Denise Donna Nicholas (born July 12, 1944)Nicholas, Denise (2007, May 19). The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Denise Nicholas. by Julieanna L. Richardson is an American actress. Nicholas played high-school guidance counselor Liz McIntyre on the ABC comedy-drama series Room 222TV in the USA: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas and Councilwoman Harriet DeLong on the NBC/CBS drama series In the Heat of the Night.
Biography Early life and education Nicholas was born to Louise and Otto Nicholas in Detroit, where she spent her early years. With the remarriage of her mother to Robert Burgen, she moved to Milan, Michigan, a small town south of Ann Arbor. At the age of 16, Nicholas appeared on the August 25, 1960, cover of Jet magazine as a future school teacher prospect at the National High School Institute at Northwestern University. She graduated from Milan High School in 1961. Nicholas is the middle child of three, with an older brother, Otto, and a younger sister, Michele, who was murdered in 1980.
Nicholas entered the University of Michigan as a Pre-Law student. Nicholas then switched her major to Latin-American politics, Spanish, and English before dropping out after her second completed academic year. Nicholas moved to New York City, and worked for the J. Walter Thompson (JWT) advertising firm.Nicholas, D. (2007, May 19). The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Denise Nicholas. by Julieanna L. Richardson (9 Betacam SP videocassettes (4:23:50)). Identification: A2007_177. The HistoryMakers, Chicago, Illinois. She subsequently transferred to Tulane University, where she majored in Fine Arts. Her acting debut was in a Spanish-language play presented by her language class. Nicholas dropped out of Tulane University as well, this time to join the Free Southern Theater (FST), during the Civil Rights Movement.Jacobs, H. (1966, July 31). Setting: A Ghetto Named Desire. New York Times, pp. 87. After spending two years touring the deep South with the FST, Nicholas went to New York City and joined the Negro Ensemble Company, working in all productions during the first season of that theatre ensemble.Paisley, Laura. "The Civil Rights Experience of Novelist Denise Nicholas Inspired Her Artistry: The alumna's involvement with social causes led to a successful career as an actress and writer". Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California, April 5, 2016.Barnes, C. (1968, January 3). Theater: 'Lusitanian Bogey' Opens: Peter Weiss Denounces Portugal in Africa. New York Times, p. 52.Barnes, C. (1968, June 5). Theater: 'Daddy Goodness' Has St. Marks Premiere: Negro Troupe Essays a Religious Theme. New York Times, p. 37.Ward, D.T. (1968, September 1). 'Being Criticized Was To Be Expected...': Criticism Was Expected' New York Times, p. D1. From the stage of the St. Mark's Playhouse in New York, Nicholas was cast as Liz McIntyre, the Guidance Counselor on ABC series Room 222. Nicholas received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of Southern California Theater Program in 1987, after living in Southern California for a number of years.Benson, J. (1989, May 13). NO GUIDANCE NEEDED FOR DENISE NICHOLAS - NOW AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT, 'ROOM 222' STAR HAS LEAD ROLE IN CBN'S 'MOTHER'S DAY.' Daily News of Los Angeles (CA), pp. L25.
Career Nicholas began her television acting career in 1968, with an episode of It Takes a Thief. Nicholas had three consecutive (1970–1972) Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Drama TV Series, for her role as Liz McIntyre on the ABC comedy-drama series Room 222. Following Room 222 (1969–1974), she won two Image Awards in 1976 for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, for her role as Beth Foster in Let's Do It Again (1975). Nicholas also played Olivia Ellis on Baby... I'm Back!, a sitcom that aired on CBS in 1978.Smith, C. (1978, January 26). Denise Nicholas and Sitcoms: She Is Back: Denise Nicholas: Back to a Sitcom. Los Angeles Times, p. E1.
