Gregory and Maurice also studied with veteran tap dancers such as Howard Sims and The Nicholas Brothers when they performed at the same venues.

The brothers were known as The Hines Kids, making nightclub appearances at venues in Miami, Florida, with Cab Calloway.

In that moment, he aligned tap with the latest free form experiments in jazz and new music and postmodern dance.

[6][7] In 1990, Hines visited his idol (and Tap co-star) Sammy Davis Jr., who was dying of throat cancer and was unable to speak.

[8] Through his teaching, he influenced tap dancers such as Savion Glover, Dianne Walker, Ted Levy, and Jane Goldberg.

[citation needed] Hines performed as the lead singer and musician in a rock band called Severance based in Venice, Los Angeles in 1975 and 1976.

[9] Encouraged by his first success on the chart, Hines subsequently released his self-titled debut album on Epic in 1988 with much support of Vandross.

[10][11] In 1981, Hines made his movie debut in Mel Brooks's History of the World, Part I, replacing Richard Pryor, who was originally cast in the role but sustained severe burns just days before he was due to begin shooting.

[12][13] Madeline Kahn, also starring in the film, suggested to director Mel Brooks that he look into Hines for the role after they learned of Pryor's hospitalization.

On television, he starred in his own sitcom in 1997, The Gregory Hines Show, which ran for one season on CBS, and had a recurring role of Ben Doucette on Will & Grace.

In an interview in 1987, Hines said that he often looked for roles written for white actors, "preferring their greater scope and dynamics."

[16] Hines died of liver cancer on August 9, 2003, en route to a hospital from his home in Los Angeles.

[19][20] On January 28, 2019, the United States Postal Service honored Hines with a postage stamp as part of its Black Heritage Series.