– ACTRESS –
Nicholas began her television acting career in 1968, with an episode of It Takes a Thief. She has since appeared in many popular movies and television shows. IMDB lists 52 movies and TV show acting credits for Denise (1968-2004).

She is probably best known for her role as, “Liz McIntyre,” on the show Room 222 (1969–1974), as well as her role as, “Harriet DeLong,” on In the Heat of the Night (1989–1995).

Nicholas wrote six episodes of the dramatic show, “In the Heat of the Night,” and thus began her second career as a writer.

In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) (writer – 6 episodes)
– Poor Relations (1994) … (writers: Carroll O’Connor and Denise Nicholas)
– Your Own Kind (1993) … (writer)
– Little Girl Lost (1993) … (writer)
– Legacy (1993) … (writer)
– Flowers from a Lady (1993) … (writer)
– Odessa (1992) … (writer)

When that show was cancelled, she enrolled in the Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California, eventually finding her way to the Journeymen’s Writing Workshop under the tutelage of author Janet Fitch. She worked with Fitch for five years. Nicholas also attended the Squaw Valley Community of Writers Workshop, and the Natalie Goldberg Workshop, in Taos, New Mexico.

TV SHOWS

  • It Takes a Thief (1968)
  • The F.B.I. (1969)
  • N.Y.P.D. (1967-1969)
  • The Flip Wilson Show (1970)
  • Night Gallery episode “Logoda’s Heads” (broadcast Dec. 29th 1971) (1971)
  • Love, American Style (1972)
  • Room 222 (1969–1974)
  • Police Story (1975)
  • Rhoda (1975)
  • Marcus Welby, M.D. (1975)
  • Baby, I’m Back (1977–1978)
  • The Paper Chase (1979)
  • The Love Boat (1980–1982)
  • Benson (1980)
  • Diff’rent Strokes (1980)
  • Secrets of Midland Heights (1981)
  • Aloha Paradise (1981)
  • Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls (1981 miniseries)
  • One Day at a Time (1983)
  • Masquerade (1983)
  • Magnum, P.I. (1983)
  • Over Here, Mr. President (1983 – HBO pilot)
  • Hotel (1987)
  • 227 (1988)
  • Amen (1988)
  • In the Heat of the Night (1989–1995)
  • The Cosby Show (1989)
  • A Different World (1990)
  • Law & Order (1990)
  • B.L. Stryker (1990)
  • Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (1992)
  • The Parent ‘Hood (1995)
  • Kenny Kingston Psychic Hotline (With Kenny Kingston) (1994-1996)
  • Living Single (1997)
  • My Wife and Kids (2002)
For detailed filmography info, visit IMDB or Wikipedia.

FILMS

  • Blacula (1972)
  • Mr. Ricco (1975)
  • Let’s Do It Again (1975)
  • A Piece of the Action (1977)
  • Capricorn One (1977)
  • Marvin & Tige (1983)
  • Mother’s Day (1989)
  • Ghost Dad (1990)
  • Ritual (2000)
  • Proud (2004)

THEATRE

Year – Production – Theatre

  • 2000 – The Ohio State Murders by Adrienne Kennedy, presented by The American Repertory Theatre, Hasty Pudding
    Theatre, Harvard University
  • 1991 – Buses – written by Denise Nicholas, presented by the Crossroads Theatre Company
  • 1982 – Dame Lorraine – Los Angeles Actors Theatre
  • 1968 – Song of the Lusitanian Bogey – Negro Ensemble Company at the St. Marks Playhouse, New York
  • 1968 – Daddy Goodness – Negro Ensemble Company at the St. Marks Playhouse, New York
  • 1968 – Kongi’s Harvest – Negro Ensemble Company at the St. Marks Playhouse, New York
  • 1967 – One Last Look – Old Reliable Theater Tavern
  • 1966 – Viet Rock – Martinique Theatre
  • 1966 – Three Boards and a Passion by George Tabori, College Tour starring Viveca Lindfors, Harris Yulin, Roscoe Orman and Denise Nicholas
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God – “Their Eyes Were Watching God” adapted from the novel by Zora Neale Hurston, The Crossroads Theatre, New Brunswick, New Jersey

As apprentice with The Free Southern Theater:

  • In White America by Martin Duberman
  • Purlie Victorious by Ossie Davis
  • Does Man Help Man by Bertolt Brecht
  • Shadow of a Gunman by Sean O’Casey

An Evening of Black Poetry

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett (stage manager)

I GET IN MY CAR AND OFF I GO. I STAND ON THE BLUFFS IN SANTA MONICA OR I WALK THE BEACH.

IT IS MINE.

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