Mike Nichols: A look at his legendary work
Nichols, who died at 83, was behind such acclaimed films as 'The Graduate' and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' and was also a prolific stage director.
Director Mike Nichols poses next to a poster for his film 'Closer' in 2004.
Fred Prouser/Reuters
Mike 聽Nichols, director of such critically well-received films as 鈥淭he Graduate鈥� and 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,鈥� has died.
ABC News president James Goldston called Nichols 鈥渋ncomparable鈥� in a about the director. (Nichols was married to ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer.)
鈥淗e was a true visionary,鈥� Goldston said.聽
During his life, Nichols achieved the 鈥淓GOT鈥� (receiving an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Oscar, and a Tony Award). He received his Grammy Award for the album 鈥淎n Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May鈥�; he and May had a show on Broadway. Nichols received various Tonys for work that included directing a 2012 production of 鈥淒eath of a Salesman鈥� and received Emmy Awards for programs that included the HBO production of 鈥�Angels in America,鈥� which he directed. He received an Oscar for directing the 1967 film 鈥淭he Graduate.鈥�
The first film he directed was the 1966 movie 鈥淲ho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,鈥� which starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and won Taylor an Oscar. The film also won an Academy Award for actress Sandy Dennis, for Best Supporting Actress. 鈥�Graduate,鈥� which is a frequent pick for lists of the greatest movies of all time, was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Actors Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katharine Ross were also nominated, as were writers Calder Willingham and Buck Henry for the film鈥檚 screenplay.聽
In a review of the film鈥檚 re-release, Monitor film critic David Sterritt wrote of 鈥淕raduate,鈥� 鈥淒irector Mike Nichols shows a gift for social satire鈥� provocative, sophisticated for its time.鈥澛�
Nichols also directed such Broadway productions as 鈥淏arefoot in the Park,鈥� 鈥淭he Odd Couple,鈥� 鈥淪pamalot,鈥� and 鈥淭he Country Girl,鈥� among other work.聽
Other films that Nichols directed include the 1983 film 鈥淪ilkwood,鈥� the 1988 movie 鈥淲orking Girl,鈥� and the 1996 film 鈥淭he Birdcage.鈥� More recent work included the 2004 movie 鈥淐loser鈥� and 2007鈥檚 鈥淐harlie Wilson鈥檚 War.鈥�
鈥淚n a triumphant career that spanned over six decades, Mike created some of the most iconic works of American film, television and theater,鈥� Goldston said.