Mike Nichols, director of 'The Graduate', dies at 83

Washington, Nov 20 (IANS/EFE) Mike Nichols, whose 1967 film "The Graduate" earned him an Oscar as best director, has died, media reported Thursday. He was 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 of Nichols, the husband of ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer.

Nichols was nominated for the best director Oscar on three other occasions, for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" in 1966, "Silkwood" in 1983, and "Working Girl" in 1988.

Born in Berlin in 1931, Nichols was only 7 when his family fled Nazi Germany for the US.

He graduated from Walden School in New York and attended the University of Chicago before dropping out to return to the Big Apple to study acting.

Back in Chicago a few years later, he joined a comedy troupe that included Elaine May and the two became a writing and performing team.

His career as theater director included Broadway hits "Barefoot in the Park", "The Odd Couple" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Nichols picked up the last of his nine Tony awards two years ago with a revival of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman."

--IANS/EFE

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