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
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
MGM Parade
1955
The Hollywood Palace
1964
The Jacksons
1976
The Pirate
1948
That's Entertainment!
1974
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
1970
That's Dancing!
1985
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Down Argentine Way
1940
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003
Night at the Golden Eagle
2002
Filmography
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self · 1978
MGM Parade
as self · 1955
The Hollywood Palace
as Self - Tap Dancer · 1964
The Jacksons
as El mismo · 1976
The Pirate
as Performer · 1948
That's Entertainment!
as (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1974
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
as Benny Smith · 1970
That's Dancing!
as From 'Down Argentine Way' (archive footage) · 1985
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage) · 1975
Down Argentine Way
as One of the Nicholas Brothers · 1940
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
as Self · 2003
Night at the Golden Eagle
as Mr. Maynard · 2002
Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
as Self (archive footage) · 2019
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
as Self · 2002
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1988
It's Black Entertainment
as Self · 2002
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
as Self (uncredited) · 2002
Orchestra Wives
as Dancer (as Nicholas Brothers) · 1942
Sun Valley Serenade
as Specialty Dancer (uncredited) · 1941
Don't Gamble with Love
as Specialty Dancer · 1936
Stormy Weather
as Dancer · 1943
Take It or Leave It
as (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1944
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
as Self · 1998
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
Kid Millions
as Dancer on Ship · 1934
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
as Self · 2003
The Big Broadcast of 1936
as Dot · 1935
The Great American Broadcast
as Railroad Station Dancer · 1941
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
as Self · 2016
Tin Pan Alley
as Dancer · 1940
My Son Is Guilty
as Specialty Act · 1939
El mensaje de la muerte
as Bailarín · 1953
Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather
as Self (archival footage) · 2022
Abbott and Costello Christmas Show
as Himself · 1952
El misterio del carro express
as Bailarín · 1953
An All-Colored Vaudeville Show
as Self · 1935
The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance
as Himself · 1992
Hard Four
as Ulysses · 2007
Coronado
as Dance Specialty (uncredited) · 1935
Pie, Pie Blackbird
as Child with Nina / Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers) · 1932
The Black Network
as Dancer (uncredited) · 1936
Hello Kathrin
· 1956
Barber Shop Blues
as Self - Dancer - One of the Nicholas Brothers · 1933
Calling All Stars
as Himself · 1937