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.
Photos
Movies (40)
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
2022 · Self (archival footage)
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
2019 · Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
2016 · Self
Hard Four
2007 · Ulysses
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
2007 · Self (archive footage)
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
2003 · Self
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003 · Self
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
2002 · Self
Night at the Golden Eagle
2002 · Mr. Maynard
It's Black Entertainment
2002 · Self
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002 · Self (uncredited)
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998 · Self
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance
1992 · Himself
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
That's Dancing!
1985 · From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975 · Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
1974 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
1970 · Benny Smith
Hello Kathrin
1956
El misterio del carro express
1953 · Bailarín
El mensaje de la muerte
1953 · Bailarín
Abbott and Costello Christmas Show
1952 · Himself
The Pirate
1948 · Performer
Take It or Leave It
1944 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stormy Weather
1943 · Dancer
Orchestra Wives
1942 · Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers)
Sun Valley Serenade
1941 · Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
The Great American Broadcast
1941 · Railroad Station Dancer
Tin Pan Alley
1940 · Dancer
Down Argentine Way
1940 · One of the Nicholas Brothers
My Son Is Guilty
1939 · Specialty Act
Calling All Stars
1937 · Himself
The Black Network
1936 · Dancer (uncredited)
Don't Gamble with Love
1936 · Specialty Dancer
Coronado
1935 · Dance Specialty (uncredited)
The Big Broadcast of 1936
1935 · Dot
An All-Colored Vaudeville Show
1935 · Self
Kid Millions
1934 · Dancer on Ship
Barber Shop Blues
1933 · Self - Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers
Pie, Pie Blackbird
1932 · Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers)
