Mike Nichols

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Birth Name: Michael Igor Peschkowsky

Born: 6 November 1931 Died: 19 November 2014

Country of origin: Germany

Height: 5' 11"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Diane Sawyer

Lists

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The Idiot's Guide To Famous (Classic) Filmmakers (85 items)
list by Severin Severin

Published 11 years, 1 month ago

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Directors:The Filmography of... (207 items)
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Published 13 years, 2 months ago

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132 votes

The Director and The Muse (36 items)
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Published 11 years, 10 months ago

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94 votes

Gone, but not forgotten (1852 items)
list by Agent Kermit D. Fonz

Published 4 months, 1 week ago

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81 votes

Stanley Kubrick: Quotes (35 items)
list by Moon River

Published 11 years, 6 months ago

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Description: Mike Nichols (born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American film and theater director, producer, actor, and comedian. He was noted for his ability to work across a range of genres and for his aptitude for getting the best out of actors regardless of their experience. Nichols began his career in the 1950s with the comedy improvisational troupe The Compass Players, predecessor of The Second City, in Chicago. He then teamed up with his improv partner, Elaine May, to form the comedy duo Nichols and May. Their live improv act was a hit on Broadway, and the first of their three albums won a Gra Mike Nichols (born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American film and theater director, producer, actor, and comedian. He was noted for his ability to work across a range of genres and for his aptitude for getting the best out of actors regardless of their experience. Nichols began his career in the 1950s with the comedy improvisational troupe The Compass Players, predecessor of The Second City, in Chicago. He then teamed up with his improv partner, Elaine May, to form the comedy duo Nichols and May. Their live improv act was a hit on Broadway, and the first of their three albums won a Grammy Award.

After Nichols and May disbanded in 1961, he began directing plays, and quickly became known for his innovative productions and ability to elicit polished performances. His Broadway directing debut was Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park in 1963, with Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley. He next directed Luv in 1964, and in 1965 directed another Neil Simon play, The Odd Couple. He received a Tony Award for each of those plays. In 2012, he won his sixth Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play with a revival of Death of a Salesman. Nichols directed and/or produced more than twenty-five Broadway plays.

In 1966, Warner Brothers invited Nichols to direct his first film, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The groundbreaking film inspired some critics to declare Nichols the "new Orson Welles". It won five Academy Awards (out of 13 nominations), and was the top-grossing film of 1966. Nichols's next film, The Graduate (1967) starred then unknown actor Dustin Hoffman, alongside Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross. It was another critical and financial success, became the highest-grossing film of the year, and received seven Academy Award nominations, winning Nichols the Academy Award for Best Director.

Among the other films Nichols directed were Catch-22 (1970), Carnal Knowledge (1971), Silkwood (1983), Working Girl (1988), Wolf (1994), The Birdcage (1996), Closer (2004) and Charlie Wilson's War (2007).

Along with an Academy Award, Nichols won a Grammy Award (the first for a comedian born outside the United States), four Emmy Awards, nine Tony Awards, and three BAFTA Awards. 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. His films received a total of 42 Academy Award nominations, and seven wins. He is one of the few people who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. ... (more)

Tags: Director (16), Born 1931 (5), Died 2014 (4), German (3), American (3), Oscar Winner (2), Male (2), Writer (2), Layout Artist (1), Directed A Best Picture Nominee (1), Improve (1), BAFTA Winner (1), Famous WIFE (1), Oscar Winning Director (1), Golden Globe Winner (1), Deceased (1), Movies (1), Visionary (1), Songwriter (1), Actor (1)

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Movies directed by

TV directed by

1. Angels in America (2003)

Rating:

7.5

299 Watched

2. Wit (2001)

Rating:

7.1

56 Watched

TV

TV written by

1. Wit (2001)

Rating:

7.1

56 Watched

Movies

Music

1. Lucky Leif and the Longships

Rating:

8.5

2 own

2. An Evening With Mike Nichols And Elaine May (Original Cast Recording) (1998)

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Movies written by

1. Bach to Bach (1967)

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Agent Kermit D. Fonz added this to a list 4 months, 1 week ago

Gone, but not forgotten (1852 person items)

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Diabolik added this to a list 9 months ago

Greatest Directors (62 person items)

"The Graduate (1967) Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) Carnal Knowledge (1971) Working Girl (1988) Wolf (1994) What Planet Are You From? (2000)"

Stehako added this to a list 1 year, 2 months ago

Top Ten Films - Mike Nichols (14 movies items)

JxSxPx added this to a list 1 year, 6 months ago

TCM’s The Essential Directors (56 person items)

"Must-See Movies Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The Graduate Catch-22 Carnal Knowledge Silkwood Biloxi Blues Working Girl The Birdcage "

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Moviebuff's Top 15 More Influential Filmmakers (15 person items)

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Every Best Director Winner (71 person items)

"1967-The Graduate"

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Top Grossing Directors (200 person items)

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Award Winners ...EGOT Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony (15 person items)

"Emmys: Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Wit (2001) Outstanding Made for Television Movie, Wit (2001) Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Angels in America (2004) Outstanding Miniseries, Angels in America (2004) Grammys: Best Comedy Performance, An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1961) Oscars: Best Director, The Graduate (1967) Tony Awards: Best Director, Dramatic, Barefoot in the Park (1964) Best Director, Dramatic, Luv and the Odd Co"

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Top Grossing Directors (200 person items)