Dead or Alive: Gene Anthony Ray

Fame was one of my favorite TV shows growing up. I dreamed of being able to go to a school where people danced in the halls and the students performed in cabaret shows or in pizza parlors in the evenings.

Gene Anthony Ray played the rebellious Leroy Johnson in the film version of Fame as well as on the television show.

One evening during a particularly drunken session of Karaoke Revolution, the theme song from Fame, performed by Irene Cara, popped up as my random song. During the musical interludes, my friend and I pondered the life of Gene Anothony Ray and how he had faired after Fame stopped talking.

Unfortunately, Mr. Ray's only true professional success came as the mischevious & street smart Leroy. He rode the Leroy boat as long as he could, even touring Europe with his Fame castmates in 10 concerts called "The Kids of Fame." Ray also appeared in the films Out Of Sync (1995) which was directed by his Fame co-star Debbie Allen and the 1996 Whoopi Goldberg comedy Eddie. His last acting role was the part of "Dancer" on an episode of The Drew Carey Show in 1997.

Sadly, Gene passed away in November of 2003 at the age of 41 due to complications of a stroke. He was HIV positive when he died.

Poor Leroy.