Three-Time Tony Winner Hinton Battle Dies at 67

Mr. Battle made his Broadway debut as the original Scarecrow in The Wiz. He received an impressive three Tony Awards for originating three vastly varied yet equally bombastic roles: in Sophisticated Ladies, The Tap Dance Kid, and Miss Saigon. He won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for all three roles, making him the most-awarded actor in the category's history.

Three-time Tony-winning dancer, actor, and choreographer Hinton Battle passed away January 29 after a brief illness. He was 67. News of his passing was confirmed by his longtime collaborator and friend Debbie Allen, who wrote on Instagram: "Today, I honor Hinton Battle, my dear friend who left us to dance and sing in God’s Ensemble last night. He fought this battle to live and be creative impacting audiences and young people across the globe. Let us always hold him high in our hearts and in our mind’s eye and forever speak his name."

Battle was born in Neubrücke, Hoppstädten-Weiersbach, West Germany, part of the Baumholder Army Military Community, and raised in Washington, D.C., and New York City. His mother was a homemaker and his father a U.S. army officer.

Rough day for Broadway. First Chita, now Hinton.

RIP to both.