Dupree passed away on 21 June (15) at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He started his career as young dancer in the Jivin' Jacks and Jills troupe, a gig which landed him a contract with Universal. Under the deal, he appeared in a number of musicals, starring alongside the likes of The Andrews Sisters and Donald O'Connor.

Dupree later shared the screen with iconic Hollywood stars such as Shirley Temple in 1942's Miss Annie Rooney, in which he played her boyfriend, and Ava Gardner in the 1944 comedy Maisie Goes to Reno.

In 1953, he was hired by bosses at Disney and became the live-action model for the animated Peter Pan.

He continued working as a dancer and choreographer, and opened the Dupree Dance Academy in Los Angeles, which served as a home from home for aspiring stars like Barbara Eden, Lesley Ann Warren, Olympic figure skater Peggy Fleming and Marine Jahan, who served as a body double for Jennifer Beals in Flashdance.