‘Fame’ Remember the name: Gene Anthony Ray

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 in the neighborhood of 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. Ray skipped school one day to audition for Fame choreographer Louis Falco and as they say the rest was history.

I recall watching the film numerous times and always being amazed at Gene Anthony Ray’s moves and his muscular body. According to USA Today: FAME director Alan Parker, said he had to be careful in approaching Ray because his mother Jean was dealing drugs 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 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 he 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 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.

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 party goer” and admitted having problems with alcohol and drugs. He attempted to open a dance school in Milan that resembled the one in FAME. When he failed he ended up 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.

In June of 2003 Gene Anthony 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 costar 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. In spite of it all he did achieve fame and his name and his character Leroy Johnson will forever be remembered.