Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: 'Honi' Coles taps his way up the golden stairs Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 15:11:15 EST Message-ID: \SE E;LIFE \SS (WS) \HD 'Honi' Coles taps his way up the golden stairs \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT NEW YORK NEW YORK - Charles "Honi" Coles, the elegant tap dancer who won a Broadway Tony award as best supporting actor in the 1983 musical "My One and Only," died at his home early yesterday of cancer, his wife said. He was 81. Gregory Hines, a tapper influenced by Mr. Coles, said Mr. Coles' dancing showed "really what tap is and what it means." Singer Lena Horne once said Mr. Coles was so graceful "he made butterflies clumsy." Mr. Coles' career began with vaudeville and club acts and later expanded to the stage and television. Among his Broadway credits are "Hello, Dolly" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." He also performed with the national touring company of "Bubbling Brown Sugar." He appeared in the movie "The Cotton Club" and his broadcast appearances included the television version of "The Tap Dance Kid." President Bush awarded him the National Medal of the Arts last year. The Philadelphia-born Coles said he learned his hoofing from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and John W. Bubbles. He performed at various times with big bands including those of Cab Calloway, Count Basie and Fats Waller. Mr. Coles is survived by his wife, Marian, and a daughter, Isabelle Coles-Dunbar. His wife said he also has a son, six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren from a previous long-term relationship. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM