Editing Stephen Nichols (section)

==Career==
After turning down an art scholarship to [[Ohio State University]], he traveled west, studied [[yoga]] and lived as a monk while preparing [[vegetarian]] meals for the monks and nuns in a Hollywood [[ashram]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jewell |first1=Zoey |title=Five Fast Facts About Veteran Soap Star Stephen Nichols |url=https://soaphub.com/days-of-our-lives/five-fast-facts-veteran-soap-star-stephen-nichols/ |website=soaphub.com |date=11 September 2019 |publisher=SoapHub |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>

After three years of [[celibacy]], a steady diet of [[ice cream]] and the films of [[François Truffaut|Truffaut]] and [[Ingmar Bergman|Bergman]], he landed at the Theater Academy of [[Los Angeles City College]] where he studied for two years. Nichols went on to study with [[Stella Adler]], [[Jack Colvin]] and Harry Mastrorgeorge.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Nichols Archives |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/stephen-nichols/ |website=soapoperadigest.com |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>
 
For his stage work, Nichols has been honored with three [[Drama-Logue Awards]] and two [[LA Weekly Theater Award]]s<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brounstein |first1=Diane |title=Stephen Nichols Celebrates Amazing Milestone! |url=https://soaphub.com/days-of-our-lives/stephen-nichols-celebrates-amazing-milestone/ |website=soaphub.com |date=19 February 2018 |publisher=Soap Hub |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> for his performances in such notable productions as ''Pieces of Time'' (for his portrayal of real-life killer, Donald Bashor), for ''Delirious'' (directed by Ron Link), and as [[Jim Morrison]] in the last thirty-six hours of his life in ''The Lizard King''.<ref>{{cite web |title=#TBT - STEPHEN NICHOLS |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/tbt-stephen-nichols-2/ |website=soapoperadigest.com |publisher=Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> Nichols also appeared at LATC in Rick Clutchey's ''The Cage,''<ref>{{cite web |title=#TBT - STEPHEN NICHOLS |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/tbt-stephen-nichols-2/ |website=soapoperadigest.com |publisher=Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. |access-date=19 January 2020}}</ref> in the award-winning production of [[Michael Cristofer]]'s ''The Shadow Box'' at Theater East and ''Love Letters'', during its initial run at the Canon Theater.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Nichols biography |url=https://soaphub.com/actors/stephen-nichols/ |website=soaphub.com |access-date=19 January 2020}}</ref>

Most recently, Nichols appeared in ''He Hunts'' at the Geffen Playhouse and was seen in the U.S. première of Joe Pintaro's ''The Dead Boy'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Nichols Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629731/bio |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDb, Inc. |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> for which Nichols received a Maddy Award.

===''Days of Our Lives''===
His original portrayal of Steve "Patch" Johnson (1985–90) earned him an [[Daytime Emmy Award|Emmy]] nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role and five ''[[Soap Opera Digest]]'' Best Actor Awards. [[Steve and Kayla Johnson|Steve and Kayla]] ([[Mary Beth Evans]]) remain one of the most popular couples, and the most-covered, on ''Days of our Lives'' ever.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Nichols Archives |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/stephen-nichols/ |website=soapoperadigest.com |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> Nichols talked about one of their favorite storylines and shared, “Mary Beth likes Emily and Gideon. It was a fantasy, it wasn’t really us, but we were reading this beautiful diary, in the old mansion, and then it would flash to the characters.” <ref>{{cite web|url=http://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/49282/interview-mary-beth-evans-stephen-nichols-talk-steve-kaylas-wedding|title=Interview: Mary Beth Evans, Stephen Nichols talk Steve & Kayla's wedding|work=SheKnows Soaps|first=Dustin|last=Cushman|date=February 14, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2017}}</ref>

Nichols returned to the role of [[Steve Johnson (Days of Our Lives)|Steve (Patch) Johnson]] on ''[[Days of Our Lives]]'' in 2006, and played the role until 2009.

On April 17, 2015, it was reported that Nichols would return as reprise the role of Steve "Patch" Johnson of [[NBC]]'s ''Days of Our Lives'' and Nichols second return air date on September 15.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=Heather|title='Days Of Our Lives' Spoilers: Stephen Nichols Return Date Confirmed – Patch Will Be Back In Salem On September 14|url=https://www.soapoperaspy.com/2015/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-stephen-nichols-return-date-confirmed-patch-will-be-back-in-salem-on-september-14/|work=Soap Opera Spy|date=April 17, 2015|access-date=June 21, 2020}}</ref> He continues to play the role as of April 2025.

