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.

Known For

MGM Parade

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Hollywood Palace

The Jacksons

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

That's Entertainment!

The Pirate

Hard Four

All Movies (40)

• Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather2022 · as Self (archival footage)
• Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops2016 · as Self
• Hard Four2007 · as Ulysses
• The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty2003 · as Self
• Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There2003 · as Self
• Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer2002 · as Self
• Night at the Golden Eagle2002 · as Mr. Maynard
• It's Black Entertainment2002 · as Self
• Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story2002 · as Self (uncredited)
• Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood1998 · as Self
• The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance1992 · as Himself
• Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC1988 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• That's Dancing!1985 · as From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage)
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975 · as Self (archive footage)
• That's Entertainment!1974 · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Liberation of L.B. Jones1970 · as Benny Smith
• Hello Kathrin1956
• El misterio del carro express1953 · as Bailarín
• El mensaje de la muerte1953 · as Bailarín
• Abbott and Costello Christmas Show1952 · as Himself
• The Pirate1948 · as Performer
• Take It or Leave It1944 · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Stormy Weather1943 · as Dancer
• Orchestra Wives1942 · as Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers)
• Sun Valley Serenade1941 · as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
• The Great American Broadcast1941 · as Railroad Station Dancer
• Tin Pan Alley1940 · as Dancer
• Down Argentine Way1940 · as One of the Nicholas Brothers
• My Son Is Guilty1939 · as Specialty Act
• Calling All Stars1937 · as Himself
• The Black Network1936 · as Dancer (uncredited)
• Don't Gamble with Love1936 · as Specialty Dancer
• Coronado1935 · as Dance Specialty (uncredited)
• The Big Broadcast of 19361935 · as Dot
• An All-Colored Vaudeville Show1935 · as Self
• Kid Millions1934 · as Dancer on Ship
• Barber Shop Blues1933 · as Self - Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers
• Pie, Pie Blackbird1932 · as Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers)

All TV Shows (4)

• The Kennedy Center Honors1978 · as Self
• The Jacksons1976 · as El mismo
• The Hollywood Palace1964 · as Self - Tap Dancer
• MGM Parade1955 · as self