George Nichols (actor and director)

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George Nichols
Nichols in ad for The Flirt (1922)
BornOctober 28, 1864
DiedSeptember 20, 1927(1927-09-20) (aged 62)
Occupation(s)Actor, film director
Years active1908–1927
SpouseViola Alberti (1896-his death)

George Nichols, sometimes credited in films as George O. Nicholls (October 28, 1864 – September 20, 1927), was an American actor and film director.[1][2] He is perhaps best remembered for his work at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios.

Nichols was born in Rockford, Illinois. He made 221 known film appearances from 1908 up to his death in 1927. He also directed 103 films between 1911 and 1916. Along with Henry "Pathe" Lehrman, Nichols became an arch-enemy of Charlie Chaplin very early on in Chaplin's film career, as Chaplin was dissatisfied with Nichols' way of directing and comic ideas while both worked at Keystone in 1914. In his autobiography, Chaplin recalled a dispute between himself and Nichols during the shooting of a film in which Chaplin appeared.[3]

While working at Keystone, 'Pops', as he was known, was often cast as father to Mabel Normand.

Personal life[edit]

With his wife Viola Alberti, whom he married in 1896, he was the father of another prolific director, George Nicholls Jr., sometimes also credited as George Nichols, Jr.

The New York Times [4] from 1927 states that beloved actor and director George Nichols died at the age of 62 due to an illness he had for several months because of heart trouble. He died in Hollywood, California.

Partial filmography[edit]

Actor[edit]

Director[edit]

Silent animal comedy A Little Hero (1913) directed by George Nichols for Keystone Studios. A dog saves a parakeet from a cat. Running time: 04:32.
  • She (1911)
  • Cinderella (1911)
  • The Higher Law (1911)
  • The Celebrated Case (1912)
  • Hazers Hazed (1912)
  • Pa's Medicine (1912)
  • Under Two Flags (1912)
  • Ma and Dad (1912)
  • Out of the Dark (1912)
  • In Blossom Time (1912)
  • Called Back (1912)
  • Hill Folks (1912)
  • The Princess of Lorraine (1912)
  • Whom God Hath Joined (1912)
  • The Ring of a Spanish Grandee (1912)
  • Jess (1912)
  • Love's Miracle (1912)
  • The Saleslady (1912)
  • Miss Arabella Snaith (1912)
  • Dora Thorne (1912)
  • The Cry of the Children (1912)
  • Rejuvenation (1912)
  • Into the Desert (1912)
  • A Love of Long Ago (1912)
  • The Girl of the Grove (1912)
  • For Sale—A Life (1912)
  • The Golf Caddie's Dog (1912)
  • The Taming of Mary (1912)
  • Nicholas Nickelby (1912)
  • Flying to Fortune (1912)
  • Extravagance (1912)
  • The Arab's Bride (1912)
  • The Passing (1912)
  • He Would a Hunting Go (1913)
  • His Sister's Kids (1913)
  • Fatty's Flirtation (1913)
  • A Ride for a Bride (1913)
  • Fatty Joins the Force (1913)
  • Wine (1913)
  • A Small Time Act (1913)
  • Fatty at San Diego (1913)
  • Fashion's Toy (1913)
  • In the Southland (1913)
  • Into the Light (1913)
  • The Call of the Heart (1913)
  • On Her Wedding Day (1913)
  • Retribution (1913)
  • A Mock Marriage (1913)
  • In the Harem of Haschem (1913)
  • A Florida Romance (1913)
  • Women of the Desert (1913)
  • Tamandra, the Gypsy (1913)
  • Dolores' Decision (1913)
  • The First Prize (1913)
  • The Supreme Sacrifice (1913)
  • On the Threshold (1913)
  • It Might Have Been (1913)
  • The Under-Sheriff (1914)
  • A Flirt's Mistake (1914)
  • A Fatal Flirtaton (1914)
  • When Reuben Fooled the Bandits (1914)
  • Finnegan's Bomb (1914)
  • When Villains Meet (1914)
  • The Bowery Boys (1914)
  • The Passing of Izzy (1914)
  • Charlot aime la patronne (1914)
  • Charlot marquis (1914)
  • Charlot est trop galant (1914)
  • Charlot fait du cinéma (1914)
  • In the Clutches of the Gang (1914)
  • Rebecca's Wedding Day (1914)
  • A Robust Romeo (1914)
  • Mabel's Bear Escape (1914)
  • Rebecca's Wedding Day (1914)
  • The Under-Sheriff (1914)
  • Twixt Love and Fire (1914)
  • A Film Johnnie (1914)
  • His Favourite Pastime (1914)
  • Cruel, Cruel Love (1914)
  • The Star Boarder (1914)
  • Locked In (1915)
  • The Print of the Nails (1915)
  • The Lost Messenger (1915)
  • The Sculptor's Model (1915)
  • The Eternal Feminine (1915)
  • The Man with the Iron Heart (1915)
  • When Love Is Mocked (1915)
  • The Scarlet Lady (1915)
  • The Isle of Content (1915)
  • Ghosts (1915)
  • A Man's Prerogative (1915)
  • The Forged Testament (1915)
  • A Man and His Work (1915)
  • The Grinning Skull (1916)
  • Tom Martin: A Man (1916)
  • Why Love Is Blind (1916)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "George Nichols: Early Sennett Director". October 3, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Katchmer, George A. (September 22, 2009). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. ISBN 9781476609058. Retrieved June 22, 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Chaplin, Charles (1964): My Autobiography. Penguin Books. 2003 reprint. p. 149.
  4. ^ "GEORGE NICHOLS IS DEAD". New York Times. September 20, 1927. p. 29.

External links[edit]