George Nichols

George Nichols, sometimes credited in films as George O. Nicholls (October 28, 1864 – September 20, 1927), was an American actor and film director. He is perhaps best remembered for his work at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios.

Nichols was born in Rockford, Illinois. He made 221 known film appearances from 1908 up to his death in 1927. He also directed 103 films between 1911 and 1916. Along with Henry "Pathe" Lehrman, Nichols became an arch-enemy of Charlie Chaplin very early on in Chaplin's film career, as Chaplin was dissatisfied with Nichols' way of directing and comic ideas while both worked at Keystone in 1914. In his autobiography, Chaplin recalled a dispute between himself and Nichols during the shooting of a film in which Chaplin appeared.

While working at Keystone, 'Pops', as he was known, was often cast as father to Mabel Normand.

With his wife Viola Alberti, whom he married in 1896, he was the father of another prolific director, George Nicholls Jr., sometimes also credited as George Nichols, Jr.

The New York Times from 1927 states that beloved actor and director George Nichols died at the age of 62 due to an illness he had for several months because of heart trouble. He died in Hollywood, California.