Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols (born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American television, stage and movie director, writer, producer and comedian. He was half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the movie "The Graduate". His other movies include "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Catch-22", "Carnal Knowledge", "Silkwood", "Working Girl", "Wolf", "The Birdcage", "Closer", "Charlie Wilson's War" (his final movie), and the TV mini-series "Angels in America". He also staged the original theatrical productions of "Barefoot in the Park", "Luv", "The Odd Couple" and "Spamalot".
Nichols won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. His other honors included the Lincoln Center Gala Tribute in 1999, the National Medal of Arts in 2001, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2010.
Nichols died suddenly from a heart attack on November 19, 2014, at his home in Manhattan.