- Born
- Died
- Birth nameEugene Anthony Ray
- Height5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- Born on May 24, 1962, in Harlem. Attended Julia Richmond High School, where he performed in a dance class, and later auditioned for Louis Falco, the choreographer for the film Fame (1980). Actually attended New York's High School of the Performing Arts for a year, before being kicked out. He was, therefore, perfectly cast as Leroy in the film, which won Academy Awards for best song and original score. Like his character in the film, Ray had never had professional dance training but had an abundance of raw talent. In 1982, he toured Britain to perform with other Fame (1980) cast members in 10 concerts. The Kids from Fame in Concert (1983), a television special about the tour, was broadcast in the United States a year later.- IMDb Mini Biography By: gemini7662
- ParentsJean Ray
- Born in Harlem, he landed the part of Leroy in Alan Parker's film, Fame (1980), when he was 17, after skipping school to go to the auditions.
- According to Selma Rubin, who managed him for 24 years, Ray's last video project is a one-hour BBC Fame (1980) reunion documentary, "Fame Remember My Name," which was taped in Los Angeles in April 2003, and aired in the United Kingdom shortly after his death.
- Known for his wild, rebellious character Leroy in the TV series Fame (1982), the similarly styled Gene attended New York's High School of the Performing Arts, but dropped out after a year due to the strict discipline.
- He was HIV-positive at the time he suffered a stroke in June 2003. He died a few months later, on November 14.
- In 1982, he toured the UK to perform with other Fame (1982) cast members in 10 concerts. A compilation of footage from the concerts was edited together as an episode of the series, The Kids from Fame in Concert (1983), which was broadcast in the United States a year after the concerts.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content