Fayard Nicholas
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (41)
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
as Self (archival footage)
2022
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
as Self (archive footage)
2019
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
as Self
2016
Hard Four
as Ulysses
2007
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
as Self (archive footage)
2007
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
as Self
2003
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
as Self
2003
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
as Self
2002
Night at the Golden Eagle
as Mr. Maynard
2002
It's Black Entertainment
as Self
2002
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
as Self (uncredited)
2002
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
as Self
1998
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance
as Himself
1992
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self (archive footage)
1988
That's Dancing!
as From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage)
1985
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
1975
That's Entertainment!
as (archive footage)
1974
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
as Benny Smith
1970
Hello Kathrin
1956
El misterio del carro express
1953
El mensaje de la muerte
as BailarĂn
1953
Abbott and Costello Christmas Show
as Himself
1952
The Pirate
as Performer
1948
Take It or Leave It
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
1944
Stormy Weather
as Dancer
1943
Orchestra Wives
as Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers)
1942
Sun Valley Serenade
as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
1941
The Great American Broadcast
as Railroad Station Dancer
1941
Tin Pan Alley
as Dancer
1940
Down Argentine Way
as One of the Nicholas Brothers
1940
Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies
1940
My Son Is Guilty
as Specialty Act
1939
Calling All Stars
as Himself
1937
The Black Network
as Dancer (uncredited)
1936
Don't Gamble with Love
as Specialty Dancer
1936
Coronado
as Dance Specialty (uncredited)
1935
The Big Broadcast of 1936
as Dot
1935
An All-Colored Vaudeville Show
as Self
1935
Kid Millions
as Dancer on Ship
1934
Barber Shop Blues
as Self - Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers
1933
Pie, Pie Blackbird
as Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers)
1932
