Denise Nicholas Biography (1944-)



Born July 12, 1944 (some sources say 1945) in Detroit, MI (some sources say Delaware); daughter of Otto Nicholas and Louise Carolyn Burgen; married Gilbert Moses (a theater artistic director), 1964 (divorced, 1965); married Bill Withers (a singer; divorced); married Jim Hill (a sportscaster), 1981. Education: Attended the University of Michigan, 1962-64; and the University ofSouthern California, B.A., drama, 1987; trained for the stage with Paul Mannand Lloyd Richards; studied dance with Louis Johnson and voice with KristanLinklater at the Negro Ensemble Company. Addresses: Agent-- Paul Kohner, Los Angeles, CA. Career: Actress, writer, and producer. Appeared in productions with Media Forum Players, CA, and at Old Reliable TheatreTavern, New York City; member of original acting company, Negro Ensemble Company, New York City, 1967-68; artist in residence, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, 1987-88; acting teacher, University of Southern California, 1987-89; founding member, Free Southern Theatre, New Orleans, LA; founder and co-owner,Masai Films, Inc., Hollywood, CA; producer, Artists and Athletes against Apartheid: A Benefit, Beverly Wilshire Hotel; producer, The Media ForumPresents, Wilshire Ebell Hotel. Chair, Fourth Annual American Airlines/Jet Celebrity Tennis Classic, United Negro College Fund Super Tennis Week, 1978; secretary, Negro Ensemble Company; works with Neighbors of Watts, Inc. (an organization for the care of children); and worked as a secretary forJ. Walter Thompson. Member: Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Women in Film. Awards, Honors: Golden Globe Award nominations, best TV actress--drama, 1970-72, and three Emmy Award nominations, all for Room 222; CEBA Awards, for excellence for advertising and communications, 1981-82;Cultural Artist of the Year, Harvard University Harvard Foundation, 1995; five National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Awards;two Los Angeles Emmy Awards for Voices of Our People: In Celebration of Black Poetry. Addresses: Agent: Paul Kohner, Los Angeles, CA.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress, writer, producer
Birth Details
July 12, 1944
Detroit, Michigan, United States

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