Robert Nichols
Born	(1924-07-20)July 20, 1924 Oakland, California, U.S.
Died	March 21, 2013(2013-03-21) (aged 88) Occidental, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer, dancer
Years active	1947–1993
Spouse(s)	Jennifer Nichols (1950–2013; his death; 2 children)

Robert Nichols (July 20, 1924 – March 21, 2013) was an American character actor, singer, and dancer. His television, theater and film career spanned more than seventy years.^[1]

Life and career

Robert Nichols was born in Oakland, California, the son of Edna (née Beemer) and Ray D. Nichols, a real estate broker.^[1][2] He began his career in entertainment as a student at Oakland High School.^[1] Nichols enlisted with the U.S. Army during World War II, performing with the Special Services to entertain U.S. troops during the war.^[1] He performed on domestic U.S. military bases and managed a jazz band in Japan during the post-war period.^[1]

Nichols was awarded a scholarship for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a drama school in London, following World War II.^[1] He began performing on in theater while living in London. In 1949, Nichols made his film debut in I Was a Male War Bride, which was shot in West Germany.^[1] He was deported from the United Kingdom soon after because he did not have a British work permit.^[1]

In 1950, soon after his deportation, Nichols met his future wife, Jennifer, at her 19th birthday beach party near Malibu, California.^[1] They became engaged after two dates and were married just two months later. Jennifer Nichols later worked as a film wardrobe supervisor.^[1]

Nichols worked in American film and television throughout the 1950s.^[3] In the episode "Doc Holliday Rewrites History" of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Nichols played a traveling photographer and historian.^[4]

Nichols returned to the United Kingdom around 1960, where he appeared in British and European film, television and theater productions.^[1][5] Nichols moved back to Los Angeles, California, in 1965.^[1] He soon relocated to New York City, where he enjoyed a steady career on and off Broadway, notably the Broadway productions of The Man Who Came to Dinner, Man and Superman and Take Me Along.^[1][6]

Nichols and his wife purchased property to build a home in Occidental, Sonoma County, California, in 1991.^[1] He continued to act and perform until the early 2000s. His last theater role was in the musical Ragtime, appearing in Los Angeles, Chicago and Vancouver.^[1]

Nichols died from heart failure at his Occidental home on March 21, 2013, at the age of 88.^[1]

Filmography

Discography

• Jerome Kern: Show Boat, conducted by John McGlinn, EMI, 1988