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.
DAMN! I thought he was looking thinner on ‘Will and Grace’… but I didn’t think he was ill. Whoa.
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.
Here’s his IMDB page to see all he’s done. At this posting IMDB hasn’t updated his page with the announcement of his passing.
Nooooo!
What a shame.
I just found out on Yahoo news. I’m speechless.
Aw, man. I loved that guy.
well crap!
Rest in Peace… or dance in peace…
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.
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.
I was shocked as well. I had no idea he had cancer.
How sad. May he rest in peace.
A fine gentleman, and a fine dancer. He’ll be missed.
I also am surprised; hadn’t heard he was ill. I wonder what type of cancer it was.
Dance in Peace, Gregory.
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?
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.
I’m shocked – I had no idea he was sick. He will be missed.
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.