Harold Nicholas

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Harold Nicholas, (March 27, 1921 – July 3, 2000) was an American dancer specializing in Tap, the younger half of the world famous tap dancing pair The Nicholas Brothers, known as one of the world's greatest dancers. He was married to actress Dorothy Dandridge from 1942 to 1951, the couple had one child, Harolyn Nicholas, who was born severely mentally handicapped.

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[edit] Early life

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Harold Nicholas was the younger member of the flashy tap-dancing duo The Nicholas Brothers. His brother, Fayard Nicholas, was born in 1914 in Mobile, Alabama. Harold and Fayard Nicholas began their careers as children. Born of showbiz parents who played in a pit orchestra in Philadelphia, the boys spent their early years seeing all the famous Black entertainers of the 1920s. But, they were as impressed with the acrobats at the circus as they were by the great dancers of the era. They watched, they imitated, and soon they were an act in their own right.

[edit] Career

Harold and his brother were an immediate success in Philadelphia and their reputation traveled quickly. He and his brother Fayard 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 and matchless spunk. Harold was a seasoned pro in 1928 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, D.C. in 1991.

By 1932, they were performing at the legendary Cotton Club with the likes of Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington, singing a little and dancing a lot, elegantly dressed in top hats and tails. Harold was 11 - his brother was 18. They performed in vaudeville, on Broadway, in nightclubs, on television, and in movie musicals. Harold appeared in more than 50 movies, including The Big Broadcast (1936), Down Argentine Way (1940), Tin Pan Alley (1940), and Sun Valley Serenade (1941).

Fred Astaire told the brothers that their dazzling footwork, leaps and splits in the Jumpin’ Jive dance in Stormy Weather (1943) produced the greatest movie musical number he had ever seen. In the number, the brothers dance on drums and leap over orchestra musicians. The Nicholas Brothers’ Hollywood career began after movie mogul Samuel Goldwin spotted them in a nightclub and cast them in Kid Millions (1934). The two became big film stars despite racial restrictions at the time prohibiting speaking parts and scenes with white co-stars. Their last film together was 1948’s The Pirate, in which Gene Kelly danced with them, breaking the color barrier. Harold went on to work as a solo artist, moving to France and touring as a singer and dancer. He appeared in the French film L’Emprie De La Nuit (1964).

[edit] Later life

He returned to America occasionally to do shows with his brother. He also appeared in Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Tap (1989). Harold last appeared in The Five Heartbeats (1991). Carnegie Hall sold out for a tribute to he and his brother in 1998, who were both present that special night. By that time he had moved to Upper Westside in New York, where he lived his last years with his third wife Rigmor Newman. He died on July 3, 2000 at the age of 79.

[edit] Legacy

Being the younger half of the world famous Nicholas Brothers dance team, Harold is still known as one of the world's greatest dancers, an incredible "dancer," one you could watch and never tire of. Always with a smile on his face, his special charm and style gave him that extra something no other dancer had. Though he always made his astounding mid air splits and backwards somersaults seem effortless, Harold Nicholas was much more though than a "specialty act" for 1940s Fox films.

[edit] External links

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