Tony Winner and Original ‘The Wiz’ Actor Was 67 – The Hollywood Reporter

Battle of Hintonthe Tony-winning actor who originated the role of the Scarecrow in broadway‘s The magician, has died. She was 67 years old.

The actor died Tuesday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a long illness. In a statement, a representative said The Hollywood Reporter that his family has no plans to reveal the cause of his death.

Battle made his Broadway debut in the original Broadway production. The magician and went on to win three Tony Awards, all in the Featured Actor in a Musical category, for his work in sophisticated ladies (1981), The Tap Dancing Boy (1984) and Miss Saigon (1991). Winner of the NAACP Image Award, the actor, director, producer and choreographer was also nominated for SAG and Critics Choice Awards, honored for his work as part of the 2007 musical film ensemble. dream girls.

Born in 1956, Battle studied at the prestigious Jones Haywood Ballet School in Washington, D.C. and the School of American Ballet in New York City before beginning his theater career on Broadway in The magician at only 15 years old. Her New York theater career would span three decades, with performances in Broadway productions of dancing, dream girls, chicago, and Ragtime. Battle’s Off-Broadway credits include Respect, the musical, and his tenure as co-director and choreographer of Bad dead the musical and most recently starred Cindy: the musical.

Battle would eventually move on to television and film, making appearances in dream girls, Smash, These old guys, quantum leap, Touched by an angeland Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He would also memorably appear as a jazz demon in one episode, the series’ fan-favorite musical episode, “Once More, With Feeling,” which he also choreographed.

Battle would go on to lend his choreographic prowess to the 65th and 66th Academy Awards musical Outkast. Idlewild, Bolden, and Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story. Battle would launch the professional entertainment academy, Hinton Battle Dance Academy (HBDA) in 2017, preparing students for careers in the entertainment industry. She was also working on an autobiography and a children’s book, which was selected for the Microsoft Legacy Project Virtual Museum’s 2022 Black History Month experience.

He is the recipient of the Midtown International Theater Festival Award, the Fred Astaire Award, the Ira Aldridge Award, the Planet Connection Award, the Big Boi “Antwan Patton” Big Kidz Foundation 2012 Champion of the Arts Award, and the Amas Rosie Award. 2014 to his career. The achievement in recognition of extraordinary achievements in the theatrical arts.

Battle is survived by his sisters, Eddie and Lettie.