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Nick Adams
1931-1968
Updated 7/27/2007.
biography
Born Nicholas Adamschock to a coal-mining family in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, in July 1931, Nick Adams' early life was hard-scrabble, as it was with many Depression-era families. In the mid 1930s, the family relocated to New Jersey where Adams lived out the remainder of his youth and attended college. By the time he graduated, Adams had decided on an acting career and made his way to Hollywood. After a series of odd jobs and a stint in the Coast Guard, Adams made his motion picture debut in the Warner Bros. western Strange Lady in Town (1955; with Greer Garson and Dana Andrews) and followed this up by landing a role in Mister Roberts (1955; with Henry Fonda), a strong beginning for his career. He continued this streak in Rebel Without a Cause (1955; with James Dean) and Our Miss Brooks (1956; with Eve Arden). After a slew of movie roles and appearances on television, Adams was cast in the lead role in the ABC television western The Rebel (1959-1961). A total of 78 episodes were shot before ABC pulled the plug on the show in 1961. Actress Carol Nugent made a guest appearance on the show early in the first season, and after a whirlwind courtship, she and Adams married in 1959. The couple welcomed a daughter in 1960 and a son in 1961.
Nick Adams was an avid fitness buff. In this early 1960s photo, he is pictured with Mickey Hargitay and Joe Louis
In 1962, Adams tried his hand at another television series, this time the hour-long drama Saints and Sinners on NBC. However, this show was canceled in early 1963 after a half-season of episodes had aired. He was also taking on film roles in such movies as The Interns (1962; with Cliff Robertson) and The Hook (1963; with Kirk Douglas). Adams was nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a supporting role for Twilight of Honor (1963; with Richard Chamberlain).
the films of nick adams
Our Miss Brooks (1956)
From the Warner Bros. comedy Our Miss Brooks, a theatrically released film that included most of the cast members from the CBS TV series. LEFT: With Robert Rockwell and Eve Arden. RIGHT: With Don Porter and Eve Arden
A Strange Adventure (1956)
With Marla English and Ben Cooper in the Republic crime drama A Strange Adventure
Fury at Showdown (1957)
With John Derek in the western Fury at Showdown
The Rebel (1959-1961 ABC TV Series)
Promotional shot of Adams as Johnny Yuma in the ABC TV western The Rebel
The Hook (1963)
With Kirk Douglas in the MGM war drama The Hook
Twilight of Honor (1963)
Nick Adams was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role in the MGM drama Twilight of Honor, his last big role in an A picture. Also pictured is Joey Heatherton, who portrayed Adams' wife in the film
The Young Lovers (1964)
With Deborah Walley and Peter Fonda in the MGM college student drama The Young Lovers
Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
From the American International horror flick Die, Monster, Die! with Suzan Farmer
Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)
From the Toho horror film Frankenstein Conquers the World, released by American International
Young Dillinger (1965)
Images from the Allied Artists release Young Dillinger. LEFT and CENTER: Adams portrays the title character alongside John Ashley as Baby Face Nelson and Robert Conrad as Pretty Boy Floyd. The left photo includes Mary Ann Mobley. RIGHT: With Helen Stephens, Dan Terranova, Beverly Hills, Robert Conrad, Mary Ann Mobley, John Ashley, and Joy Harmon
Fever Heat (1968)
From the low-budget stock-car actioner Fever Heat, distributed by Paramount. LEFT: Adams as Ace Jones. RIGHT: With Jeannine Riley
later years
Despite strong supporting roles in A pictures, Adams' career went into decline by the mid 1960s, perhaps in part due to bad press regarding his tumultuous personal life. In addition, his marriage to Carol Nugent had unraveled, and the couple began on-off divorce proceedings. His career slide saw him being offered roles almost exclusively in low-budget movies, such as Young Dillinger (1965; with Robert Conrad, John Ashley, and Joy Harmon) and Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), and film roles dwindled in 1966. However, by late 1967 his career was once again looking up; Adams was making guest appearances on popular TV shows such as The Wild Wild West and Hondo, and his film output improved with starring roles in such B movies as Fever Heat (1968; with Jeannine Riley) and Mission Mars (1968; with Darren McGavin). Sadly, Adams was found dead at age 36 on February 7, 1968, in his Beverly Hills home, likely due to a prescription drug overdose. He was survived by his estranged wife and son and daughter.
