Mike Nichols dead: The Graduate director dies suddenly following cardiac arrest
Nichols was one of only 12 people to win all four major US entertainment awards - an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mike Nichols, the director of 1967 classic The Graduate, has died suddenly after suffering a heart attack.
He was 83 years old.
The German-born US filmmaker was one of only 12 people to win all four major US entertainment awards - an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.
He also received Academy Awards nods for Working Girl, The Remains of the Day, Silkwood and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
His final movie, 2007's Charlie Wilson's War, starred Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts
James Goldston, the president of ABC News, announced Nichols’ death.
He described the filmmaker, who was married to ABC anchor Diane Sawyer, as a “true visionary”.
“No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike,” he added.
Nichols had apparently been working on a new project for HBO – an adaptation of Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play Master Class, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas.
Meryl Streep was thought to have been involved in the production.
Born in Germany in 1931 as Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky, Nichols fled to the US after escaping Nazi Germany with his family at the age of seven.
His initial love for theatre grew when he attended the University of Chicago in the early Fifties and he later joined a comedy troupe with Elaine May – a partnership that became the catalyst to his career in the entertainment industry.
He is survived by his Diane, children Daisy, Max and Jenny, and four grandchildren.
A private service and a memorial is expected to take place this week.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments