Maurice Hines, Broadway Star and Tap Dance Icon, Dies at 80

Maurice Hines, a renowned figure on Broadway and sibling to the iconic tap dancer Gregory Hines, has passed away at the age of 80. 

Hines passed away due to natural causes last Friday at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, where he had been residing. Jordan Strohl, the executive director of the assisted living facility, confirmed this to PEOPLE. 

In 1986, Maurice received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his performance in "Uptown...It's Hot!" Among his other notable Broadway contributions were his roles in "Bring Back Birdie" in 1981 and his choreography for "Hot Feet" in 2006. 

Hines' Broadway journey began with his debut in "The Girl in Pink Tights" back in 1954. 

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Born in Harlem, New York, Maurice first caught the public eye when he toured with his father, Maurice Sr., and his younger brother Gregory (who passed away from cancer in 2003) in a dance act titled Hines, Hines & Dad. The family showcased their talent together on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1963. 

In the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola film "The Cotton Club," set in the famous Harlem jazz club, Hines and Gregory Hines portrayed the roles of Clay and Sandman Williams, brothers at odds with each other. 

During the early stages of their careers, they performed as the Hines Brothers, yet their relationship was strained by real-life tensions. The 2019 documentary "Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back" disclosed that Gregory and Maurice experienced a significant rift, leading to a decade of silence between them.  

Hines also played a pivotal role in co-directing and choreographing the national tour of the musical biography of Louis Armstrong, "Satchmo," as well as directing a production of "Havana Night" in Cuba.

In 2013, Maurice embarked on a tour across selected cities in the U.S. with a show titled "Tappin' Thru Life," a homage to his brother. 

Debbie Allen, Maurice's friend and a multifaceted talent as an actress, producer, director, and former dancer-choreographer, shared a tribute to him on Instagram on Friday. 

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