The Rebel [VHS] VHS
Nick Adams starred as Johnny Yuma, a former Confederate soldier who roamed throughout the West settling moral and criminal problems along the way, in this 1959-61 series which aired on ABC and, later, NBC and boasted a popular theme song sung by Johnny Cash. Featured here are the pilot episode "Johnny Yuma" and "The Vagrants." 50 min.
Combat!: The Best Of The Squad [DVD] DVD
Four episodes of rip-roaring WWII adventure with squad leaders Hanley (Rick Jason) and Saunders (Vic Morrow)--"Bridgehead" (guest starring Nick Adams), "Bridge at Chalons" (guest starring Lee Marvin), "The Glory Among Men," and "The Leader"--are included. 178 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
Henry Fonda: The Signature Collection [DVD] DVD
Four-disc set includes "Mister Roberts," "The Wrong Man," "Advise and Consent," and "Battle of the Bulge."
Mister Roberts [DVD](1955) DVD
Henry Fonda re-created his Broadway stage role in this classic comedy/drama about the dehumanizing aspects of war. On board a WWII supply ship in the Pacific, cargo officer Fonda longs for combat duty, but in the meantime serves as a buffer between the men and tyrannical captain James Cagney. With William Powell as the ship's doctor and Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winner Jack Lemmon as Ensign Pulver. 122 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French; audio commentary by Lemmon; "Toast of the Town" excerpt; documentary excerpt; theatrical trailers.
The Complete James Dean Collection [DVD] DVD
Six-disc set includes the two-disc special editions of "East of Eden," "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant."
Rebel Without A Cause [DVD](1955) DVD
James Dean became a national symbol for '50s teen angst with this powerful character study of an alienated young man who deals with rejection at school and inattentiveness from his parents by finding friendship with fellow outcasts Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood. With Jim Backus, Dennis Hopper; Nicholas Ray directs. 111 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; audio commentary; theatrical trailer; documentaries; deleted scenes; screen tests; more. Two-disc set.
Rebel Without A Cause (Letterboxed Version) [VHS](1955) VHS
James Dean became a national symbol for '50s teen angst with this powerful character study of an alienated young man who deals with rejection at school and inattentiveness from his parents by finding friendship with fellow outcasts Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood. With Jim Backus, Dennis Hopper; Nicholas Ray directs. Special edition includes the theatrical trailer, rare screen tests, and interviews from the "Warner Bros. Presents" TV series. 140 min. total. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
Picnic [DVD](1955) DVD
Superb adaptation of William Inge's play stars William Holden as a drifter who visits college friend Cliff Robertson in a small Kansas town and becomes involved with his fiancee (Kim Novak). Academy Award-winning drama also stars Rosalind Russell, Arthur O'Connell, Susan Strasberg. 113 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital stereo Surround, Portuguese Dolby Digital stereo, Spanish Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; photo gallery; biographies; theatrical trailer.
The Last Wagon [DVD](1956) DVD
Condemned to death for murder, Comanche Todd (Richard Widmark) becomes the only hope for a group of settlers who must travel through treacherous Indian lands after Todd is chained to their wagon train for revenging himself against the men who murdered his wife. Having no reason to trust a white man who has lived most of his life among the Indians, the settlers nevertheless put their fates into his hands. Susan Kohner, Tommy Rettig also star. 98 min. Standard and Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital stereo, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, Spanish; photo gallery.
Wanted: Dead Or Alive: Season One [DVD](1958) DVD
All 36 episodes from the series's debut season--including "The Martin Poster," "Ransom for a Nun," "The Favor," "Sheriff of Red Rock," and "Bounty for a Bride"--are featured in a four-disc set. 16 3/4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; three colorized episodes; documentary; featurettes; photo gallery; biographies.
