and dancing lessons".

At Tenafly High School, Hexum was an active student, participating in the school's marching band and performing at the 1973 Rose Parade in Pasadena. He also served as drum major of the marching band in his senior year and became the first male cheerleader in his school's history. He also played roles in his school's productions of Carousel and had one of the starring roles in The Pajama Game