Post by Taxigirl on Nov 21, 2003 10:47:58 GMT
Actor and dancer Gene Anthony Ray, best known for his role as Leroy Johnson in the film and TV series Fame, has died aged 41 of complications from a stroke.
Ray, who was also HIV positive, died last Friday, his mother Jean said.
As the rebellious Leroy, Ray became one of the most popular characters from the 1980 movie and the subsequent TV spin-off, which ran from 1982-1987.
In real life, he was expelled from the New York School for the Performing Arts where the series was set.
Born in Harlem, Ray landed the part of Leroy in Alan Parker's film, when he was 17, after skipping school to go to the auditions.
Following
The TV series, which began two years later, initially flopped in the US, but gained a huge following in the UK, where Ray and other members of the cast toured in 1982.
His character eventually graduated from the school and ended up as a dance instructor.
Ray also appeared in the video for the Weather Girls' hit It's Raining Men in 1984, as well as starring in the Royal Shakespeare Company's play based on Stephen King's Carrie in 1988.
His other film roles included 1995's Out Of Sync, directed by his Fame co-star Debbie Allen, and the Whoopi Goldberg comedy Eddie in 1996.
Ray was diagnosed HIV positive in 1996, and suffered a stroke in June.
His final TV appearance was on a BBC Fame reunion documentary Remember My Name.
Ray, who was also HIV positive, died last Friday, his mother Jean said.
As the rebellious Leroy, Ray became one of the most popular characters from the 1980 movie and the subsequent TV spin-off, which ran from 1982-1987.
In real life, he was expelled from the New York School for the Performing Arts where the series was set.
Born in Harlem, Ray landed the part of Leroy in Alan Parker's film, when he was 17, after skipping school to go to the auditions.
Following
The TV series, which began two years later, initially flopped in the US, but gained a huge following in the UK, where Ray and other members of the cast toured in 1982.
His character eventually graduated from the school and ended up as a dance instructor.
Ray also appeared in the video for the Weather Girls' hit It's Raining Men in 1984, as well as starring in the Royal Shakespeare Company's play based on Stephen King's Carrie in 1988.
His other film roles included 1995's Out Of Sync, directed by his Fame co-star Debbie Allen, and the Whoopi Goldberg comedy Eddie in 1996.
Ray was diagnosed HIV positive in 1996, and suffered a stroke in June.
His final TV appearance was on a BBC Fame reunion documentary Remember My Name.