Mike Nichols, legendary director and husband of ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, died Wednesday night at the age of 83.
ABC News President James Goldston announced the famed director’s death in a statement.
“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,” Goldston said in the statement.
“No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike.”
Nichols’ list of accomplishments is long and all-encompassing in the entertainment world.
Mike Nichols "a true visionary" – @ABC President on film & theatre director's death http://t.co/UUj6T16Ouh pic.twitter.com/2StujSylS0
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 20, 2014
Some of his most noted films include Barefoot in the Park, Annie, The Odd Couple, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Graduate.
Earning an Oscar for best director for The Graduate, he also directed Carnal Knowledge, Working Girl, The Birdcage and Closer.
His last film was 2007’s Charlie Wilson’s War, starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
An accomplished director on Broadway, he won his eighth Tony two years ago for a revival of Death of a Salesman.
Born in Germany in 1931, Nichols came to the United States when he was seven years old with his family to escape Nazi Germany.
#BREAKING: Famed director Mike Nichols has died at 83, @ABC announces pic.twitter.com/IfSIuNAGVg
— KTLA (@KTLA) November 20, 2014
A graduate of the Walden School in New York City, Nichols began pursuing theater while attending the University of Chicago, where he was studying medicine, in the early 1950s. Dreams of a medical career were set aside, however, once he discovered comedy.
He began his career in comedy by teaming up with Elaine May in Chicago, which would gain him nationally popularity.
Nichols is survived by his wife, children Daisy, Max and Jenny, and four grandchildren.