From December 2019-January 2020, Nichols played the role of Stefano DiMera<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barnet |first1=R.J. |title='Days Of Our Lives' Spoilers: Here's The Real Reason Why Stefano DiMera Chose Steve 'Patch' Johnson As His Successor! |url=https://dailysoapdish.com/2019/12/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-heres-the-real-reason-why-stefano-dimera-chose-steve-patch-johnson-as-his-successor/ |website=dailysoapdish.com |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref> as part of a storyline where Dr. Wilhelm Rolf implanted a chip into Steve Johnson's brain that turned him into "the new Stefano DiMera".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deese |first1=Hollie |title=Honoring the Nine Lives of Stefano DiMera As Days Brings Stefano Back |url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/46395/the-nine-lives-of-stefano-dimera/ |website=soaps.sheknows.com |date=27 November 2019 |publisher=SheKnows Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. |access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref>

====Other work====
Nichols also portrayed Stefan Cassadine on the soap ''General Hospital'' (1996–2003).<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Nichols |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629731/#director |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDb.com, Inc. |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> This role reunited him with Evans, while his character was later paired with [[Laura Spencer (General Hospital)|Laura Spencer]], played by [[Genie Francis]].

Other TV appearances have included ''[[Matlock (1986 TV series)|Matlock]]'', ''[[L.A. Law]]'', ''[[Diagnosis: Murder]]'', ''[[The Nanny]]'' (with former ''Days of our Lives'' co-star [[Charles Shaughnessy]]), ''Second Chances'', [[Sisters (U.S. TV series)|Sisters]], a recurring role on ''[[Empty Nest (TV series)|Empty Nest]]'', and playing [[Jesse James]] opposite [[Pierce Brosnan]] in the [[NBC]] mini-series ''[[Around the World in 80 Days (TV miniseries)|Around the World in 80 Days]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Nichols |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629731/#actor |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDb, Inc. |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>

Nichols has appeared in several feature films, first co-starring with [[Demi Moore]] in ''Choices''. He was also in ''[[Witchboard]]''; ''[[Soapdish]]'' with [[Kevin Kline]], [[Whoopi Goldberg]] and [[Robert Downey, Jr.]]; ''Heaven's Tears; Cover Me'' with [[Paul Sorvino]]; ''Phoenix'' with [[Brad Dourif]] and [[William Sanderson]]; and the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] short ''A Hard Rain'' with [[John Mahoney]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen Nichols |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629731/#actor |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDb, Inc. |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> which earned best film honors at the British Film Festival for director Dennie Gordon.

Nichols has directed several stage productions, including ''Sixty Minutes from L.A.'', a presentation pilot for television, ''Wild Horses'' (co-director) and most recently, wrote and directed the dramatic short film ''Get the Dime'' starring Daniel Bess and [[Robert Picardo]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brounstein |first1=Diane |title=Stephen Nichols Celebrates Amazing Milestone! |url=https://soaphub.com/days-of-our-lives/stephen-nichols-celebrates-amazing-milestone/ |website=soaphub.com |date=19 February 2018 |publisher=Soap Hub |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> ''Get the Dime'' was a director's pick at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. Upcoming,{{When|date=January 2020}} Nichols will direct the feature films ''Eau de L.A.'' and ''Fear of Falling''.

On December 17, 2009, it was reported on stephennichols.net and cbs.com that he had joined the cast of CBS's ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' as [[Tucker McCall]], replacing [[William Russ]]. Nichols's first air date was January 27, 2010. On ''Y&R'', he would later be reunited with ''General Hospital'' counterpart Genie Francis, who played [[List of The Young and the Restless characters (2011)#Genevieve Atkinson|Genevieve Atkinson]] on the show. Nichols's last day on ''Y&R'' was January 29, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Dan J. |title=Stephen Nichols tapes final Y&R scenes |url=http://amp.soapcentral.com/yr/news/2012/1218-nichols.php |website=soapcentral.com |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>