Biography for
Harold Nicholas More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

27 March 1921, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Date of Death

3 July 2000, New York City, New York, USA (heart failure)

Birth Name

Harold Lloyd Nicholas

Mini Biography

Harold Nicholas, the younger half of the world famous Nicholas Brothers dance team, is known as one of the world's greatest dancers. He and his brother Fayard Nicholas were established superstars at Twentieth Century Fox with their astounding dance numbers in the studios musicals features. Harold was known for "attributing spice to Fayard's grace," with his quick moves. Harold was a seasoned pro at age 7, appearing in everything from early 1930s Warner Bros. Vitaphone shorts with the great Eubie Blake, to receiving the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor in Washington in 1991. Carnegie Hall sold out for a tribute to he and his brother in 1998, who were both present that special night. Though he always made his astounding mid air splits and backwards somersaults seem effortless, Nicholas was much more though than a "specialty act" for 1940s Fox films. He was an incredible "dancer," one you could watch and never tire of. The man had a something no other dancer had. Always with a smile on his face, his special charm and style gave him that extra something no other dancer had.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Dorothy Dandridge	(6 September 1942 - October 1951) (divorced) 1 child
Rigmor Newman	(? - 3 July 2000) (his death)

Trivia

Known for doing cartwheels landing in full splits.

Younger brother of Fayard Nicholas; together, they were billed as The Nicholas Brothers. (Click on group name for additional credits).

Singer and tap dancer.

Avoided the draft in WWII, after lies about being gay and smoking reefer failed, because he was underweight.

Received the Kennedy Center Honors from President George Bush in 1991, and their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

He and his brother were First Class Inductees at the Apollo Theater's Hall of Fame in 1986.

Some of he and his brother's illustrious tap students include Debbie Allen, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson.

Received the Dea Award (Dance Educators of America), Bay Area Critics Circle Award (Best Principal Performance, Stompin' at the Savoy ) and Harbor Performing Arts Center Lifetime Achievement Award. Other awards and honors include Black Film makers Hall of Fame (1978), Ellie Award (1984), National Film Society, Apollo theaters Hall of Fame (1986), First Class Inductees, Ebony Lifetime Achievement Award (1987), Kennedy Center Honors (1991), The National Black Media Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award (1992), Flo-Bert Award (1992), New York's Tap Dance Committee, Gypsy Award (1994), Professional Dancer's Society, Dance Magazine Award of 1995 (1995).

His daughter with Dorothy Dandridge, Harolynn, was born disabled.

The Nicholas Brothers were inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2002 (inaugural class).

Uncle of Tony Nicholas.

Ex-son-in-law of Ruby Dandridge.

Ex-brother-in-law of Vivian Dandridge.

Personal Quotes

We were tap-dancers, but we put more style into it, more bodywork, instead of just footwork.