Broadway tap-dancer Maurice Hines breathes his last at 80

Maurice Hines, Broadway star and brother of tap-dancing legend Gregory Hines, passed away at the age of 80.

As reported by PEOPLE, he died on Friday, December 29, 2023 due of natural causes at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey.

The dancer’s home executive director, Jordan Strohl, confirmed the news of his death to the outlet.

Debbie Allen, Maurice's friend, an actress-producer-director and former dancer-choreographer, took to her Instagram account to express her grief over the loss.

She penned a heartfelt caption that read, "Maurice Hines, I was your first leading lady in a show, Guys and Dolls, and I will always treasure our journey together. My tears are for my inability to speak with you or to hold you. I will ALWAYS SPEAK YOUR NAME. See you on the other side."

About Maurice Hines:

Maurice Hines and Gregory Hines used to perform together as the Hines Brother, and in 1984, they starred as the feuding brothers Clay and Sandman Williams in the Francis Ford Coppola film, The Cotton Club.

The dancer gained public recognition while touring with his father, Maurice Sr., and his younger brother Gregory in a dance show called Hines, Hines & Dad. In 1963.

All of them performed together on The Ed Sullivan Show.

However, a 2019 documentary film, titled Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back revealed that Gregory and Maurice didn't talk to each other for 10 years because of a fall-out.

Maurice scored a Tony Award nomination in 1986 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his performance in Uptown...It's Hot!

Some of his other accredited Broadway works include 1981's Bring Back Birdie and 2006's Hot Feet, which he choreographed.