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Denise Nicholas

Denise Nicholas

Actor · Born July 12, 1944 (82) · Detroit, Michigan, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Denise Nicholas (born Donna Denise Nicholas; July 12, 1944) is an American actress and social activist who was involved in the American Civil Rights Movement. She is known primarily for her role as high school guidance counselor Liz McIntyre on the ABC comedy-drama series Room 222, and for her role as Councilwoman Harriet DeLong on the NBC/CBS drama series In the Heat of the Night. Description above from the Wikipedia article Denise Nicholas, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 12, 1944 (82)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 44 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 16% in 30 days

What are Denise Nicholas' films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
31%
Morality
22%
Society
18%
Self
16%
Power
10%
Survival
2%
Prejudice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 4 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 4
Shapeshifter
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Warm
3
Melancholic
4
Hopeful
3
Joyful
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Denise Nicholas' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Denise Nicholas' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

44 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • My Wife and Kids(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Kyle

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Ritual (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Sylvia Becker

  • The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda(1997)

    as Leddy Hutch

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • In the Heat of the Night: By Duty Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Harriet DeLong Gillespie

  • The Parent 'Hood(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • In the Heat of the Night: Who Was Geli Bendl? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Harriet DeLong Gillespie

  • In the Heat of the Night: A Matter of Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Harriet DeLong Gillespie

  • In the Heat of the Night: Give Me Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Harriet DeLong Gillespie

  • Hangin' with Mr. Cooper(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Walker

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story(1990)

    as Cleo Babilonia

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ghost Dad(1990)

    as Joan

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Mother's Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Elizabeth Sturgis

  • In the Heat of the Night(1988)

    Show 116 episodes · as Harriet DeLong

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Supercarrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • A Different World(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol Garrison

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Amen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marvin & Tige (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Vanessa Jackson

  • And the Children Shall Lead(1985)

    as Mother

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorraine

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheila Walters

  • Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls "1981" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Connie (as Denise Nicholas Hill)

  • The Sophisticated Gents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Pat Henderson

  • Aloha Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Carrie

  • The Big Stuffed Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Nurse Riley

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as T.C's Date

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Secrets of Midland Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Julie Hammond

  • Benson(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Diff'rent Strokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Sondra Williams

  • Ring of Passion(1978)

    as Marva Trotter Louis

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Baby, I'm Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Capricorn One(1978)

    as Betty Walker

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • A Piece of the Action(1977)

    as Lila French

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny Brooks · as Maura Bellogue · as Maura Belloque

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Let's Do It Again(1975)

    as Beth Foster

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Ricco(1975)

    as Irene Mapes

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Rhoda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Soul of Nigger Charley(1973)

    as Elena

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blacula(1972)

    as Michelle

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Five Desperate Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Joy

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Kyro (segment "Logoda's Heads")

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 113 episodes · as Liz McIntyre

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Nora Tobin

Career shape

Star power in the 79th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 44 titles from 1965 to 2001; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

Ghost Dad (1990)

$25M worldwide

Highest rated

Let's Do It Again (1975)

Midcredits 72nd

Most popular right now

Ghost Dad (1990)

Film career

19652001

Peak 1972 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting44 of 44: 44 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1960s3 · acting1970s15 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s2 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Denise Nicholas' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

The Soul of Nigger Charley (1973)

90th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

In the Heat of the Night (1988)

Midcredits 82nd · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Denise Nicholas work with?

People who share at least 2 of Denise Nicholas' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sidney Poitier shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers