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