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Fayard Nicholas
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…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2022
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
Movie Self (archival footage)
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2019
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2016
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
Movie Self
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2007
Hard Four
Movie Ulysses
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2007
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2003
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
Movie Self
- 2003
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2002
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Movie Self
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2002
Night at the Golden Eagle
Movie Mr. Maynard
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2002
It's Black Entertainment
Movie Self
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2002
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Movie Self (uncredited)
- 1998
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1992
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance
Movie Himself
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1988
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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1985
That's Dancing!
Movie From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage)
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1978
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV show Self
More credits
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1976
The Jacksons
TV show El mismo
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1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1974
That's Entertainment!
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
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1970
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Movie Benny Smith
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1964
The Hollywood Palace
TV show Self - Tap Dancer
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1956
Hello Kathrin
Movie
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1955
MGM Parade
TV show self
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1953
El misterio del carro express
Movie Bailarín
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1953
El mensaje de la muerte
Movie Bailarín
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1952
Abbott and Costello Christmas Show
Movie Himself
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1948
The Pirate
Movie Performer
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1944
Take It or Leave It
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
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1943
Stormy Weather
Movie Dancer
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1942
Orchestra Wives
Movie Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers)
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1941
Sun Valley Serenade
Movie Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
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1941
The Great American Broadcast
Movie Railroad Station Dancer
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1940
Tin Pan Alley
Movie Dancer
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1940
Down Argentine Way
Movie One of the Nicholas Brothers
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1939
My Son Is Guilty
Movie Specialty Act
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1937
Calling All Stars
Movie Himself
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1936
The Black Network
Movie Dancer (uncredited)
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1936
Don't Gamble with Love
Movie Specialty Dancer
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1935
Coronado
Movie Dance Specialty (uncredited)
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1935
The Big Broadcast of 1936
Movie Dot