Nicholas wrote the song "Can We Pretend," which her then-husband Bill Withers recorded on his 1974 album +'Justments. Nicholas later appeared as Harriet DeLong in the cast of NBC/CBS' In the Heat of the Night (1989–1995). Nicholas wrote six episodes of the series, thus beginning her second career as a writer.Mendoza, N.F. (1994, January 16). WITH AN EYE ON . . . 'In the Heat of the Night's' Denise Nicholas finds the positive in past and present: [Orange County Edition]. Los Angeles Times, p. 80. 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.
Nicholas's first novel, Freshwater Road, was published by Agate Publishing, in August 2005. It received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was selected as one of the best books of 2005 by The Washington Post, The Detroit Free Press, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Newsday and the Chicago Tribune. The novel won the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Award for debut fiction in 2006, as well as the American Library Association's Black Caucus Award for debut fiction the same year. Freshwater Road was reprinted by Pocket Books. Brown University commissioned Nicholas to write a staged adaptation of Freshwater Road, which was presented in May 2008. Nicholas is currently completing her memoir, and it will be published by Agate Publishing in 2025.
Personal life At 19, Nicholas dropped out of the University of Michigan and signed up with the Free Southern Theater in New Orleans, headed by Gilbert Moses, whom she married in May 1964 at the American Theater in New York, and divorced in 1967.
Nicholas married soul singer-songwriter Bill Withers on January 17, 1973. Their relationship had been volatile prior to their nuptials. In November 1972, Nicholas told authorities that Withers flew to Tucson, Arizona, where she was filming The Soul of Nigger Charley, and assaulted her in a motel room after she threatened to end their relationship, but she refused to press charges. She filed for divorce in April 1974, and their divorce was finalized in December 1974.Petitioner: Denise Nicholas Withers vs. Respondent: William Harrison Withers. Case Number: D 844 387. Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage entered in Judgment Book Number 6981, Page 34, on December 18, 1974
In February 1980, Nicholas's younger sister Michele Burgen, a 26-year-old editor for Ebony magazine, was shot to death. Her body was found in a locked rental car at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Nicholas and her older brother Otto searched the country for clues, but no suspect was ever taken to trial.
While coping with the loss of her sister, Nicholas met CBS sports anchor Jim Hill at a Sacramento poetry reading in June 1980. They married on Valentine's Day in 1981.County of Los Angeles, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Local Registrar's Number: 3721. State File Number: 9715. Groom: Jim W. Hill. Bride: Denise Nicholas. Marriage: February 14, 1981. Ancestry.com. California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: State of California. California Marriage Index, 1960-1985. Microfiche. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California.(1981, March 5). Actress Denise Nicholas Marries TV Sportscaster in Story Book Wedding. "Jet." 59 (25). p. 62(2). The couple separated in October 1981 and she filed for divorce, before reconciling soon after. Nicholas filed for divorce again in 1984. The divorce was finalized in 1987.
