Celebrity Underrated - The Gene Anthony Ray Story (Fame ) 

Years, years and years ago, I went to this party with a bunch of white French folks. When we arrived to the party, they left me to myself. They acted as if I did not come with them. Well, who was at this party, sober and clean, Jean Anthony Ray. He peeped what they were doing to me. He had me come and sit with him and his friends, he treated me like his best friend. I will never ever ever forget his kindness. And guess who tried to come and sit with US...yep those white French folks. We ignored them and let me tell you, Jean Anthony Ray could throw some shade:) RIPower Gene Anthony Ray!

Met Gene Ray on the streets in Harlem while visiting NY. He was sooooo down to earth! Just like meeting a friend. RIP Gene Anthony Ray 🙏🏾

I’ll never forget a scene at the beginning of Fame. Leroy was dancing and a teacher said “What do you call THAT?” and Debbie Allen said “WICKED”. Agreed. RIP Gene Anthony Ray.

I went to school with Gene from elementary through high school. Last time I saw him we were walking home from school and he told me he was moving to California. Next time I saw him was in Fame. I was so glad to see that he was successful and even more sorry to hear when he passed away. He was such a nice person and lawd he could make you laugh! We got kicked out of class in 8th grade because he kept making me laugh lol.

If he has still with us, I believe he would have been a choreographer with his own dance company.

Gene Anthony Ray was one of the best male dancer ever. I remember first seeing him in the movie Fame and he killed his role Leroy Johnson.

Gene was so gifted and sadly underrated.

Fame was my show growing up!! Loved the way Gene danced!! RIPGeneAnthonyRay 🕊

Hands down...... One of my favorite shows of all time... RIP to this brother!!!

I also want to say, your channel is one of the ONLY ones out here that gives us well researched info on our stars and celebrities! Thank you for your hard work!

I knew him personally and my guy was funny asf. A generation before me, he and an uncle of mine grew up as best friends and his grandma was a gangster! He's truly missed.

He was a very talented young man - great actor and dancer. Shame he died so young. I enjoyed the movie "Fame" as well as the spin off TV show, and he was so good they got him to take part in both versions.

Went to the Lurher Vandross/Anita Baker concert at Madison Square Garden.Anita was on stage doing her thang and spotted him in the audience called him up on the stage and my boy did his thang!!! RIP King

I DROPPED everything to watch this video!! I LOVED Gene so much and his dancing is still AMAZING to watch to this day!! He really was magical ✨️ 💓

I knew him and he was an amazing spirit!! He always went out of his way to let people and invite you along...he was amazing,Gene Anthony Ray is sorely missed 💔🙏🏿🕊️

I use to love watching him & Debbie Allen dance. To me they had a dancing chemistry. I never missed an episode. I love the movie too

Fame was one of the best shows and Leroy was one of the best characters ever. I was born in the early 70s so I have very vivid memories of this show. We would always recite Debbie's beginning monolog at school: "You got big dreams? You want fame? Well fame costs. And right here is where you start paying....in sweat!" #ripgeneanthonyray

A few years ago I remember that he was interviewed in Paris while homeless. He was such a phenomenal dancer, and his style was everything.

Gregory Hines should be in the DANCE HALL OF FAME as well!🤩

Fame was my childhood favorite show I watched the show faithfully. I had forgotten that Gene had passed away. A very talented guy all around. I agree he definitely should be inducted into the National Hall Dance Hall Of Fame. I'm sad to hear about how he passed away and way too young 41 years old. #RestInParadise, Gene thank you for the beautiful memories and your acting skills. 🙏🏽🥺😭💜 Heartbreaking: Gene passed away from a stroke and HIV. I'm shocked to hear that a few of the cast members had HIV. 🥺 I'm glad his family had his back.

He was very much gay. My mother stalked him after watching Fame. She was in love with him. And when she finally got courage to say something she told me he let her know he was gay. Loved when she told this story about him. Rip Mommy and Gene

I'm from Harlem, and true to this story, his family, was big and known all through these streets as nothing to play with.

