image of Fayard Nicholas
Birthday: Oct 20, 1914
Place of Birth: Mobile, Alabama, USA

Fayard Nicholas

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.

Filmography
Movie Cast Year
Down Argentine Way One of the Nicholas Brothers 1940
An All-Colored Vaudeville Show Self 1935
Hard Four Ulysses 2007
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC Self (archive footage) 1988
The Big Broadcast of 1936 Dot 1935
Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies 1940
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather Self (archival footage) 2022
Calling All Stars Himself 1937
Pie, Pie Blackbird Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers) 1932
The Black Network Dancer (uncredited) 1936
That's Entertainment! (archive footage) 1974
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story Self (uncredited) 2002
Barber Shop Blues Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers 1933
The Liberation of L.B. Jones Benny Smith 1970
Orchestra Wives Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers) 1942
Coronado Dance Specialty (uncredited) 1935
Sun Valley Serenade Specialty Dancer (uncredited) 1941
Tin Pan Alley Dancer 1940
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops Himself 2016
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer Self 2002
Don't Gamble with Love Specialty Dancer 1936
Hello Kathrin 1956
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance Himself 1992
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Self (archive footage) 1975
El misterio del carro express 1953
Take It or Leave It (archive footage) (uncredited) 1944
Stormy Weather Dancer 1943
It's Black Entertainment Self 2002
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty Self 2003
That's Dancing! From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage) 1985
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest Himself 2007
My Son Is Guilty Specialty Act 1939
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There Self 2003
Night at the Golden Eagle Mr. Maynard 2002
El mensaje de la muerte 1953
The Pirate Performer 1948
Kid Millions Dancer on Ship 1934
The Great American Broadcast Railroad Station Dancer 1941
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood Self 1998
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back Self (archive footage) 2019
Series Cast Year
The Colgate Comedy Hour Self 1950
The Hollywood Palace Self - Tap Dancer 1964
The Jacksons Self 1976
The Kennedy Center Honors Self 1978
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