Education
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MILESTONES
1926:
Performed with sister Dorothy and brother Harold in vaudeville in Philadelphia as the Nicholas Kids
:
Toured USA and London with siblings and parents
1930:
Professional debut with brother Harold on "The Horn and Hardart Kiddie Hour"
:
While performing at the Lafayette Theater in Harlem, the brothers were spotted by a talent scout from Warner Bros.; signed to make first film appearance
1932:
Film debut in the short "Pie, Pie Blackbird", also featuring Eubie Blake
1932:
With brother, performed at Harlem's The Cotton Club alongside such acts as Cab Calloway, Ethel Waters and Duke Ellington
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While performing at the Cotton Club, seen by Samuel Goldwyn who signed the siblings to a movie contract
1934:
Feature film debut, "Kid Millions"
1935:
Had integral role in "The Big Broadcast of 1936"
1936:
Appeared on the London stage in "Blackbirds of 1936"
1936:
Broadway debut in "The Ziegfeld Follies of 1936", directed by Vincente Minnelli and choreographed by George Ballanchine
1937:
Had featured role in the Rodgers and Hart musical "Babes in Arms"; Ballanchine again choreographed
1939:
Toured South America alongside Carmen Miranda
1940:
Breakthrough feature, "Down Argentine Way", also featuring Carmen Miranda
1941:
Teamed onscreen with Dorothy Dandridge peforming the Oscar-nominated song "Chattanooga Choo Choo" in "Sun Valley Serenade"
1942:
Introduced the Oscar-nominated "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" in "Orchestra Wives"
1943:
Performed what is considered their best screen dance. the "Jumpin' Jive" number in the all-black musical "Stormy Weather"
1943:
Drafted into the US Army; assigned to laundry detail in all-black unit in Louisiana
1944:
Discharged from military service
1948:
Final film appearance as the Nicholas Brothers, "The Pirate", directed by Vincente Minnelli; broke racial barriers by dancing in one scene with Gene Kelly
1948:
Toured the southern USA with Dizzy Gillespie
1953:
Performed at the inauguration of US President Dwight D. Eisenhower
1965:
Joined brother to tour Vietnam with Bob Hope's USO show
1970:
Solo acting debut in "The Liberation of L.B. Jones", directed by William Wyler
1989:
Contributed to the choreography of the Broadway stage musical "Black and Blue"; shared Tony Award for choreography
1992:
Was subject of documentary "The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance"; aired on A&E
1996:
Taught at Harvard as visiting dance artist with brother Harold
1997:
Suffered mild stroke
1998:
Performed with granddaughters who kept family tradition alive by performing tap numbers as the Nicholas Sisters; Fayard quoted as saying, "they do everything we did--in skirts!"
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