EGOT Winner & Entertainment Icon Mike Nichols Dies at Age 83

ABC News reports that EGOT winner and entertainment icon Mike Nichols passed away suddenly on Wednesday, November 19th at the age of 83.

Click here to read reactions of the sudden news from stars of stage and screen.

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," he added, "No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike."

Nichols is survived by his wife, ABC News Anchor Diane Sawyer, children Daisy, Max and Jenny, and four grandchildren.

Nichols is in that small circle of artists to have won the Oscar, the Tony, the Emmy and the Grammy. Among his many celebrated credits, he has directed the films WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, THE GRADUATE, CATCH 22, CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, SILKWOOD, HEARTBURN, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, WORKING GIRL, CLOSER, THE BIRDCAGE, and CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR.

His television directing credits include WIT and HBO's ANGELS IN AMERICA.

His Broadway directing credits include the recent revival of DEATH OF A SALESMAN, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, LUV, THE ODD COUPLE, PLAZA SUITE, THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE, THE REAL THING AND SPAMALOT, for all of which he was awarded the Tony for Best Direction. Other Broadway directing credits include, 1968's THE LITTLE FOXES and 1967's THE APPLE TREE.

His performance partnership with Elaine May was one of the most influential collaborations in the history of American comedy, and culminated in a nine-month Broadway run at the Golden Theatre in 1960-61.

Most recently he was collaborating with HBO to adapt Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play MASTER CLASS, to the small screen. The project, which is to star Nichols' frequent collaborator Meryl Streep in the role of opera legend Maria Callas, was set to begin production in January.

His extensive list of awards and honors follows:

1961 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
1964 Tony Award for Best Director of a Play - Barefoot in the Park
1965 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - Luv and The Odd Couple
1968 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - Plaza Suite
1968 BAFTA Award for Best Director - The Graduate
1968 Academy Award for Best Director - The Graduate
1968 Golden Globe Award for Best Director - The Graduate
1972 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - The Prisoner of Second Avenue
1977 Tony Award for Best Musical - Annie
1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play - Comedians
1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical - Annie
1984 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - The Real Thing
1984 Tony Award for Best Play - The Real Thing
1984 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play - The Real Thing
1999 Film Society of Lincoln Center Gala tribute
2001 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special - Wit
2001 Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie - Wit
2003 Kennedy Center Honors
2004 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special - Angels in America
2004 Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries - Angels in America
2005 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - Spamalot
2010 American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award
2012 Best Direction of a Play - Death of a Salesman

Source

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos