The community has come together to support Nat Horne, a celebrated Broadway veteran who has lived in his Hell ’s Kitchen flat for more than 50 years. At 95, Horne—who was one of the first black members of the U.S.
Army’s Special Services entertainment unit and later joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—faces the prospect of having to leave his longtime Manhattan home for a nursing facility, a move he worries could be the end of his life.
Horne, who will turn 96 in December, told The New York Post that “I’ll probably die if they take me out.” He echoed this sentiment before the camera with, “It’s my home.”
After spending decades investing in in‑home care, he has exhausted most of his savings and can no longer cover both his care and rent. Diagnosed with dementia in the spring of 2023, he keeps his memories alive by surrounding himself with photographs of stars he once coached—Lena Horne, Laura BaCall, Martin Sheen—alongside movie posters and awards that once marked the walls of his third‑floor walk‑up on 47th Street.
Despite battling dementia, legal blindness, and a recent hip replacement, Horne remains sharp and vibrant. Stanley Harrison, a former student who visits nearly every day, attests to his bright spirit.
Horne is a frequent guest on his neighbor’s YouTube show, “Erin Lee and Friends,” where he sings numbers from the 12 Broadway shows that helped shape his career.
A fall in April forced Horne to realize that round‑the‑clock assistance was absolutely necessary—and that the cost would drain his modest retirement pot. By August, Harrison noted that Horne’s funds would only get him through the end of the year.
Fortunately, a wave of support from friends, neighbors, former students, and even strangers has helped cover the shortfall.
“Everyone wants to help him stay in the place that has been his sanctuary since 1968,” said Harrison. “His generosity and spirit were part of what made our classes special.”
They all share a sense that it’s a duty to give back to the man who has become a beloved “Mayor of 47th Street” and a familiar friendly face on his stoop.
Horne’s impact stretches beyond the stage. After a successful tenure in wartime entertainment, he opened his Hell ’s Kitchen home to students in need of lodging or extra dance practice.
In 1977, Harrison paid a modest $100 per month for a night’s rest—a sum equivalent to roughly $555 in today’s dollars. Horne also created the Muse Machine program, a scholarship for young artists in Dayton, Ohio.
For Harrison and Magnuson, moving Horne to a communal setting would strip him of the human interaction that fuels his energy. “If he were in a place where he couldn’t see people’s expressions, he would become isolated and likely die much sooner,” they warned.
The group has launched a GoFundMe campaign that has already raised over $30,000. They hope to reach $100,000, which would cover a full year of rent, in‑home care, and medical expenses.
Horne, aware of the appeal, expressed gratitude and excitement for what extra help could bring. “This is my home. I love it. I think it’s a wonderful place to be. And I don’t want to leave, I’ll tell you that right now!” he said.
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