Fame's Gene Anthony Ray - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

vashti1999 · 11-19-2003, 10:22 PM

ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Gene Ray, an actor and dancer best known for his roles in the 1980 movie Fame and its spin-off television series, died Friday in Manhattan. He was 41.

Ray died of complications from a stroke he had in June and was also HIV positive, said his mother, Jean Ray.

Like Leroy, the rebellious character he played in Fame, Ray attended New York's High School of the Performing Arts. He dropped out after a year.

Ray returned to the role of Leroy for the Fame television series, which ran from 1982 to 1987. He went on to appear in the films Out of Sync (1995) and Eddie (1996), starring Whoopi Goldberg.

Ray appears in a Fame reunion documentary which was taped in April 2003 for the BBC but has not yet aired.

vashti1999 · 11-19-2003, 10:42 PM

Gene Anthony Ray, a Dancer in 'Fame,' Dies at 41
By KIMETRIS N. BALTRIP

Published: November 19, 2003

Gene Anthony Ray, who starred as Leroy, a street-smart urban teenager, in the 1980 movie "Fame" and the later television series, died on Friday in Manhattan. He was 41.

The cause was complications of a stroke he had in June, and he was also H.I.V. positive, said Jean E. Ray, his mother.

Mr. Ray was a natural fit when he was cast as Leroy in the film, which won Academy Awards for best song and original score. Like his character in the film, Mr. Ray had never had professional dance training but had a raw talent that dazzled choreographers.

The actors who performed in the movie and in the television series "Fame" portrayed students at New York's High School of the Performing Arts, which Mr. Ray attended for a year before being kicked out. "It was too disciplined for this wild child of mine," Mrs. Ray said.

His journey into the spotlight began at Julia Richmond High School. He performed in a dance class there and later auditioned for Louis Falco, the choreographer for the film "Fame." He skipped school the day of the first tryout, and "Leroy Johnson was born," Mrs. Ray said.

Mr. Ray also played Leroy in the NBC television series "Fame," which made its debut in 1982. It was canceled by NBC because of poor ratings but was later picked up by MGM Television, which distributed it in syndication from 1983 to 1987.

Born on May 24, 1962, in Harlem, Mr. Ray lived on on West 153rd Street. After he gained stardom for his roles in "Fame," Mr. Ray left school to pursue his career.

In 1982 he toured Britain, to perform with other "Fame" cast members in 10 concerts. "The Kids From Fame," a television special about the tour, was broadcast in the United States a year later. His other film credits include "Out of Sync" (1995), which was directed by his "Fame" co-star Debbie Allen, and "Eddie" (1996), which starred Whoopi Goldberg.

According to Selma Rubin, who managed Mr. Ray for 24 years, his last video project is a one-hour BBC "Fame" reunion documentary, "Fame Remember My Name," which was taped in Los Angeles in April 2003 but has not yet been shown.

Pitooey · 11-19-2003, 10:53 PM

This is so sad. He once had the world in the palm of his hand (so to speak) I felt sad when I saw him on TV last. I knew he had Aids and I knew he was almost homeless. Imagine that...........

Brian Damage · 11-19-2003, 10:57 PM

Sad News

dandelion wine · 11-20-2003, 12:33 AM

He was my favorite character on Fame. I knew he was living with AIDS, too, but this is still sad news.. and I'm very sorry to hear of it. I hope that he's able to rest in peace now.

Rickenbacker · 11-20-2003, 12:43 AM

Man, I went to that high school & I'm sure even the people there now are feeling this one too. When I 1st saw how old he was, I was shocked. Another young death.
I was just at my hs a few weeks ago for a show & they played the 'Fame' theme song.

webuster · 11-20-2003, 01:08 PM

Oh my god- I just logged in and read this. I just bought Fame on DVD 4 days ago cos I'd seen it a few weeks before on vh1. Gene Ray was giving interviews on how he got the part- and I was wondering if they did a Fame sequel (everything gets sequels now- so it could happen)- what would Leroy be like. This is so sad.
I used to watch the series when it was on a few years ago but can't remember really that much about it.

