Legendary director Mike Nichols has passed away at age 83

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Sad news this morning as ABC has announced director/writer/producer Mike Nichols passed away suddenly Wednesday night at the age of 83. Besides directing Oscar-winning classics like WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and THE GRADUATE, the esteemed filmmaker was also behind the camera for plenty of other well-received movies such as SILKWOOD, WORKING GIRL, THE BIRDCAGE, PRIMARY COLORS and CLOSER, as well as the HBO miniseries Angels in America, and won 8 Tony Awards for his work on Broadway.

Mike Nichols' last film was 2007's CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and at the time of his death was reportedly working on an adaptation of Terrence McNally’s Tony-winning play Masterclass about opera singer Maria Callas for HBO.

Nichols was married to ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, and his death was announced in a statement by ABC News President James Goldston.

He was a true visionary, winning the highest honors in the arts for his work as a director, writer, producer and comic and was one of a tiny few to win the EGOT — an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony in his lifetime. No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike… Mike and Diane were married for 26 years. He leaves behind three children — Daisy, Max and Jenny — and four wonderful grandchildren… The family will hold a small, private service this week, and a memorial will be held at a later date.

Director Steven Spielberg on Mike Nichols' passing (from Deadline):

Mike was a friend, a muse, a mentor, one of America’s all time greatest film and stage directors, and one of the most generous people I have ever known. For me, The Graduate was life altering — both as an experience at the movies as well as a master class about how to stage a scene. Mike had a brilliant cinematic eye and uncanny hearing for keeping scenes ironic and real. Actors never gave him less than their personal best — and then Mike would get from them even more. And in a room full of people, Mike was always the center of gravity. This is a seismic loss.

Mike Nichols (November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014)