Mike Nichols' Most Memorable Works
Entertainment icon died Wednesday at 83.
— -- intro: While the entertainment industry mourns the death of icon Mike Nichols today, the famed director will be widely remembered for his work on the screen and stage.
Nichols, the husband of ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, died Wednesday at the age of 83.
"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," ABC News President James Goldston said in a statement.
"No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike."
Entertainment Icon Mike Nichols Has Died
Though Nichols found his true calling in comedy, as one half of the comic duo Nichols and May, with Elaine May, he cemented his legacy as a director.
His unparalleled career as a director, which stretched a half-century, earned him both popular and artistic success, including an Oscar and nine Tony awards.
He was also prolific, working until the end. He had recently reunited with frequent collaborator Meryl Streep for an HBO adaptation of the award-winning play "Master Class" about opera legend Maria Callas.
He also leaves behind some of Hollywood's best-known films. Keep reading for a look back at Mike Nichols’ most memorable works:
quicklist:title: 'Barefoot in the Park'text: Nichols found his passion in directing after he was chosen to direct Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park," starring Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley, in 1963. The show was a huge hit and earned Nichols his first Tony.
quicklist:title: 'The Odd Couple'text: Two years later, he directed Art Carney as Felix Ungar and Walter Matthau as Oscar in Simon's "The Odd Couple" on Broadway, winning his second Tony.
quicklist:title: 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'text: Nichols' first time behind the camera came in 1966 when he directed Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in an adaptation of Edward Albee's "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" The film was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, including one for best director. Nichols didn't win, but the film won five.
quicklist:title: 'The Graduate'text: His next time at the helm for 1967's "The Graduate," starring a then-unknown Dustin Hoffman, Nichols did win an Oscar for best director.
quicklist:title: 'Carnal Knowledge'text: Nichols' 1971 film "Carnal Knowledge," starring Jack Nicholson, Ann-Margret, Art Garfunkel and Candice Bergen, stirred up controversy for its casual depiction of sex.
quicklist:title: 'Silkwood'text: After a few box-office disappointments in the 1970s, Nichols rebounded with 1983's "Silkwood," starring Meryl Streep, Cher and Kurt Russell. The film received five Oscar nominations.
quicklist:title: Whoopi Goldbergtext: As a producer, Nichols brought then-unknown Whoopi Goldberg and her one-woman show to Broadway in 1984, propelling her to fame.
quicklist:title: 'Working Girl'text: In 1988, Nichols directed one of his most successful films, "Working Girl," starring Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver. The film grossed $103 million worldwide and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best director.
quicklist:title: 'The Birdcage'text: In 1996, Nichols reunited with comedy partner May for "The Birdcage," a remake of the French film "La Cage aux Folles," starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.
quicklist:title: 'Closer'text: In 2004, he directed Julia Roberts in "Closer."
quicklist:title: 'Angels in America'text: In 2003, Nichols won his second Emmy for directing the HBO adaptation of "Angels in America." He won his first Emmy two years earlier for "Wit."
quicklist:title: 'Death of a Salesman'text: Nichols won his ninth Tony Awards two year ago when he cast Philip Seymour Hoffman, then 44, to play Willy Loman in the Broadway revival of "Death of a Salesman." Accepting his award, he told the crowd, "You see before you a happy man."
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