1914-10-20 Mobile, Alabama, USA
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.
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Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather | Self (archival footage) | 2022-06-11 |
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Hard Four | Ulysses | 2007-11-01 |
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The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest | Himself | 2007-07-24 |
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Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty | Himself | 2003-06-24 |
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Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There | Self | 2003-01-01 |
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Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer | Self | 2002-09-24 |
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Night at the Golden Eagle | Mr. Maynard | 2002-05-17 |
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It's Black Entertainment | Self | 2002-02-08 |
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The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance | Himself | 1992-11-29 |
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Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC | Self (archive footage) | 1988-05-16 |
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That's Dancing! | From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage) | 1985-01-18 |
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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | Self (archive footage) | 1975-08-06 |
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That's Entertainment! | (archive footage) | 1974-06-21 |
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The Liberation of L.B. Jones | Benny Smith | 1970-03-18 |
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Bonjour Kathrin | 1956-05-08 | |
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El mensaje de la muerte | 1953-05-02 | |
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El misterio del carro express | 1953-07-22 | |
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The Pirate | Performer | 1948-06-11 |
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Take It or Leave It | Himself | 1944-07-17 |
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Stormy Weather | Dancer | 1943-07-21 |
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Orchestra Wives | Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers) | 1942-09-04 |
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Sun Valley Serenade | Specialty Dancer (uncredited) | 1941-08-29 |
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The Great American Broadcast | Railroad Station Dancer | 1941-05-09 |
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Tin Pan Alley | Dancer | 1940-11-29 |
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Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies | 1940-01-01 | |
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Down Argentine Way | One of the Nicholas Brothers | 1940-10-11 |
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My Son is Guilty | Specialty Act | 1939-12-28 |
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Calling All Stars | Himself | 1937-03-01 |
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Don't Gamble with Love | Specialty Dancer | 1936-02-28 |
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The Black Network | Dancer (uncredited) | 1936-04-04 |
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Coronado | Dance Specialty (uncredited) | 1935-11-27 |
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The Big Broadcast of 1936 | Dot | 1935-09-20 |
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An All-Colored Vaudeville Show | Self | 1935-06-21 |
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Kid Millions | Dancer on Ship | 1934-11-10 |
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Barber Shop Blues | Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers | 1933-09-30 |
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Pie, Pie Blackbird | Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers) | 1932-06-03 |
