‘Fame’ Remember the name: Gene Anthony Ray

The Wild Child

In 1980, the movie Fame became a box office hit, and the character Leroy Johnson made his portrayer, Gene Anthony Ray, a star. Ray was born in Harlem on May 24, 1962, near West 153rd Street. He began performing street dancing at an early age during block parties.

He attended the New York High School of Performing Arts but was kicked out after only one year. His mother, Jean, said the school was too disciplined for her “wild child”.

This lack of discipline would haunt him all of his life but had a benefit. Ray skipped school one day to audition for Fame choreographer Louis Falco, and as they say, the rest was history.

Addiction enters the picture

According to USA Today, Fame director Alan Parker said he had to be careful in approaching Ray because his mother, Jean, was dealing with drug addiction during filming, and “It was not pretty." It’s obvious those in charge of the movie saw Gene Anthony’s potential and desired to work with him in spite of the obstacles.

In 1981, Ray starred with Michael York in a made-for-television movie about Robinson Crusoe. He also starred in the television series Fame, which ran on NBC from 1981-1987.

Ray was described as a natural, a raw talent who never had official dance lessons. He loved to party and was private about his sexuality. Today this would not matter, but in the early 1980s it was common to wonder if an individual was straight or gay.

In 1982, Ray was a dancer in The Weather Girls video. “ Well-A-Wiggy and he toured the UK with The kids from Fame. It was reported in 1984 that Ray was fired from the television series after missing work more than 100 times, and his mother was jailed for running a drug ring. The talented dancer admitted to battling addiction and struggled to find work after Fame ended.

Partying and HIV

In 1987, Gene Anthony won the role of Billy Nolan in a musical adaptation of Carrie by Stephen King, but it was shut down after only a month. He then turned to Broadway and continued to play the role until the musical closed after only 21 public performances.

The talented dancer also appeared in the 1995 film Out-of-Sync, which was directed by his Fame co-star Debbie Allen. The following year, he had a role in the Whoopi Goldberg comedy Eddie and was credited as associate choreographer. Ray was also in commercials for Diet Coke and Dr Pepper.

In 1996, Gene Anthony Ray found out he was HIV positive. He was considered a “ frantic partygoer” and admitted to having problems with alcohol and drugs. He attempted to open a dance school in Milan that resembled the one in Fame.

When this venture failed, he began sharing a flat with a porn star. His final video project was taped in Los Angeles in April 2003. It was a one-hour BBC reunion documentary, titled Fame Remember My Name.

Temperment

In June of 2003, Ray suffered a stroke, and on November 14 of that year, he passed away at age 41 due to complications from the stroke. Ray, like many before and after him, had so much potential but was unable to walk in it because of the demons that plagued him.

His Fame co-star, Debbie Allen, said during an interview that Ray once grabbed her behind during a song, and she was so shocked that she slapped him.

The temperamental dancer became so enraged that Allen was angry with him that he tore up a dressing room. He smashed mirrors, destroyed items, and busted a door. Allen said that it was simply too much.

How sad the world could not have seen all that Gene Anthony Ray had to offer without his issues getting in the way. Despite it all, he did achieve fame, and his name and his character, Leroy Johnson, will forever be remembered.