Teacher's Pet [DVD](1958) DVD
Newspaper editor Clark Gable poses as a student and learns about writing and love from college journalism professor Doris Day in this spry romantic comedy that also features fine support from Gig Young, Mamie Van Doren and Nick Adams. 119 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English.
James Stewart: The Signature Collection [DVD] DVD
Five-disc set includes "The Stratton Story," "The Naked Spur," "The Spirit of St. Louis," "The FBI Story," "The Cheyenne Social Club," and "Firecreek."
The FBI Story [DVD](1959) DVD
Thrilling (and somewhat sanitized) depiction of the FBI's formative years, as seen through the eyes of agent James Stewart. See Stewart take on gangsters like Baby Face Nelson and John Dillinger; the KKK; Nazi spy rings and Communist agents, plus amazing looks inside the bureau's crime labs. With Vera Miles, Murray Hamilton, Nick Adams. 149 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
The Doris Day And Rock Hudson Comedy Collection [DVD] DVD
Two-disc set includes "Pillow Talk," "Lover Come Back," and "Send Me No Flowers."
Pillow Talk [DVD](1959) DVD
Charming romantic comedy stars Doris Day as a prim and proper interior designer who shares a phone party line with womanizing musician Rock Hudson. After a chance face-to-face meeting, Hudson becomes quite enamored with Day, disguising his voice and posing as a wealthy Texas businessman in order to win her affections. Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter co-star. 103 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
Hell Is For Heroes [DVD](1962) DVD
An exhausted, outnumbered American infantry squad is charged with defending a frontline against the Germans in this top-notch WWII drama from director Don Siegel. Steve McQueen, Fess Parker, James Coburn, Bobby Darin, Nick Adams and Bob Newhart lead the company into battle. 90 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; theatrical trailer; scene access.
Invasion Of Astro-Monster [DVD](1965) DVD
An alien planet asks to "borrow" Earth monsters Godzilla and Rodan to help them defeat their own indigenous menace, triple-headed Ghidorah, who moved off-world after his defeat in the 1964 film that bore his name (how embarrassing). Little do the gargantuan good guys know it's all part of a sinister invasion plot. Nick Adams stars as an Earth astronaut. Also includes the 1970 American version, "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero." 94 min./93 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: Japanese, English; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; photo gallery; biography. In Japanese with English subtitles/Dubbed in English.
Frankenstein Conquers The World [DVD](1965) DVD
What if the still-living heart of Dr. Frankenstein's monster had been smuggled out of WWII Germany and sent to Hiroshima, only to be exposed to A-bomb radiation? Well, in this Toho monster mash, it would have grown into a deformed, feral youngster christened "Frankenstein," who eventually becomes a 20-foot-high behemoth and defends Japan from the reptilian menace Baragon. Nick Adams, Tadao Takashima, and Koji Furuhata as "Frankenstein" star. AKA: "Frankenstein and the Giant Lizard," "Frankenstein vs. Baragon," "Frankenstein vs. the Giant Devil Fish." 94 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; deleted scenes;
Die, Monster, Die! (1965)/The Dunwich Horror [DVD](1970) DVD
A recluse (Boris Karloff) given strange abilities from an unearthly meteor...a bloodthirsty cult worshipping obscene deities...and more chills per minute than the system can stand. Nick Adams, Suzan Farmer And Patrick Magee co-star in the shocker "Die, Monster, Die!," based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft. And, also from the pen of Lovecraft comes the classic tale of suspense and terror "The Dunwich Horror." A young girl becomes a pawn in a deadly game of sorcery and a heritage of blood is unleashed. Sandra Dee, Dean Stockwell and, in his last film, Ed Begley, Sr. star. 157 min. total. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.
