Royce Perez Blackburn; of Blackburn Twins Song and Dance Act

Royce Perez Blackburn, 69, one of the performing Blackburn Twins who appeared on stage and television, and in films. Blackburn and his twin brother, Ramon, made their Broadway debut at the age of 5 in Jerome Kern’s “Music in the Air.” When they were in the military service during World War II, they appeared in the stage and screen versions of “Winged Victory.” The song and dance duo, who often worked with such stars as Janet Blair and Vivian Blaine, were regular guests on the television variety shows of Milton Berle, Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan. Among their films were “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in 1949 and “Working Her Way Through College” with Ronald Reagan in 1952. In his later years, Royce Blackburn operated a tennis club in New Ipswich, N.H. On April 14 in New Ipswich of cancer.