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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
October 20, 1914
Died
January 24, 2006
Place of Birth
Mobile, Alabama, USA
Also Known As
- The Nicholas Brothers
- Nicholas Brothers
- Fayard Antonio Nicholas
Fayard Nicholas
0.2 Popularity
Biography
Fayard Antonio Nicholas was an American choreographer, dancer and actor. He and his younger brother Harold Nicholas made up the Nicholas Brothers tap dance duo, who starred in the MGM musicals An All-Colored Vaudeville Show, Stormy Weather, The Pirate, and Hard Four. The Nicholas brothers also starred in the 20th Century-Fox musicals Down Argentine Way, Sun Valley Serenade, and Orchestra Wives. In 1932, when he was 18 and his brother was only 11, they became the featured act at Cotton Club in New York City. The brothers earned fame with a unique style of rhythm tap that blended "masterful jazz steps with daredevil athletic moves and an elegance of motion worthy of ballet". They appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway and in London they worked with jazz choreographer Buddy Bradley. The performances led them to a career in film. Nicholas appeared in over 60 films, including the 1943 musical Stormy Weather with their signature staircase dance. His career was interrupted from 1943 to 1944 when he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Nicholas achieved the rank of Technician fifth grade while in WWII. After his dance career ended, Nicholas and his wife, Katherine Hopkins Nicholas, embarked on a lecture tour discussing dance. In 2003, Nicholas served as "Festival Legend" at the third "Soul to Sole Tap Festival" in Austin, Texas. Nicholas was inducted into the National Museum of Dance C.V. Whitney Hall of Fame in 2001.
Known For
0.0
Self (archival footage)
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
2022
5.0
Self (archive footage)
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
2019
0.0
Self
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
2016
4.4
Ulysses
Hard Four
2007
0.0
Self (archive footage)
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
2007
7.5
Self
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
2003
7.0
Self
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003
7.7
Self
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
2002
4.2
Mr. Maynard
Night at the Golden Eagle
2002
8.0
Self
It's Black Entertainment
2002
Credits
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
as Self (archival footage)
2022
0.0
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
as Self (archive footage)
2019
5.0
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
as Self
2016
0.0
Hard Four
as Ulysses
2007
4.4
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
as Self (archive footage)
2007
0.0
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
as Self
2003
7.5
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
as Self
2003
7.0
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
as Self
2002
7.7
Night at the Golden Eagle
as Mr. Maynard
2002
4.2
It's Black Entertainment
as Self
2002
8.0
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
as Self (uncredited)
2002
0.0
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
as Self
1998
0.0
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance
as Himself
1992
0.0
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self (archive footage)
1988
6.0
That's Dancing!
as From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage)
1985
7.0
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
1978
7.4
The Jacksons
as El mismo
1976
9.0
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
1975
6.1
That's Entertainment!
as (archive footage)
1974
7.4
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
as Benny Smith
1970
5.8
The Hollywood Palace
as Self - Tap Dancer
1964
4.5
Hello Kathrin
1956
5.0
El misterio del carro express
1953
5.0
El mensaje de la muerte
as Bailarín
1953
5.3
Abbott and Costello Christmas Show
as Himself
1952
5.5
The Pirate
as Performer
1948
6.4
Take It or Leave It
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
1944
4.0
Stormy Weather
as Dancer
1943
6.9
Orchestra Wives
as Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers)
1942
6.3
Sun Valley Serenade
as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
1941
7.0
The Great American Broadcast
as Railroad Station Dancer
1941
5.0
Tin Pan Alley
as Dancer
1940
5.1
Down Argentine Way
as One of the Nicholas Brothers
1940
6.2
Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies
1940
7.0
My Son Is Guilty
as Specialty Act
1939
7.5
🎬
Calling All Stars
as Himself
1937
0.0
The Black Network
as Dancer (uncredited)
1936
6.0
Don't Gamble with Love
as Specialty Dancer
1936
0.0
Coronado
as Dance Specialty (uncredited)
1935
3.0
The Big Broadcast of 1936
as Dot
1935
5.5
An All-Colored Vaudeville Show
as Self
1935
7.0
Kid Millions
as Dancer on Ship
1934
6.5
🎬
Barber Shop Blues
as Self - Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers
1933
4.0
🎬
Pie, Pie Blackbird
as Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers)
1932
6.0