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Gregory Hines

Gregory Hines

Actor, also director and producer · Died August 9, 2003, aged 57 · New York City, New York, USA

Gregory Oliver Hines (February 14, 1946 – August 9, 2003) was an American dancer, actor, choreographer, and singer. He is one of the most celebrated tap dancers of all time. As an actor, he is best known for Wolfen (1981), The Cotton Club (1984), White Nights (1985), Running Scared (1986), A Rage in Harlem (1991), The Gregory Hines Show (1997–1998), playing Ben on Will & Grace (1999–2000), and for voicing Big Bill on the Nick Jr. animated children's television program Little Bill (1999–2004). Hines starred in more than 40 films and also appeared on Broadway. He received many accolades, including a Daytime Emmy Award, a Drama Desk Award, and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and four Primetime Emmy Awards. Description above from the Wikipedia article Gregory Hines, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 14, 1946
Died
August 9, 2003 (aged 57)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also director and producer
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 50 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 39% in 30 days

What are Gregory Hines' films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
23%
Bonds
20%
Society
15%
Power
14%
Morality
12%
Survival
10%
Ideas
6%
Self-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 11 · Serious 6 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 11 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 10 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 22 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 22
Hero
7 of 22
Mentor
5 of 22
Shadow
2 of 22
Threshold guardian
1 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Warm
8
Joyful
8
Contemplative
7
Melancholic
7
Other
24

How their films linger

Hopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gregory Hines' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gregory Hines' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

50 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • American Tap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as (archive footage)

  • Broadway's Lost Treasures II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jelly Roll Morton (segment "Jelly's Last Jam")

  • Lost at Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jordan King

  • The Red Sneakers(2002)

    Director · as Zeke

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Santa, Baby!(2001)

    as Noel (voice)

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Bojangles(2001)

    Producer · as Bojangles

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Once in the Life(2000)

    as Ruffhouse

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Who Killed Atlanta's Children?(2000)

    as Ron Larson

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her(2000)

    as Robert (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Little Bill(1999)

    Show 52 episodes · as William "Big Bill" Glover (voice)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ben Doucette

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The Tic Code(1998)

    as Tyrone Pike

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Gregory Hines Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 22 episodes · as Ben Stevenson

  • Color of Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Reverend Walton

  • SubwayStories: Tales from the Underground(1997)

    as Jack (segment "Manhattan Miracle")

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Good Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Bernard 'Bern' Lemley

  • The Cherokee Kid(1996)

    as The Undertaker / Jedediah Turner

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Preacher's Wife(1996)

    as Joe Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Mad Dog Time(1996)

    as Jules Flamingo

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Waiting to Exhale(1995)

    as Marvin

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Bleeding Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Amazing Stories: The Movie IV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Falsworth (archive footage)

  • A Stranger in Town(1995)

    as Barnes

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as The Beast (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Mark Jannek / Jim Sheppard

  • Baseball(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as (voice) · as Various (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Renaissance Man(1994)

    as Sergeant Cass

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Kangaroo Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • T Bone N Weasel(1992)

    as T Bone

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Warrior: The Life of Leonard Peltier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Thanks

  • White Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Len Madison Jr.

  • A Rage in Harlem(1991)

    as Goldy

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Eve of Destruction(1991)

    as Colonel Jim McQuade

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Defense Attorney Carl Halpert

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Tap(1989)

    as Max Washington

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Off Limits(1988)

    as Albaby Perkins

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Running Scared(1986)

    as Ray Hughes

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • White Nights(1985)

    as Raymond Greenwood

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Falsworth

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Puss in Boots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Edgar - Miller's Son

  • Motown Returns to the Apollo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • The Cotton Club(1984)

    as Delbert 'Sandman' Williams

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Muppets Take Manhattan(1984)

    as Rollerskater

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Deal of the Century(1983)

    as Ray Kasternak

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Edgar, Miller's son

  • Wolfen(1981)

    as Whittington

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • History of the World: Part I(1981)

    as Josephus

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Eubie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 50 titles from 1967 to 2018; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

Waiting to Exhale (1995)

$81M worldwide

Highest rated

History of the World: Part I (1981)

Midcredits 73rd

Most popular right now

Little Bill (1999)

Film career

19672018

Peak 1985 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 50: 47 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndDirecting2 of 50: 1 only directing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 50: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s1 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s25 · 23 acting · 2 crew2000s8 · 8 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 18% of 17 roles
8186

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Gregory Hines' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Santa, Baby! (2001)

89th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

Midcredits 78th · 66% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Gregory Hines' work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles21–82 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles26–55 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles38–76 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles16–71 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Gregory Hines work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gregory Hines' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Penny Marshall shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles