- published: 07 Dec 2011
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Barbara Marie Nickerauer (December 10, 1928 – October 5, 1976), better known as Barbara Nichols, was an American actress who often played brassy comic roles in a number of films in the 1950s and 1960s.
Nichols was born as Barbara Marie Nickerauer in Queens, New York. She began began modeling for pinup magazines in the late 1940's. In the mid-1950s, she moved to Hollywood and began appearing regularly in second leads in a number of films including Miracle in the Rain (1956), The King and Four Queens (1956), The Naked and the Dead (1958), The Pajama Game (1957), Pal Joey (1957), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), That Kind of Woman (1958), Where the Boys Are (1960).
On Broadway, she appeared in the 1952 revival of Pal Joey and in Let It Ride (1961).
Nichols was a popular model in cheesecake magazines of the era and was considered a minor rival to Marilyn Monroe, along with Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren, Cleo Moore, Greta Thyssen, Diana Dors and Sheree North. Unlike the rest, Nichols rarely starred in films, but had showy supporting roles in A-films starring such actors as Clark Gable, Susan Hayward, Sophia Loren, and Doris Day. One of her few starring roles was in the 1965 science fiction film The Human Duplicators. Nichols was also a frequent guest star on many television series including It's a Great Life, The Jack Benny Television Show, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, Batman, and The Beverly Hillbillies. Her last film was Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood in 1976.
Movie Legends - Barbara Nichols
Barbara Nichols - Beyond a reasonable doubt
Barbara Nichols & Jack Benny On Shower Of Stars
THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM with Jimmy & Gloria Stewart, Barbara Nichols
La Vida en los años 50's (4) That Terrific Rainbow (Barbara Nichols - Trudy Erwin)
Polishing your penmanship with Barbara Nichol
Barbara Nichols Sings - Love Has A Hold On Me
Barbara Nichols and February Song
Barbara Nichols, with voice student at Bill Jones Music
Barbara Nichols, DHL, MS, RN, FAAN, CEO of CGFNS International