Fayard Nicholas
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 20, 1914
- Died
- January 24, 2006 (aged 91)
- Birthplace
- Mobile, Alabama, USA
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
Photos
Filmography
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
Movie · as Self (archival footage)
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
Movie · as Self
Hard Four
Movie · as Ulysses
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
Movie · as Self
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Movie · as Self
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Movie · as Self
It's Black Entertainment
Movie · as Self
Night at the Golden Eagle
Movie · as Mr. Maynard
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
Movie · as Self
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance
Movie · as Himself
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
That's Dancing!
Movie · as From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage)
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Jacksons
TV · as El mismo · 1 ep
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
Movie · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Movie · as Benny Smith
The Hollywood Palace
TV · as Self - Tap Dancer · 1 ep
Hello Kathrin
Movie
MGM Parade
TV · as self · 2 eps
El misterio del carro express
Movie · as Bailarín
El mensaje de la muerte
Movie · as Bailarín
Abbott and Costello Christmas Show
Movie · as Himself
The Pirate
Movie · as Performer
Take It or Leave It
Movie · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stormy Weather
Movie · as Dancer
Orchestra Wives
Movie · as Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers)
Sun Valley Serenade
Movie · as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
The Great American Broadcast
Movie · as Railroad Station Dancer
Down Argentine Way
Movie · as One of the Nicholas Brothers
Tin Pan Alley
Movie · as Dancer
My Son Is Guilty
Movie · as Specialty Act
Calling All Stars
Movie · as Himself
The Black Network
Movie · as Dancer (uncredited)
Don't Gamble with Love
Movie · as Specialty Dancer
An All-Colored Vaudeville Show
Movie · as Self
The Big Broadcast of 1936
Movie · as Dot
Coronado
Movie · as Dance Specialty (uncredited)
Kid Millions
Movie · as Dancer on Ship
Barber Shop Blues
Movie · as Self - Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers
Pie, Pie Blackbird
Movie · as Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers)