Maurice Hines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maurice Hines
Hines in 2023
Background information
Born	(1943-12-13)December 13, 1943 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	December 29, 2023(2023-12-29) (aged 80) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, director, choreographer, singer
Years active	1954–2023
Labels	Arbors
Associated acts	Gregory Hines

Maurice Robert Hines Jr. (born December 13, 1943 – died December 29, 2023) was an American actor, director, singer, and choreographer. He was famous for his amazing tap dancing. Maurice was also the older brother of another well-known dancer, Gregory Hines.

Maurice Hines: Life and Career

Maurice Robert Hines Jr. was born in New York City on December 13, 1943. His parents were Alma Iola (Lawless) and Maurice Robert Hines Sr. His father was also a dancer, musician, and actor.

Early Dancing Days

Maurice started dancing at just five years old. He learned tap dance at the Henry LeTang Dance Studio in Manhattan. His teacher, Henry LeTang, quickly saw how talented Maurice was. He started creating special dance routines for Maurice and his younger brother, Gregory. Their style was inspired by the famous Nicholas Brothers, who were a well-known tap-dancing duo.

Maurice made his first appearance on Broadway in a show called The Girl in Pink Tights in 1954. Broadway is a famous area in New York City known for its many theaters and big stage shows.

Touring and Family Act

Soon after, Maurice and Gregory began touring. They performed as the opening act for big stars like Lionel Hampton and Gypsy Rose Lee. Later, their father joined them, and they became "Hines, Hines & Dad." This family act performed regularly in New York, Las Vegas, and all over Europe. They also appeared on many TV shows, including The Pearl Bailey Show and The Tonight Show.

Broadway and Directing

Maurice later decided to start a solo career. He played the lead role of Nathan Detroit in a national tour of the musical Guys and Dolls. After that, he returned to Broadway in a show called Eubie! in 1978.

He also performed in other Broadway shows like Bring Back Birdie and Sophisticated Ladies in 1981. In 1986, he performed in and choreographed Uptown... It's Hot!. For this show, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. A Tony Award is one of the highest honors for stage performances in the United States. In 2006, he created, choreographed, and directed Hot Feet.

Maurice also directed and choreographed many other shows. He helped direct the national tour of Satchmo, a musical about Louis Armstrong. He also directed, choreographed, and starred in Harlem Suite. He even directed a show called Havana Night in Cuba and an all-Latino production of The Red Shoes in the Dominican Republic. He was the first African American to direct a show at Radio City Music Hall, a famous entertainment venue in New York City.

Movies and TV Shows

Maurice Hines appeared in one main movie role. He starred in Francis Ford Coppola's 1984 film The Cotton Club. In the movie, Maurice and his brother Gregory played the "Williams Brothers," a tap-dancing duo. This was similar to the real-life Nicholas Brothers. Maurice also appeared in a film called Oops, Ups & Downs: The Murder Mystery of Humpty Dumpty in 2007. On television, he was in shows like Eubie!, Love, Sidney, and Cosby.

Later Performances and Tributes

In 2010, Maurice played the lead role in a musical called Sophisticated Ladies. This show was inspired by the music of Duke Ellington. It was performed at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C.. Teenaged tap-dancing brothers John and Leo Manzari also performed in the show.

In 2013, Maurice performed a special show called Tappin' Thru Life: An Evening with Maurice Hines. This show was a tribute to his late brother Gregory. It was praised by The Boston Globe as "a class act by a class act." The show later played in Boston and New York City. It also had a six-week run at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. The The Washington Post newspaper said it was "a pleasure to be in the company of a shameless, ebullient vaudeville heart." The Manzari Brothers and twin brothers Max and Sam Heimowitz, who were seventh-graders, also tap-danced with Hines in this production.

Maurice also created and directed Ella, First Lady of Song. This was a tribute to the famous singer Ella Fitzgerald. Maurice and his brother Gregory had opened for Ella Fitzgerald in Las Vegas earlier in their careers. The musical starred Rhythm and Blues/Jazz singer Freda Payne.

Documentary Film

In 2019, a documentary film about Maurice Hines was released. It was called Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back and was directed by John Carluccio. The film won a special award at the DOC NYC film festival. The Hollywood Reporter newspaper said the film "Digs much deeper than your usual showbiz doc." Famous performers like Chita Rivera, Mercedes Ellington, and Debbie Allen also appeared in the film.

Maurice Hines passed away in Englewood, New Jersey on December 29, 2023, at the age of 80.

Filmography

Discography

• I've Never Been in Love Before (Arbors, 2001)
• To Nat King Cole With Love (Arbors, 2006)