RIP Gene

vashti1999 · 11-20-2003, 03:13 PM

The dvd for the movie Fame just came out in June, which is probably around the time he had the stroke. He did manage to do branching commentary on the dvd, meaning that you can see him speaking as he's recording his comments on the movie. I thought he looked okay, just naturally older but not necessarily sick. Both the movie and tv series are big favorites of mine, so it's definitely sad that he's no longer around. There's already been alot of requests to release the series on dvd, so it'll be nice if it happens soon so fans can relive his talents again.

EricIdlefan · 11-20-2003, 04:25 PM

I grew up watching that show when I was nine or ten!!

webuster · 11-20-2003, 05:47 PM

I thought he did look much older than 40 when he did the dvd branch commentary- he was kind of funny doing the commentary, talking about how everyone came in wearing fancy tights and costumes and he auditioned in a pair of ripped jeans. When the BBC shows the documentary they filmed I'll be sure to watch it. I wish they'd release the series- I remember enjoying watching some of the episodes- some where just as dramatic and as good as scenes from the movie. I'm too young to remember much about the series- it went back out of syndication about 7 years ago in the UK, and I hadn't really discovered how great a movie Fame was.

musicradio77 · 11-20-2003, 10:11 PM

I read it from the Daily Freeman today and it was sad.

webuster · 11-21-2003, 04:20 PM

There was a two page article in the paper with an obituary and pictures from Fame. It's nice to see Gene is being remembered. The paper also looked at how the lives of the people from the Fame TV series have changed- some of them were really disastrous- but the series was a big hit in the UK.

EricIdlefan · 11-22-2003, 09:47 AM

He was also in the movie as well as the TV show!! I saw him a few months ago on Entertainment Tonight and he looked so, so, pitiful and rail thin!!

11-19-2003, 10:22 PM	#1
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	Fame's Gene Anthony Ray ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Gene Ray, an actor and dancer best known for his roles in the 1980 movie Fame and its spin-off television series, died Friday in Manhattan. He was 41. Ray died of complications from a stroke he had in June and was also HIV positive, said his mother, Jean Ray. Like Leroy, the rebellious character he played in Fame, Ray attended New York's High School of the Performing Arts. He dropped out after a year. Ray returned to the role of Leroy for the Fame television series, which ran from 1982 to 1987. He went on to appear in the films Out of Sync (1995) and Eddie (1996), starring Whoopi Goldberg. Ray appears in a Fame reunion documentary which was taped in April 2003 for the BBC but has not yet aired.

11-19-2003, 10:42 PM	#2
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	Here's another obituary Gene Anthony Ray, a Dancer in 'Fame,' Dies at 41 By KIMETRIS N. BALTRIP Published: November 19, 2003 Gene Anthony Ray, who starred as Leroy, a street-smart urban teenager, in the 1980 movie "Fame" and the later television series, died on Friday in Manhattan. He was 41. The cause was complications of a stroke he had in June, and he was also H.I.V. positive, said Jean E. Ray, his mother. Mr. Ray was a natural fit when he was cast as Leroy in the film, which won Academy Awards for best song and original score. Like his character in the film, Mr. Ray had never had professional dance training but had a raw talent that dazzled choreographers. The actors who performed in the movie and in the television series "Fame" portrayed students at New York's High School of the Performing Arts, which Mr. Ray attended for a year before being kicked out. "It was too disciplined for this wild child of mine," Mrs. Ray said. His journey into the spotlight began at Julia Richmond High School. He performed in a dance class there and later auditioned for Louis Falco, the choreographer for the film "Fame." He skipped school the day of the first tryout, and "Leroy Johnson was born," Mrs. Ray said. Mr. Ray also played Leroy in the NBC television series "Fame," which made its debut in 1982. It was canceled by NBC because of poor ratings but was later picked up by MGM Television, which distributed it in syndication from 1983 to 1987. Born on May 24, 1962, in Harlem, Mr. Ray lived on on West 153rd Street. After he gained stardom for his roles in "Fame," Mr. Ray left school to pursue his career. In 1982 he toured Britain, to perform with other "Fame" cast members in 10 concerts. "The Kids From Fame," a television special about the tour, was broadcast in the United States a year later. His other film credits include "Out of Sync" (1995), which was directed by his "Fame" co-star Debbie Allen, and "Eddie" (1996), which starred Whoopi Goldberg. According to Selma Rubin, who managed Mr. Ray for 24 years, his last video project is a one-hour BBC "Fame" reunion documentary, "Fame Remember My Name," which was taped in Los Angeles in April 2003 but has not yet been shown.

