Gene Anthony Ray

The Kids from "Fame". Gene Anthony Ray is in the back, center. Debbie Allen is center, with sunglasses on top of her head. Gene Anthony Ray (May 24, 1962 – November 14, 2003) was an American actor, dancer, and choreographer. A native of New York City, Ray was best known for his portrayal of dancer Leroy Johnson in both the 1980 film Fame and the Fame television series based upon the film which originally aired from 1982 until 1987.

Biography Early life Born in New York City, in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan on May 24, 1962, Ray grew up in the area of West 153rd Street and later became involved in street dancing He performed in a dance class at the Julia Richman High School. He skipped school one day to audition for Fame choreographer Louis Falco. Ray attended the High School of Performing Arts, the inspiration for the film Fame, but was kicked out after just one year. "It was too disciplined for this wild child of mine," Ray's mother, Jean E. Ray, would later say.

Career Ray won the part of Leroy Johnson in the film Fame, which was released in 1980. In 1984, USA Today reported: "Ray was axed from the show after his mother was jailed for running a drug ring, and he failed to turn up for work 100 times."

In 1987, he won the role of Billy Nolan in the ill-fated musical adaptation of Carrie by Stephen King. Ray played the role in the original opening in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which closed after less than a month. He then transferred to Broadway and continued to play the role until the musical closed after only 21 public performances. Ray also appeared in the 1995 film Out-of-Sync, which was directed by his Fame co-star Debbie Allen, in the 1996 Whoopi Goldberg comedy Eddie (for which he was also credited as associate choreographer ), as well as in commercials for Dr Pepper and Diet Coke. His last video appearance was a one-hour BBC Fame reunion documentary, Fame Remember My Name, taped in Los Angeles in April 2003.

Personal life and death As described in his Telegraph obituary, Ray "remained a 'frantic partygoer' with a self-confessed weakness for drinking and drugs. As his life fell apart, he slept on park benches and during a failed attempt to launch a Fame-style dance school in Milan, shared a flat there with a porn actress. In 1996, he was diagnosed HIV positive. Flamboyantly camp, he brushed aside questions about his sexuality. He never married."

Ray died on November 14, 2003, aged 41, from complications of a stroke he had suffered in June that year.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1980 Fame Leroy Johnson Motion Picture 1981 Friday Television movieAlternative title: Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday 1982–1987 Fame Leroy Johnson Television series — 116 episodes 1995 Out-of-Sync Crash 1995 Article 99 Police Officer Uncredited 1996 Eddie Dancer Associate choreographer 1997 The Drew Carey Show Dancer 1 episode 2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Dancer Uncredited (final film role)

Theater Year Production Role Theatre 1988 Carrie Billy Nolan Royal Shakespeare Theatre Virginia Theatre, Broadway