Famous tap dancer Maurice Hines dies at the age of 80

Both Mr. Hines and his brother Gregory Hines studied tap music growing up, and began performing as a duo at about the age of six. The duo performed together at The girl with the pink stockings, while also performing regularly at the Apollo Theater in New York. Together they became known as the Hines Brothers, Hines, and later, Hines & Dad, when their father joined the business in 1963.

Mr. Haynes' additional theatrical credits include playing Nathan Detroit in the 2001 national tour Guys and dolls, where he performed alongside Debbie Allen, Leslie Uggams, and Richard Roundtree. Allen shared a heartfelt tribute to Mr. Hines in the Instagram post below.

As a dancer, Mr. Hines has performed in numerous solo performances, including a 2013 tribute to Gregory entitled Tappin' Through Life: An Evening with Maurice Hines. The tribute was played in Boston, at 54 Below in New York, and at the Arena Theater in Washington, D.C. for six weeks.

As an actor, Mr. Hines also played a leading role in a Francis Ford Coppola film Cotton Club In 1984. He and Gregory played together as a tap dancing duo called the Williams Brothers. In 2022, John Carluccio Maurice Hines: Bring them backA documentary about Mr. Hines' life and career has been released.

Charles Randolph Wright, executive producer of the documentary, shared a Greetings on Facebook“I was 21 years old and new to New York City when I met the legendary Maurice Hines. I couldn’t believe he was talking to me – Maurice Hines. He instantly became a mentor to me and so many others. He gave us permission to dance without limits, to live our lives with the same “The way. He was my big brother who firmly believed in my work and kept me going when I wanted to give up… This world would never be the same without him. His amazing dance in life will never end. Thank you Maurice for loving us so much.”

Mr. Hines is survived by his nephew Zach and niece Daria.