Acting credits Films YearTitleRoleNotes1972BlaculaMichelle1973The Soul of Nigger CharleyElena1975Mr. RiccoIrene Mapes1975Let's Do It AgainBeth Foster1977A Piece of the ActionLila French1977Capricorn OneBetty Walker1983Marvin & TigeVanessa Jacksoncredited as Denise Nicholas-Hill1990Ghost DadJoan2000RitualSylvia / Mother2004ProudGordon's Mother2015Mr. Fantastic & The Wonderful DepotCharlotte Bulivar
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1968It Takes a ThiefToosdhi"To Catch a Roaring Lion"1969The F.B.I.Nora Tobin"Eye of the Storm"1967–1969N.Y.P.D.Mrs. Ward / Ethel6 episodesSeason 1 (2 episodes)— #1.11 "The Witness" (1967)— #1.14 "The Bombers" (1967)Season 2 (4 episode)— #2.2 "Encounter on a Rooftop" (1968)— #2.05 "Deadly Circle of Violence" (1968)— #2.15 "Three-Fifty-Two" (1969)— #2.20 "Face on the Dart Board" (1969)1969–1974Room 222Liz McIntryeseries regular (113 episodes)1971Five Desperate WomenJoyTV Movie1971Night GalleryKyro (segment Logoda's Heads)"The Different Ones/Tell David/Logoda's Heads"1971Day of AbsenceSecond OperatorTV Movie1972Love, American Styleunknown role (segment Love and the Split-Up)"Love and the Alibi/Love and the Instant Father/Love and the Lovely Evening/Love and the Split-Up"1975Police StoryCandy Priest"A Community of Victims"1975RhodaDenise Culp"The Party"1975Marcus Welby, M.D.Myrna Kelland"The Strange Behavior of Paul Kelland"1977–1978Baby... I'm Back!Olivia Ellisseries regular (13 episodes)1978Rick of PassionMarva Trotter LouisTV Movie1979The Paper ChaseDonna Scott"A Matter of Anger"1980BensonCarol Walker"Just Friends"1980Diff'rent StrokesSondra Williams"Substitute Mother"1980–1982The Love BoatJenny Brooks/Maura Belloque3 episodesSeason 3 (2 episodes)— #3.18 "Kinfolk/Sis & and the Slicker/Moonlight & Moonshine/Too Close for Comfort/The Affair: Part 1" (1980)— #3.19 "Kinfolk/Sis & the Slicker/Moonlight & Moonshine/Too Close for Comfort/The Affair: Part 2" (1980)Season 5 (1 episode)— #5.26 "Pal-I-Mony-O-Mine/Does Father Know Best?/An 'A' for Gopher" (1982)1981The Big Stuffed DogNurse RileyTV Movie1981Aloha ParadiseCarrie"Letter from Broadway/Letter from Cyrano/Letter from a Secret Admirer"1981The Sophisticated GentsPat HendersonMiniseries (3 episodes)1981Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the DollsConnieMiniseries (2 episodes)credited as Denise Nicholas Hill1981Secrets of Midland HeightsJulie Hammond2 episodes— #1.06 "The Race"— #1.09 "Reunion of Strangers"1983One Day at a TimeSusan Bryant"Baby Love: Part 2"1983MasqueradeSheila Walters"Pilot"1984Magnum, P.I.T.C.'s Date"I Witness" credited as Denise Nicholas-Hill1985And the Children Shall LeadMotherTV Movie1987HotelMrs. Blake"And Baby Makes Two"1988227Jeannie Smith"Shall We Dance?"1988AmenMrs. Kirby"The Widow"1988Supercarrierunknown role"Deadly Enemies" (alternate title "Pilot")1989The Cosby ShowLorraine"Birthday Blues"1989Heart and SoulJean KincaidTV Movie1989Mother's DayElizabeth SturgisTV Movie1989–1995In the Heat of the NightHarriet DeLong / Harriet Delong Gillespierecurring role (Season 3–5; 19 episodes)series regular (Season 6–7; 46 episodes)guest role (Season 8; 4 episodes)Writer (6 episodes)Season 5 (1 episode)— "#5.15 "Odessa" (written by) Season 6 (2 episodes)— #6.10 "Flowers from a Lady" (written by)— #6.19 "Legacy" (written by)Season 7 (3 episodes)— #7.11 "Little Girl Lost" (written by)— #7.12 "Your Own Kind" (written by)—#7.21 "Poor Relations" (written by)1990A Different WorldCarol Garrison"Here's to Old Friends"1990B.L. StrykerDarlene Carter"Plates"1990On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia StoryCleo BabiloniaTV Movie1992Hangin' with Mr. CooperMrs. Walker"My Dinner with Mark"1995The Parent 'HoodMiss Hicks"A Kiss Is Just a Kiss"1997Living SingleLilah James 2 episodes1997The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden PagodaLeddy HutchTV Movie2002My Wife and KidsAnn Kyle"Failure to Communicate"
Theatre