U can't be taught to move the way this dude moved. He literally casted a spell on u. U had to watch him he was a beautiful light in this world to behold.

I often think of so many of our talented gay actors and talented artists who were in the closet, how far they would be today if they didn’t have to face the discrimination or lead double lives.

I had the biggest crush on Gene Anthony Ray and love him on Fame too. I want to be a dancer when Fame come out. R. I. P

I loved Fame. Leroy was my favorite. I can still hear the theme song. Man that brought me back.

I still watch Fame (movie) regularly. Its on my DVR now. I always quote, "Young and single, and I love to mingle."

As a semi retired Black African male dancer and choreographer, he and the late Gregg Burge were two of my biggest inspirations to develop and perfect my craft. May their souls continue to rest in peace. Please do a bio of Sylvester.

That dude was nimble and flexible, and sensitive. He had a pretty dope voice too. I remember watching Fame growing up seeing how Leroy did not give a damn about school and classes, such a free spirit. His passion and focus came out in dancing only. I believe he really was apart of the rainbow family. He was also one of the dancers in The Weather Girls Raining Men video.

Yesssss!!! Gene Anthony Ray!! Loved him and his dancing.

I had a chance to meet him in Los Angeles he was incredibly kind.❤️ R.I.P

Fame is another Iconic show. Leroy and many others very talented. R. I. P. Gene🙏🏼

I kept thinking about Gene Anthony Ray. I remember when he passed, but his role in Fame was awesome

I had a big crush on him in my tween years he was a great talent I loved this episode its hard to find out about him but you did it again great job

I got an idea for a new series. I call it Flowers Underrated. I like the idea simply because there are quite of few artists/actors who are still here with us who really haven't gotten their flowers yet. I feel the series would get just as much love as this one. Basically shedding some more light on their accomplishments and great deeds. A great example would be Chubb Rock! Let me add this. This isn't my channel. I didn't put in the effort and hard work. I am a loyal supporter of this channel. I'm not looking for a come up off of a channel that I didn't make. This brother does great work and I just want this channel to continue to grow.

I can't even remember how many times I saw the movie fame. I would go to the show and sit there all day. I loved that movie and Gene Anthony Ray. You did the brutha justice.

This video was very well researched and informative. I learned a lot of new information about Gene. RIP 🙏🏽 🕊

This was pretty sad. I remember when he passed. He was living in Paris and barely making it as told on one of the Hollywood stories. Very talented.

I loved me some Gene Anthony Ray and the Fame franchise! I had a poster with him from Right On magazine on my wall with him posing with his leg up and toe pointed towards the sky. He had on some blue bikini briefs…hunty…the package 📦 did not disappoint….RIP to him!

🙋🏾‍♂️ Irene Cara was later black listed because she refused to be taken advantage of (sexualy) by record producers.

Another excellent episode. Yes indeed I remember the incomparable Mr. Gene Anthony Ray. His character on fame always struggled with tuition! They never allowed him to evolve beyond that same vain.

Left a live to jump over here and watch this. I use to love Gene Anthony Ray and both versions of Fame

I love that show. I was young but that show has helped me in my adult life, believe it or not.

Aside from the drugs and alcohol, losing his house probably caused a domino effect in his life.

My mom loved this show. She would let me and my sisters stay up late so we could watch it. How I miss those days. Thanks for sharing this story you did an awesome job as usual never disappointed. Be blessed 🥰

ME AND MY SISTERS use to watch the tv show Fame as little girls, just for LeRoy! He was so fine! We use fight over him until we got a little older and discovered he didn't like girls lol. We were so bummed but he and Debbie Allen are who really influenced us to go to a Performing Arts School. We wanted to dance on the tables like LeRoy lol. Gene was an incredibly awesome dancer!

I remember seeing this brother in a old movie I think LL Cool J was in it smh sooo talented damn RIP ❤️

You got to realize this about the time line of this show. It was during the crack and heroine epidemic. Those days back than were bitter sweet, by and by.

heart breaking many of us beacame dancers due to watching him on fame , beautifully presented as usual thank you

Yes! Gene Anthony Ray. Thanks for featuring this legendary man. Leroy was my favorite character on Fame, and like you said, they definitely made him out to be the street-wise bad boy of the show. What an amazing dancer! I think he would have been a MAJOR choreographer in the industry had he not died so young. There will never be another. Keep doing what you're doing, Sir. This series truly pays homage to unsung heroes a lot of people grew up with back in the day.

