| Advertisement |
NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The Broadway community will celebrate the life and career of famed director-producer Mike Nichols by dimming the lights of theater marquees for one minute Friday night. The Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning director died Wednesday at the age of 83.
Advertisement
"Legendary director Mike Nichols shared his distinct genius for storytelling through the worlds of stage and film," Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, said in a statement. "Throughout his celebrated career in many mediums that spanned decades, he was always in awe of the thrill and the miracle that is theater. In addition to his numerous honors, including nine Tony Awards, he won over audiences with his passion for art. His notable presence in our industry will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans."
Nichols started out on Broadway as a performer in An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May, which he co-wrote with May. The show premiered in 1960 and ran for 306 performances. He won his Tonys for Barefoot in the Park, Luv and The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Annie, The Real Thing, Death of a Salesman and Monty Python's Spamalot.
He made his cinematic directorial debut with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and later won the Academy Award for his direction of The Graduate. His other films include Working Girl, The Birdcage and Primary Colors.
At the time of his death, Nichols was slated to helm a screen adaptation of Terrence McNally's Master Class, starring his frequent collaborator Meryl Streep as Maria Callas.
Nichols was born in Germany in 1931 and moved to the United States when he was 7. He is survived by his wife, Diane Sawyer; his three children, Daisy, Max and Jenny; and four grandchildren.
