Fayard Nicholas

Biography

Fayard Nicholas was an American dancer, choreographer and actor who formed the tap duo the Nicholas Brothers with his younger brother Harold. Born in Alabama and raised largely in Philadelphia, he learned to dance by watching vaudeville shows, and in 1932 the brothers became the featured act at the Cotton Club in New York City. Their rhythm tap mixed jazz steps with daring athletic movement, and it carried them to the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway and to work in London with the choreographer Buddy Bradley. Nicholas made more than 60 films, among them Down Argentine Way (1940), Sun Valley Serenade (1941), Stormy Weather (1943), which included the brothers' staircase dance, and The Pirate (1948). Army service interrupted his career from 1943 to 1944, and in 2001 he was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's C.V. Whitney Hall of Fame.

91years old at death

Born October 20, 1914Mobile
Died January 24, 2006Los Angeles
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Also credited as Fayard Antonio Nicholas

Movie Career

Films: 5
Career span: 30 years1940 to 1970

Every film, newest first

1970The Liberation of L.B. JonesIMDb rating 6.8
1948The PirateIMDb rating 6.8
1943Stormy WeatherIMDb rating 7.3
1941Sun Valley SerenadeIMDb rating 7.1
1940Down Argentine WayIMDb rating 6.4

Genres

Fayard Nicholas movies on Netflix

The Liberation of L.B. Jones1970IMDb rating 6.8as Benny Smith
The Pirate1948IMDb rating 6.8as Performer
Stormy Weather1943IMDb rating 7.3as Dancer
Sun Valley Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1as Specialty Dancer
Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4as One of the Nicholas Brothers

Worked with

Fayard Nicholas shares four films with Harold Nicholas, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Harold Nicholas

Ray Teal

Dub Taylor

J. Carrol Naish

Ann Doran

Barbara Hershey

Vincente MinnelliDirector, 1 film Andrew L. StoneDirector, 1 film H. Bruce HumberstoneDirector, 1 film

Films together

Harold Nicholas4 films together, 1940 to 1948
Harold Nicholas's page
- The Pirate1948IMDb rating 6.8Nicholas as PerformerNicholas as Performer
- Stormy Weather1943IMDb rating 7.3Nicholas as DancerNicholas as Dancer
- Sun Valley Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Nicholas as Specialty DancerNicholas as Specialty Dancer
- Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Nicholas as One of the Nicholas BrothersNicholas as One of the Nicholas Brothers
Ray Teal1 film together, 1970
Ray Teal's page
- The Liberation of L.B. Jones1970IMDb rating 6.8Nicholas as Benny SmithTeal as Chief of Police
Dub Taylor1 film together, 1970
Dub Taylor's page
- The Liberation of L.B. Jones1970IMDb rating 6.8Nicholas as Benny SmithTaylor as Mayor
J. Carrol Naish1 film together, 1940
J. Carrol Naish's page
- Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Nicholas as One of the Nicholas BrothersNaish as Casiano
Ann Doran1 film together, 1941
Ann Doran's page
- Sun Valley Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Nicholas as Specialty DancerDoran as Waitress
Barbara Hershey1 film together, 1970
Barbara Hershey's page
- The Liberation of L.B. Jones1970IMDb rating 6.8Nicholas as Benny SmithHershey as Nella Mundine
Vincente MinnelliDirector, 1 film, 1948
All films by Vincente Minnelli
- The Pirate1948IMDb rating 6.8Nicholas as Performer
Andrew L. StoneDirector, 1 film, 1943
All films by Andrew L. Stone
- Stormy Weather1943IMDb rating 7.3Nicholas as Dancer
H. Bruce HumberstoneDirector, 1 film, 1941
All films by H. Bruce Humberstone
- Sun Valley Serenade1941IMDb rating 7.1Nicholas as Specialty Dancer

Awards

Three awards and honors from 1978 to 1991, one of them major.

Top

Fayard Nicholas's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Tony Awards
1989	Best Choreography	Black and Blue	Won
Other honors
1991	Kennedy Center Honors		Won
1978	Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top