1100 views in 39 minutes. Yes, we are ready when you add a new video. Thank you, continue the great work. ❤

I remember this show when I was 15 years old RIP GENE🙏🏽🙏🏽

Always on time This here was one of my favorite shows back in the day 👌🏽💯RIP Gene Anthony Ray 😔🙏🏽

Thank you for putting this together on the life of Gene Anthony Ray. I loved the show as a a pre-teen, had all the records etc. I never understood why NBC cancelled such a good show. When the DVDs came out around 2006, and I was able to rewatch the first season again, was happy to see the show really stood the test of time. I was surprised that a lot of the songs still sounded good and of course the other immediate stand out was how insanely talented Gene Anthony Ray was. I had spent years between 1982 and 2006 studying dance and music - even teaching - so that gave me even more perspective than I had as a little kid in 1982. I looked him up after rewatching the DVDs on IMDB, wondering how old he would be, what he was doing performance wise, and was shocked to read he had died and that he had drug issues etc. It's heartbreaking to hear what his life was like during and post Fame. Yes. I agree he should be in the dancer hall of fame. Italy probably wouldn't have been the best place for him. My husband is from Italy, and while I LOVE it there - they could be pretty racist, although it's gotten better, -( I was there between 2009 - 2014) , I imagine it was worse in the 80s and 90s.

You are such a positive and pleasure to listen to regardless of their downfalls you always see the light Thank you Bro ❤️💯

Love this guy and the show!

Leroy Johnson was ahead of his time man.

Even as a child, I recognized Gene Anthony Ray as flamboyant but I thought he was beautiful: graceful dancer's body, expressive Brown eyes and I loved his character Leroy. My favs from the TV show was Coco, Lydia & Leroy!! When he revealed his status back then, I was not surprised AT ALL. The illness was associated mainly with LGBT members & even though he never talked about his sexuality, I knew!

I was devastated when 'Fame' was cancelled on tv. It was a show about young people. I was 11-12yrs. old at the time in '82-3. Bruno was my Guy, and Nia Peoples and her Boyfriend...forget his name

One of my favorite shows and really liked him and Debbie Allen.. Leroy was an amazing character so good..

YES he needs to be in that hall of Fame. DAMN STRAIGHT.

Thank you for featuring him I grew up watching him on Fame the tv series. I remember watching him as a little. He definitely had a gift of dancing improvising something fierce. He could make a complicated dance numbers. The way his life ended made me so sad. It didn’t take away from his talent.❤️

He had a lot of heart and soul. I think he was really a down to earth person who kept it real. When he was getting popular on Fame and then became a celebrity he thought it would last forever and when the show ended and the dance tours ended he went into shock. He could not find work and got into the drugs and male escorting and that is what did him in.

I always loved him on Fame. He was such a talent.

I always liked Leroy. Another sad story.

Thank you so much for selecting the shining stars of the early '80s dance / hip Hop movement. I really enjoyed your shabba video. He was a Shining Star of my adolescent years, in the '80s. I also loved Leroy on Fame he was so talented and amazing.

Remember my name "FAME"!!!

I watched the show but i was young and don’t remember many details of the episodes I met Debbie Allen in college- i went to Duke and she was on campus. I ran into her at the main campus store. She was pleasant!

I love your research keep it coming bro..👍🏿

Thankyou for covering Gene Anthony Ray. Still to this day my sister and I call straight back cornrows “The Leroy braids.”

This is one of the stories i’ve been waiting for thank you so much. Can we please get stories on the cast of Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons, Different Strokes, Dustin Diamond, Rosetta Lenoire, Roger E. Mosley, Mary Alice, Nichelle Nichols, Robert Guillaume, Suzzanne Douglas, Yvette Wilson, Natalie Dasalle Reid, Bernie Mac, John Witherspoon, Naya Rivera, Diahann Carroll & Della Reese???