11-19-2003, 10:53 PM	#3
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	This is so sad. He once had the world in the palm of his hand (so to speak) I felt sad when I saw him on TV last. I knew he had Aids and I knew he was almost homeless. Imagine that...........
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

11-20-2003, 04:25 PM	#9
EricIdlefan June Bug & School's Out Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,234	I grew up watching that show when I was nine or ten!!
	__________________ June Bug & Summer is Here 2026!

11-20-2003, 10:11 PM	#11
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	I read it from the Daily Freeman today and it was sad.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

11-19-2003, 10:57 PM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Sad News

11-20-2003, 12:33 AM	#5
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,964	He was my favorite character on Fame. I knew he was living with AIDS, too, but this is still sad news.. and I'm very sorry to hear of it. I hope that he's able to rest in peace now.

11-20-2003, 12:43 AM	#6
Rickenbacker Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 15, 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 507	Man, I went to that high school & I'm sure even the people there now are feeling this one too. When I 1st saw how old he was, I was shocked. Another young death. I was just at my hs a few weeks ago for a show & they played the 'Fame' theme song.

11-20-2003, 01:08 PM	#7
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	Oh my god- I just logged in and read this. I just bought Fame on DVD 4 days ago cos I'd seen it a few weeks before on vh1. Gene Ray was giving interviews on how he got the part- and I was wondering if they did a Fame sequel (everything gets sequels now- so it could happen)- what would Leroy be like. This is so sad. I used to watch the series when it was on a few years ago but can't remember really that much about it. RIP Gene

11-20-2003, 03:13 PM	#8
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	The dvd for the movie Fame just came out in June, which is probably around the time he had the stroke. He did manage to do branching commentary on the dvd, meaning that you can see him speaking as he's recording his comments on the movie. I thought he looked okay, just naturally older but not necessarily sick. Both the movie and tv series are big favorites of mine, so it's definitely sad that he's no longer around. There's already been alot of requests to release the series on dvd, so it'll be nice if it happens soon so fans can relive his talents again.

11-20-2003, 05:47 PM	#10
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	I thought he did look much older than 40 when he did the dvd branch commentary- he was kind of funny doing the commentary, talking about how everyone came in wearing fancy tights and costumes and he auditioned in a pair of ripped jeans. When the BBC shows the documentary they filmed I'll be sure to watch it. I wish they'd release the series- I remember enjoying watching some of the episodes- some where just as dramatic and as good as scenes from the movie. I'm too young to remember much about the series- it went back out of syndication about 7 years ago in the UK, and I hadn't really discovered how great a movie Fame was.

11-21-2003, 04:20 PM	#12
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	There was a two page article in the paper with an obituary and pictures from Fame. It's nice to see Gene is being remembered. The paper also looked at how the lives of the people from the Fame TV series have changed- some of them were really disastrous- but the series was a big hit in the UK.

11-22-2003, 09:47 AM	#13
EricIdlefan June Bug & School's Out Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,234	He was also in the movie as well as the TV show!! I saw him a few months ago on Entertainment Tonight and he looked so, so, pitiful and rail thin!!