also am surprised; hadn't heard he was ill. I wonder what type of cancer it was.

[JohnT]

Dance in Peace, Gregory. :(

[Zeldar]

The image that keeps coming to mind as I think about Gregory's many roles and TV appearances is that solo tap bit in Cotton Club where he's working some steps on a set of stair steps while other stuff is going on in scenes intercut with him. Since Coppola used the same sort of device in the Godfather films, it's easy to see how they came up with the gimmick. Still, the starkness of the setting Hines is in, the lighting, the fact that his dancing was without musical accompaniment, and the way that sequence ended (as best I recall) with just a tip of the hat, seems an appropriate way to think of his passing.

I may have this scene all jumbled up from several others. Does anybody else know what I'm trying to describe here?

[you with the face]

That's so tragic! I can't even believe it. :(

Am I the only one who thinks 2003 has seen an extraordinary amount of celebrity deaths? In this summer alone, it seems like a famous person has died every other day or so.

[Bottle of Smoke]

I'm shocked -- I had no idea he was sick. He will be missed.

[omni-not]

:(

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41056-2003Aug10.html

:(

[I can't believe that's butter!]

What the hell! Talk about random. :(

The hiding of an illness isn't that much of a new one on me, however.

May he have a sizable place in the hereafter.

[doctordoowop]

I recall, "Hines , Hines & Dad" as frequent guests on Carson. I knew father Hines had passed; what about the other brother?

Of course I'm shocked,too, never knew he was sick.RIP.

[elephant shoes]

::elephant shoes does a little time step, and a-shuffle off to Buffalo in honour of Gregory Hines::

So, long, Gregory. Thanks for all the tap. I sure am gonna miss you.

[faithfool]

Gah, I'm hating this year SO much. I've been a Hines fan at least since White Nights and I've always appreciated his seemingly sunny disposition and unbeatable work ethic. And his tapping/dancing, just blew me away.

I'm so going to miss him.

Gregory, keep dancin' on a cloud man, in peace. :(

[HoldenCaulfield]

We just watched History of the World, Part I the other night. He will be missed.

[TeaElle]

I'm gutted. I was a fan of Hines with a passion I normally cannot exert for a celebrity. I met him after a performance of "Jelly's Last Jam" and he was humble and friendly and despite being exhausted he was warm and engaging with everyone in the throng who were waiting to see him after the show.

I'm not ashamed to say that this news left me in tears. He will be sorely, sorely missed.

[LurkMeister]

Originally posted by doctordoowop
I recall, "Hines , Hines & Dad" as frequent guests on Carson. I knew father Hines had passed; what about the other brother?

Of course I'm shocked,too, never knew he was sick.RIP.
His brother is Maurice Hines; IMDB shows him as still alive but doesn't have much else on him besides the previously mentioned appearance in "Cotton Club" and a few other credits.

Another fan of his dancing, but I was impressed by his acting in "Tap" as an ex-con trying to go straight. Of course, his dancing in that was magnificent, particularly the challenge dance with Sammy Davis Jr and the dance at the club near the end (with the "electronic shoes").

[Mockingbird]

Damn.

Just damn.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

I always liked him, especially in "Running Scared" (being a life-long Chicagoan myself).

Time to get out the bugle and play "Taps" in his honor.....Timmy

[Violet]

Originally posted by you with the face
That's so tragic! I can't even believe it. :(

Am I the only one who thinks 2003 has seen an extraordinary amount of celebrity deaths? In this summer alone, it seems like a famous person has died every other day or so.
A veritable Twilight Zone. :(
To Mr. Hines!

[Rilchiam]

Pulled up my copy of Waiting to Exhale to watch the scene where his character is introduced. He plays Marvin, Gloria's new neighbor. She sees him unpacking his stuff and goes over to introduce herself. While he's telling her where he's from and stuff, the sound fades away and the camera begins ogling his legs, butt and shoulders, then dollys in on Gloria, who is watching dreamily. "...I'm sorry; what did you say?" :)

Godspeed, Mr. Hines.

[SnoopyFan]

That's the first thing I ever saw him in too, Rilchiam. I thought he was so cute in a "aw look at the old guy mackin' on his neighbor" kind of way.

[Annie-Xmas]

Having seen him twice on Broadway and having met him at the stage door once, I can only add :(

[Peg]

(sigh)

[Moirai]

Even some of his friends didn't know he was sick, so don't feel totally out of the loop. His work ethic was such that one friend said he'd never known Hines to be sick a day in his life.

Sigh.

Fuck.

Anybody else going to bawling their eyes out during the "In Memorium" portion of the Oscar telecast this year? Of course, I do that every year...

An honorable man with immense talent. That combination just doesn't come around every day.

[80sHairMetalMaven]

Holy Tapdancing Tornados...how did I miss this.

Shit.....:( This sucks.


IDBB

[Scarlett67]

Damn. He was a great dancer. Too young . . .

[BooksWoods]

Originally posted by Revtim
I also am surprised; hadn't heard he was ill. I wonder what type of cancer it was.

I wonder this too, and if it was found too late or he was in treatment and hiding it or what.

[Cat Fight]

What?! What?! I'm too young to remember many of the stars that have passed away this year, but I adored Gregory Hines (and had a wee little crush on him since he began appearing on Will&Grace). I'll add another "damn."

[Annie-Xmas]

He deserves kudos for discovering Savion Glover, too. A good actor, an amazing dancer, and an all-around-nice-person.

[Fibber McGee]

Gregory Hines died at 57 . . .

Heinz is known for its 57 varities (of what exactly no one knows) . . .

Coincedence?

Yeah, just stuck me as funny.

R.I.P. Greg Hines. He'll be missed . . .