I was a HUGE fan of Fame and I had a huge crush on Gene 😍😍 Such an amazing talent 🥰❤️🥰. Author: You did an EXCELLENT job on this story as always 🥰🥰🥰

This is my 3rd time watching this video back to back. Can't believe this talented brother died so young. I wish he was still here. 😪

He probably would have been a choreographer & would have had his own dance company like Alvin Ailey.

I remember 2 separate episodes of Fame ,where Debbie Allen & Gene Anthony Ray had solo dance performances in the episode and they were both amazing!!

Oh my gosh, even though I was a little on the young side when Fame was out, I simply loved Leroy. I had some rumors in how he died, but they were never really substantiated. Thank you for keeping his name alive. There will never be another Gene A. Ray. ❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕 💘

Fame was my life as a kid growing up in the 80s. I just knew i was gonna be another Debbie Allen aka Lydia Grant. Everybody in my family knew Fame was my show. Leroy and Lydia was my fave on the show. RIP GAR

I'm chillin at home on workers comp unfortunately..so you right on time.. two artist I'd love to see you feature..ODB...that would be dope, also Peter Tosh..his story with the Rolling Stones is wild

I missed seeing your videos and hearing your voice. Sending love From NYC.

Grew up in Harlem… went to school with his lil brother…. Wonder what happened to Nairobi? Yep memories of Harlemworldin the late 80’s. Tony Ray let you know what he was about and was very outspoken…..

I remember the show fame very well me and my mom would watch it faithfully. This youngman was a great dancer/actor he could dance with no problem too me he actually made the show because of his talents...

Gene Anthony Ray lived one block away from my sister. Yes, that was a dangerous and bad neighborhood. I saw him a couple times. One time I saw him, he was walking in the street. I assumed to keep from getting robbed because it was dark outside. Another time, he was in the neighborhood, he was on a payphone talking to someone. I miss him because I loved him in Fame.

Very well-done! You're doing a great job of preserving the legacy of some of the most talented black people America has ever seen.

Never disappointed with your vlogs, Lord not Grandma carrying and moving weight.. RIP to Gene Anthony Ray 🙏🏽 🕊

Gene was one of the best. 🙏❤ I remember him from Fame, like Debbie Allen. So many of our black legends have yet to be recognized. Its crazy. We gave this industry the energy it needed to keep going and we are due the credit for it! Period!

Oh man I love all of your narrative videos. But, Thank You Sooooo much for this one. I loved Jean Anthony Ray and often wondered what happened to him.

I, met him at the end of his life, in Florence Italy, A, wonderful person.

R.I.P. Brother Gene Anthony Ray!!!🌹🌹🌹❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

I was friends with Gene Anthony Ray when I lived on 153rd St and Bradhurst Ave and I knew his Mother and Grandmother who owned a bar around the corner on 8th Ave.

Yes Gene Anthony Ray should’ve been in the dance Hall of Fame he was excellent. One of the best rest in peace honey 😭🕊

I thought he died in the early 90's...wow, if I had not seen this I would've never known! RIP Gene..

I love gene Anthony Ray he was one of the best dancers ever

RIP to Gene Anthony Ray 🙏🌹🕊️

Right on time for bedtime story👀👀👀

I remember seeing him dance in the original Fame. He captivated me. He was the reason I watched the show. I saw him dance later. Beautiful, talented. R.I.P.

Gene Anthony Ray facts: 1. He definitely was talented dancer. A very raw and fierce dancer. 2. He was gay. 3. His family was HEAVY in the streets 4. He contracted HIV later in life. 5. A humble guy considering what he was going through. 6. "Leroy" and Gene Anthony you could say were the same person. Most of his lines were not written.

The Leroy character was indeed the most popular on the Television series Fame. I usually watched the series when the theme was centered upon him.

Wonderful, respectful, down to earth human. Truly missed.

This was one of the best stories that you have done. You did a fantastic job. I enjoyed every minute of it.💕

I clicked this baby so quick!! Thank you!