About the Walter Payton idea: forgive me, but "Sweetness" was much more attractive than Jaleel. Payton had that kind of "young Eddie Murphy" level of handsomeness and high energy.
http://www.chicagoparent.com/media/6601255/walter payton.jpg
Jaleel has the, um, same puffy eyes as Gregory. Gregory's thing was tap dancing more than acting, I think.
Will have to think about the Richard Pryor thing - I don't see any resemblance there at all.

Two words, two syllables per word, three letters per syllable.
Walter Payton.
He's got it down. He has the same mustache, the EXACT same voice, and once he builds up his physique just a bit, he'll have it spot on.

he could play Richard Pryor i always thought he and Gregoy Hines looked similar. and Pryor had a very interesting life.
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http://the-forgotten-reel.blogspot.com/

I agree with you in principal, but in the event that Hines is a supporting character in a biopic on somebody else, he'd still be great in the role.

Yeah, he does look similar. But who would want to produce a biopic of Gregory Hines? I am not knocking him when I say that, as I like many of his films, but he never gained any kind of recognition or has a lasting legacy that screams for a biopic to be made.