Fayard Nicholas
Actor
Born October 20, 1914 in 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 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.
Filmography
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
Self (archival footage)
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
Self
Hard Four
Ulysses
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
Self (archive footage)
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
Self
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Self
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Self
Night at the Golden Eagle
Mr. Maynard
It's Black Entertainment
Self
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Self (uncredited)
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
Self
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance
Himself
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
That's Dancing!
From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage)
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
The Jacksons
El mismo
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
(archive footage) (uncredited)
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Benny Smith
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Tap Dancer
Hello Kathrin
MGM Parade
self
El misterio del carro express
Bailarín
El mensaje de la muerte
Bailarín
Abbott and Costello Christmas Show
Himself
The Pirate
Performer
Take It or Leave It
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Stormy Weather
Dancer
Orchestra Wives
Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers)
Sun Valley Serenade
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
The Great American Broadcast
Railroad Station Dancer
Tin Pan Alley
Dancer
Down Argentine Way
One of the Nicholas Brothers
My Son Is Guilty
Specialty Act
The Black Network
Dancer (uncredited)
Don't Gamble with Love
Specialty Dancer
Coronado
Dance Specialty (uncredited)
The Big Broadcast of 1936
Dot
An All-Colored Vaudeville Show
Self
Kid Millions
Dancer on Ship