# Matthew Dickens

Matthew Dickens (October 19, 1961 – January 8, 2013) was an American writer, producer, actor and director.

## Early life

Matthew Dickens was born in an ambulance on a highway on the outskirts of Nancy, France. Matthew's early training as an actor began at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in DC, mentored by the late founder, director/choreographer/educator Mike Malone, who he later joined as a company member of the Equity Theater Company at Karamu House in Cleveland, Ohio. Other notable teachers were Kenneth Daugherty (acting), Glenda Dickerson (acting), Donal Leace (theater history), Tony Booker (voice), and Quay Barnes Truitt (costumes and make-up)
Matthew's early training as a dancer included classes at The School of the Cleveland Ballet. In New York, he had a short stay at The Ailey School and studied with David Howard, Finis Jhung, and Frank Hatchett. While performing in New York, he met Debbie Allen. The two went on to work together on numerous projects, including A Different World, Fame, Polly, Carrie, and The Academy Awards.

## Films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Polly | Dancer | Television Film |
| 1990 | Polly: Comin’ Home! | Onlooker #1 | Television Film |
| 2005 | Confessions of an Action Star | Agent #2 | Released January 20, 2009 |
| 2005 | Their Eyes Were Watching God | Principal Dancer | Released March 5, 2005 |
| 2005 | Rent | Bohemian | |
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Jimmy's Band | |
| Year | Title | Position |
| 2004 | The Aviator | Choreographer |
| 2005 | Sailing for Madagascar | Choreographer |
| 2011 | Leave It On The Floor | Dance Production Supervisor |
| 2011 | The War Zone 3D | Writer, Producer, Director |

## Television

TV appearances include "Fame," guest starring roles on "A Different World", "Quantum Leap," and several commercials. In 1991 Matthew performed in the ABC special “American Dance Honors”, which received an American Emmy Award nomination for the choreography. Matthew appeared on The Debbie Allen Special in 1989 which was nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys and co-starred in the opening number of the 63rd Academy Awards with Jasmine Guy and Steve LaChance.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | In Living Color | Himself | |
| 1991 | 63rd Academy Awards | Performer | |
| 1992 | Fame | | Television series |
| 1992 | A Different World | Guest Star | |
| 1993 | The Arsenio Hall Show | Himself | |
| 2000 | The West Wing | Man #3 | |
| 2003 | The Wayne Brady Show | Himself | |
| Year | Title | Position | Notes |
| 2000 | Euro 2000 | Choreographer | |
| 2002 | Het Nationale Huwelijksfeest | Choreographer | The Wedding Event for Prins Willem and Maxima of Argentina Amsterdam Arena |
| 2004 | NFL Kickoff | Assistant Choreographer | |
| 2004 | NFL Thanksgiving Day | Assistant Choreographer | |
| 2005 | ESPY Awards | Assistant Choreographer | |
| 2008 | The Mole | | |
| 2009 | I Am... Yours | Writer | Aired November 26, 2009 on ABC |

## Stage

Matthew was in the original Broadway cast of Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close (and later with Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige) having initially appeared in the original Los Angeles production. Matthew returned to the Broadway company of Miss Saigon directly from the Netherlands production, where he played the role of John entirely in Dutch. Other Broadway credits include playing both Chris and John (at different times) in Miss Saigon, C.C. White in Dreamgirls and Stephen King's Carrie. He also co-starred in the original Australian cast of Smokey Joe's Cafe.

### Broadway

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Dreamgirls | Understudy CC White | Ambassador Theatre |
| 1988 | Carrie | Matthew, Tommy | Virginia Theatre |
| 1991-2001 | Miss Saigon | Chris, John | Broadway Theatre |
| 1994-1997 | Sunset Boulevard | Artie Green, Understudy Joe Gillis | Minskoff Theatre |

### Other Theater

| Year | Title | Role/Position | Notes |
| 1991 & 1992 | Phylicia Rashad & Co | Featured Performer | Opening Act for Bill Cosby Las Vegas Hilton |
| 1996 | Smokey Joe's Café (Australia) | | |
| 1997 | nl:Miss Saigon (Netherlands) | John | Fortis Circustheater |
| 1999 | The Royal Netherlands Air Force Orchestra | Director, Choreographer, Performer | |
| 2002 | Pearl | Ringmaster/Dr. Drewdy | Geffen Playhouse Kennedy Center NAACP Image Award Nomination |
| 2003 | A Merry Mancini Christmas | Associate Director | Walt Disney Concert Hall December 23, 2003 |
| 2005 | Stephen Sondheim's 75th | Ensemble | Hollywood Bowl July 8, 2005 |

## Death

Matthew died of prostate cancer on January 8, 2013.