Gregory Hines

Gregory Hines – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Gregory Hines (1946–2003) was an American tap dancer, actor, singer, and choreographer. This article explores his early life in Harlem, path to tap mastery, film and stage career, lasting legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Gregory Oliver Hines was a towering figure in 20th-century American entertainment: a virtuoso tap dancer, charismatic actor, gifted singer, and inspired choreographer. His influence helped revive and modernize tap dance, while his film and television roles introduced his artistry to wider audiences. Through dedication, innovation, and passion, Hines left a legacy that continues to inspire dancers and performers around the world.

Early Life and Family

Gregory Hines was born February 14, 1946 in New York City, and grew up in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Harlem. Alma Iola (Lawless) and Maurice Robert Hines, who was himself a dancer, musician, and actor.

From a very young age, Gregory was immersed in performance. He began tap dancing when he was about two years old, and by age five was performing semi-professionally. Maurice Hines studied with prominent tap masters such as Henry LeTang, and also worked with Howard Sims and the Nicholas Brothers.

Early on, Gregory and Maurice performed under names such as The Hines Kids in clubs and theaters. When their father joined them on stage, they became known as Hines, Hines, and Dad. These formative years immersed Hines in the traditions and community of tap, giving him both technical grounding and a lifelong dedication to the art form.

Youth, Training & Artistic Beginnings

Hines’s exposure to dance from infancy meant that by adolescence, he had already absorbed core tap vocabulary, improvisation, and rhythm. The influence of older tap masters, and collaboration with his brother, gave him a deep sense of context—respecting tradition while pushing boundaries.

In his teenage and early adult years, Hines continued performing nationally, refining his style, and exploring other performing arts such as singing and acting. The interplay of tap rhythm with musical sensibility became an integral part of his artistry.

His early stage credits included The Girl in Pink Tights (Broadway, as a child) and later musicals such as Eubie!, Comin’ Uptown, and Sophisticated Ladies, which helped cement his standing in both dance and theatrical circles.

Career and Achievements

Tap Dance, Innovation & Advocacy

Gregory Hines is often credited with revitalizing tap dance in the late 20th century, blending traditional tap with freer, rhythmic, jazz-inflected improvisation.

He was a fervent advocate for tap’s cultural importance. In 1989, he successfully petitioned for the designation of National Tap Dance Day (celebrated on May 25) in the U.S. Gregory Hines’ Tap Dance in America) to spotlight earlier and contemporary tap artists.

Through mentorship, performance, and visibility, he helped build bridges between older tap masters and younger generations. For example, Hines was a mentor or influence to Savion Glover, often praising him and citing him as one of the leading new voices in tap.

Acting & Film Career

While dance remained central, Gregory Hines moved into film, television, and theater with notable success.

Film highlights include:

• History of the World, Part I (1981) — his film debut, stepping in after Richard Pryor’s injury

• Wolfen (1981)

• The Cotton Club (1984) — he and his brother portrayed a tap duo, evoking the golden era of jazz and dance

• White Nights (1985) — starred opposite dancers such as Mikhail Baryshnikov

• Running Scared (1986)

• Tap (1989) — a film explicitly about tap dance, co-starring legends like Sammy Davis Jr.

• Other credits include A Rage in Harlem (1991), Waiting to Exhale (1995), The Preacher’s Wife (1996)

On television, he starred in The Gregory Hines Show (1997–1998) on CBS, and made recurring appearances (e.g. as “Ben” on Will & Grace) Little Bill (1999–2004), winning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program in 2003.

On Broadway and in theater, Hines earned Tony nominations (for Eubie!, Comin’ Uptown, Sophisticated Ladies) and won a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Jelly’s Last Jam (1992) for his portrayal of jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton.

Awards and Recognition

• Tony Award (for Jelly’s Last Jam)

• Drama Desk Award (same)

• Daytime Emmy Award (for Little Bill)

• Multiple Emmy nominations for acting and performance categories

• Recognition as one of the leading figures in modern tap and performing arts

Additionally, in 2019, the U.S. Postal Service honored him with a postage stamp in its Black Heritage Series.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 1946: Gregory Hines is born in Harlem, NYC.

• Early 1950s: Performs as a child with his brother, building foundations in tap.

• 1970s – 1980s: Moves into theater, musicals, and early film roles.

• 1984–1985: Appears in The Cotton Club and White Nights, bridging dance and mainstream cinema.

