Original Name: Nicholas Aloysius Adamschock
Date of Birth: July 10, 1931
Place of Birth: Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Date of Death: February 6, 1968 (age 36)
Cause of Death: Drug Overdose
Place of Burial: Saints Cyril & Methodius Ukrainian Church Cemetery, Berwick, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Born in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, on July 10, 1931, Nick Adams was raised in Garfield, New Jersey. His first job in his acting career was an uncredited extra in Somebody Loves Me (1952). In the next three years, he served in the United States Coast Guard to avoid being drafted into the army during the Korean War. After the service, Adams resumed his acting career and did bit parts in several films like Strange Lady in Town (1955), Picnic (1955), Mister Roberts (1955) and I Died A Thousand Times (1955). In that very year 1955, Adams was casted as school gang member Chick in Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without A Cause. He became close friends with many in the cast, especially James Dean (Adams was also a very good imitator, thus became the first choice of Dean's voice-over in Giant [1955] after his death). His playful and joking manner charmed everybody (including Elvis Presley). After Dean's death, Adams was devastated. He began behaving recklessly and driving uncontrollably fast. He was arrested for speeding nine times a year. His bad conducts made him a pariah in the studios.

Nick Adams' most memorable in his acting career was Johnny Yuma in television western series The Rebel (1959-1961). During the peak of his career, he received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Twilight of Honor (1963). Unfortunately, he lost it to Melvyn Douglas in Hud (1963). Adams was reportedly devastated for the loss. His career quickly ran downhill. In the following years, he did several low-budget films which offered no help in his career. On February 6, 1968, the actor was found dead in his bedroom with his eyes staring wide open. He was died of an overdose of drugs he was taking for a nervous disorder. Some said that it was a suicide. Others blamed it to the "Rebel curse."

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) - Chick
The Rebel (1959-1961) (TV) - Johnny Yuma

1964
- Academy Awards - Twilight of Honor (1963) - Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated)

Nick Adams: His Hollywood Life and Death by Peter L. Winkler
Nick Adams at IMDB.com

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