Die, Monster, Die! [VHS](1965) VHS
A recluse (Boris Karloff) given strange abilities from an unearthly meteor...a bloodthirsty cult worshipping obscene deities...and more chills per minute than the system can stand. Nick Adams, Suzan Farmer and Patrick Magee co-star in this shocker based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft. 80 min. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
Godzilla vs. Monster Zero [VHS](1965) VHS
An alien planet asks to "borrow" Earth monsters Godzilla and Rodan to help them defeat their own indiginous menace, triple-headed Ghidrah. Little do they know it's all part of a sinister invasion plot. Nick Adams stars as an Earth astronaut. AKA: "Monster Zero," "Invasion of the Astro-Monsters." 93 min.
nick adams dvds and out-of-print vhs available from amazon.com
filmography
Los Asesinos (1968) with Amadee Chabot
Mission Mars (1968) with Darren McGavin
Fever Heat (1968) with Jeannine Riley and Vaughn Taylor
The Killing Bottle (1967)
Mosby's Marauders (1967) with James MacArthur, Kurt Russell, Peggy Lipton, Jeanne Cooper, Michael Forest, and Robert Random
Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966) with Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and Richard Deacon
Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965)
Die, Monster, Die! (1965) with Boris Karloff and Suzan Farmer
Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)
Young Dillinger (1965) with Robert Conrad, John Ashley, Mary Ann Mobley, Joy Harmon, Beverly Powers, Victor Buono, John Hoyt, Reed Hadley, and Ted Knight
The Young Lovers (1964) with Peter Fonda and Deborah Walley
Twilight of Honor (1963) with Richard Chamberlain, Claude Rains, Joan Blackman, James Gregory, Joey Heatherton, Pat Buttram, Jeanette Nolan, Don 'Red' Barry, and Linda Evans
The Hook (1963) with Kirk Douglas and Robert Walker Jr.
A Girl Named Tamiko (1962) with Laurence Harvey, France Nuyen, Martha Hyer, Gary Merrill, Michael Wilding, and Steve Brodie
The Interns (1962) with Michael Callan, Cliff Robertson, James MacArthur, Suzy Parker, Anne Helm, Stefanie Powers, Buddy Ebsen,
Telly Savalas, and Kay Stevens
Hell Is for Heroes (1962) with Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, James Coburn, L.Q. Jones, and Bob Newhart
The FBI Story (1959) with James Stewart, Vera Miles, Murray Hamilton, Larry Pennell, Diane Jergens, and Parley Baer
Pillow Talk (1959) with Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter, Julia Meade, and Hayden Rorke
No Time for Sergeants (1958) with Andy Griffith, Murray Hamilton, Will Hutchins, Don Knotts, Dub Taylor, and Raymond Bailey
Teacher's Pet (1958) with Clark Gable, Doris Day, Gig Young, Mamie Van Doren, Peter Baldwin, Marion Ross, Charles Lane, and Jack Albertson
Sing Boy Sing (1958) with Tommy Sands, Edmond O'Brien, John McIntire, Diane Jergens, Jerry Paris, and Regis Toomey
Fury at Showdown (1957) with John Derek, John Smith, Carolyn Craig, and Gage Clarke
The Last Wagon (1956) with Richard Widmark, Felicia Farr, Susan Kohner, Tommy Rettig, and Ken Clark
A Strange Adventure (1956) with Joan Evans, Ben Cooper, Marla English, Jan Merlin
Our Miss Brooks (1956) with Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Don Porter, Robert Rockwell, and Richard Crenna
Picnic (1955) with William Holden, Kim Novak, Susan Strasberg, Cliff Robertson, Arthur O'Connell, Raymond Bailey, and Rosalind Russell
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) with James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, William Hopper, Rochelle Hudson, Dennis Hopper, and Edward Platt
Mister Roberts (1955) with Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, Jack Lemmon, Betsy Palmer, Ward Bond, Philip Carey, and Ken Curtis
Strange Lady in Town (1955) with Greer Garson, Dana Andrews, Cameron Mitchell, Adele Jergens, Russell Johnson, and Gregory Walcott
TELEVISION SERIES
Saints and Sinners, 1962-1963 NBC TV series. Adams portrayed Nick Alexander
The Rebel, 1959-1961 ABC TV series. Adams portrayed Johnny Yuma
Additionally, Adams made many guest appearances on such TV programs as The Wild Wild West, Playhouse 90, The Outer Limits, 77 Sunset Strip, and Wagon Train.
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This page premiered July 26, 2007.
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