• 1989: Releases Tap film, hosts Tap Dance in America, helps institutionalize tap in American culture.

• 1992: Wins Tony Award for Jelly’s Last Jam.

• 1997–1998: Stars in his own sitcom The Gregory Hines Show.

• 1999–2003: Voices Big Bill in Little Bill; appears in various film and TV projects.

• 2002–2003: Diagnosed with liver cancer; continues work despite illness.

• August 9, 2003: Passes away in Los Angeles at age 57.

Legacy and Influence

Gregory Hines’s legacy is profound in dance, performance, and cultural memory:

1. Tap dance renaissance: He elevated tap from niche or nostalgic art into a living, evolving form, bringing it to new audiences and generations.

2. Bridge across generations: He connected older tap masters and younger dancers, preserving tradition while fostering innovation.

3. Interdisciplinary artist: His work spanned dance, acting, singing, and choreography — showing that an artist need not be limited to a single domain.

4. Cultural ambassador: Through television, film, and public advocacy (e.g. National Tap Day), he brought tap into mainstream awareness.

5. Mentorship and influence: Dancers like Savion Glover cite Hines as an influence and teacher.

6. Artistic integrity in adversity: Even as his health declined, he remained active and committed, which added depth to his public image.

In short, Hines’s legacy is not simply in the steps he performed, but in how he shaped the place of tap in modern performance and inspired countless successors.

Personality, Talents & Strengths

Gregory Hines was known for warmth, humility, humor, and deep musical intuition. On stage or on camera, his natural charisma and ease resonated. His talents included:

• Tap as musical expression: He treated tap as a rhythm instrument, improvising and conversing with music rather than simply stepping.

• Acting versatility: He took varied roles — drama, comedy, musicals, children’s programming — often infusing them with his dancer’s sensibility.

• Vocal & musical gifts: He recorded music (e.g. the duet “There’s Nothing Better Than Love” with Luther Vandross) and used musicality in dance.

• Choreographic insight: He shaped how dancers move, not just what steps they take, enabling expressive, soulful routines.

• Resilience & dedication: Navigating the dual demands of dance and acting, plus illness later in life, he remained committed to creating and performing.

Famous Quotes of Gregory Hines

Here are some memorable reflections and quotes from Gregory Hines, revealing his perspective on art, life, and struggle:

• “I don’t remember not dancing. When I realized I was alive … I could dance.”

• “My roots are on the live performing stage, so while I enjoy making films and the other things that I do, when I get on stage, I feel at home; I’m comfortable.”

• “I never wanted to be a star, I just wanted to get work.”

• “They told me that the hotels had maybe two rooms set up for people with disabilities … if they got there too late … they couldn’t take a shower.”

• “I read the script, and I knew it was a good part. It was written for a white actor. That’s what I’m up against — I have to try to make roles happen for me that aren’t written black.”

• “Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got interested in the music of the time. I started smokin’ dope, I started drinking … trying to find myself.”

• “I’ve had times when I’ve done what seems like a thousand interviews … I start to think that I’m the best thing that ever happened to the world … Then I come home … my wife needs me to help with dinner and empty the garbage, and the kids need help with their homework.”

• “I’m going to tap until I can’t: I’ll be so old, all I can do is walk out from the wings to stage center. But I’ll be there.”

These lines reflect his humility, his struggle for representation, his deep-rooted dance identity, and personal truth.

Lessons from Gregory Hines

From his life and work, we can draw several lessons:

1. Let your art evolve. Hines respected tradition but innovated — growth doesn’t require betrayal of roots.

2. Work hard and persist. His commitment to performance (especially tap) was lifelong, not seasonal.

3. Bridge worlds. He showed that dancers can cross into acting, singing, and broader media without losing their identity.

4. Use your voice for change. He spoke openly about racial barriers in casting and fought for representation.

5. Stay grounded. Despite fame and acclaim, his quotes reveal a person aware of home responsibilities, humility, and real life.

6. Live your passion to the end. Even as illness overtook him, Hines remained creatively active; his last years continued to reflect his heart and dedication.

Conclusion

Gregory Hines was more than a dancer; he was a cultural force who reshaped how tap is seen, performed, and passed on. Through his artistry on stage and screen, his mentorship and advocacy, and his courageous embrace of multiple roles, he carved a legacy of height, rhythm, and resonance.

Even decades after his passing, his steps echo. For dancers, actors, and creators, Gregory Hines remains a beacon of expressive possibility, humility, and enduring soul.