Mike Nichols, who directed such landmark films as “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “The Graduate,” was hailed by
Hollywood luminaries today as a giant in the entertainment industry who influenced a generation of filmmakers.
Nichols, suffered cardiac arrest and died at his New York home Wednesday night. He was 83.
He was a member of a small group of people to have won an Oscar, and Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony — an accomplishment known as an EGOT.
“This is a seismic loss,” director Steven Spielberg said. “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.”
Ben Stiller wrote on his Twitter page that Nichols “leaves behind a staggering body of work. He’s one of the best filmmakers and stage directors ever. Influenced everyone.”
Actor John Goodman, who was directed by Nichols in “What Planet Are You From?” and the off-Broadway production of “The Seagull,” also offered high praise.
“He made me feel as though I were a full partner or co-conspirator in finding clues to solve the puzzle, like a really slow Dr. Watson,” he said.
“It’s hard to imagine a world without him.”
Nichols, who was married to Diane Sawyer of ABC News, his fourth wife, won an Oscar as best director for “The Graduate” and multiple Tony and Emmy awards. He earned his eighth Tony two years ago for a revival of “Death of a Salesman.” He also received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in 2010.
His movie credits also included “Catch-22,” “Carnal Knowledge,” “Silkwood,” “Working Girl” and “The Birdcage.”
He received a Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. He won the DGA Award for feature film directing for “The Graduate” and for a television miniseries for “Angels in America.”
“Mike Nichols was a cinematic legend and a one-of-a-kind storyteller,” DGA President Paris Barclay said. “He was funny and honest and a tremendous observer of human behavior, qualities that informed his working life as a director.”
Former first lady Nancy Reagan said she was “deeply saddened” at news of his death.
“I can think of no better way to describe this extraordinary human being than to call him a masterpiece,” she said. “He was a man of devotion – to his friends, to his art, to his industry, to his family and to his beloved wife. He leaves a huge void in all of our hearts.”
A refugee from Nazi Germany, Nichols is survived by Sawyer, three children and four grandchildren. Funeral plans were not immediately announced.
