biography
Born in Ossining, New York, on January 20, 1916 (some sources cite January 1919), character actor Alex Nicol acted in a number of stage
productions from the 1930s through the mid 1950s. His stage career was interrupted by a five-year stint in the U.S. Army in the early
1940s. After his return from the Army, Nicol enrolled at the famed Actor's Studio. Acting both on and off Broadway, some of the Broadway
productions in which he appeared include King Richard II and South Pacific. He also portrayed Brick in the Broadway production
of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, replacing Ben Gazzara in late 1955. After more than ten years of acting onstage, Nicol signed with
Universal-International in 1950 and acted in his first film, The Sleeping City (1950; with Coleen
Gray and Richard Conte). 
LEFT: Early 1950s Universal-International photo of Alex Nicol. RIGHT: Early 1960s photoNicol acted in numerous westerns while at Universal, including Lone Hand (1953; with Joel McCrea and Barbara Hale) and Dawn at Socorro (1954; with Rory Calhoun and Piper Laurie). When he left Universal in 1955, Nicol freelanced for the remainder of his career. He started a second career as a director with the horror film The Screaming Skull (1958; with John Hudson and Peggy Webber). And he also directed some television show episodes in the 1960s, including Tarzan (1966-1969; with Ron Ely) and The Wild, Wild West (1965-1969; with Robert Conrad). |
the films of alex nicolTarget Unknown (1951) 
Images from the Universal-International war flick Target Unknown. LEFT: With James Best. RIGHT: With Malu GaticaMeet Danny Wilson (1952) 
From Universal-International's musical drama Meet Danny Wilson. LEFT: With Frank Sinatra and Raymond Burr. RIGHT: With Shelley WintersChamp for a Day (1953)
With Audrey Totter in the Republic drama Champ for a DayLone Hand (1953)
From the Universal-International western Lone Hand with Joel McCrea and James ArnessThe Redhead From Wyoming (1953) 
As Sheriff Blaine in the colorful Universal-International western The Redhead From WyomingDawn at Socorro (1954)
Nicol portrayed gunfighter Jimmy Rapp in Universal-International's Dawn at SocorroHeat Wave (1954)
With Hillary Brooke in the British-made film noir release Heat WaveThe Screaming Skull (1958)
Peggy Webber is frightened by The Screaming Skull, released by American International. This film marks Alex Nicol's debut as a director, and he also portrays Mickey the caretaker. This film once aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000Look in Any Window (1961)
With Carole Mathews in the Allied Artists potboiler Look in Any WindowThen There Were Three (1961)
With Frank Latimore in the low-budget war flick Then There Were Three, directed by Alex NicolThe Savage Guns (1962)
Maria Granada tries to stop Alex Nicol from killing Richard Basehart in this scene from the western The Savage Guns, released by MGMPoint of Terror (1971)
Poster from the horror flick Point of Terror, the final film directed by Alex Nicollater yearsWith film roles getting fewer and farther between in the 1960s, Nicol headed to Europe, where he acted in several westerns. Wisely investing his earnings in rental property, his film career slowed considerably in the late 1960s. Nicol wrapped his acting career with the film Woman in the Rain (1976; with Ron Masak and Barbara Luna). Afterward, he retired from acting. Alex Nicol passed away on July 29, 2001 at the age of 85 and was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter. |
filmographyFILM
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This page premiered August 25, 2004.
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