Matthew Dickens


Matthew Dickens was a writer, producer 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, Glenda Dickerson, Donal Leace, Tony Booker, and Quay Barnes Truitt
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

YearTitlePositionNotes
2004The Aviator Choreographer
2005Sailing for MadagascarChoreographer
2011Dance Production Supervisor
2011The 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.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990In Living ColorHimself
199163rd Academy AwardsPerformer
1992FameTelevision series
1992A Different WorldGuest Star
1993The Arsenio Hall Show Himself
2000The West WingMan #3
2003The Wayne Brady ShowHimself

YearTitlePositionNotes
2000Euro 2000Choreographer
2002Het Nationale HuwelijksfeestChoreographerThe Wedding Event for Prins Willem and Maxima of Argentina Amsterdam Arena
2004NFL KickoffAssistant Choreographer
2004NFL Thanksgiving DayAssistant Choreographer
2005ESPY AwardsAssistant Choreographer
2008The Mole
2009I Am... YoursWriterAired November 26, 2009 on ABC

Stage

Matthew was in the original Broadway cast of Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close 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 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

Other Theater

Death

Matthew died of prostate cancer on January 8, 2013.