Through his groundbreaking work in improvisational comedy, theater, and film, Mike Nichols has shown us that through honesty — in particular, the special brand of honesty conferred by humor — we can make some sense of life. And when we can’t, we can laugh at it.

Beginning life as Michael Peschkowsky, in Berlin, the son of a Russian-born father and a German mother, he escaped to the U.S. in 1939. The journey from dockside to center stage was a difficult one, marred by a troubled home life and the inevitable immigrant struggle to master a new language and “fit in.”

Smart and quick-witted, Nichols found the power in humor, and began to master its intricacies. At the University of Chicago in the 1950s, luck landed him among a talented theater group; full germination occurred when he paired with the brilliant Elaine May, with whom he refined the art of improvisational comedy.

When the pair broke up, Nichols found something he was even better at than comedy: directing. Between 1963–1972, he directed five hit plays on Broadway and won four Tonys. In 1966, he made the move to Hollywood; directing the film version of Edward Albee’s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? earned him his first Academy Award nomination; the four leading actors were also nominated, a first in Academy history. He took an Oscar home for his second film, The Graduate, simultaneously launching his reputation for audacious casting and an uncanny ability to bring out the best in actors.

Along the way, Nichols added producer to his skill set, cofounding the New Actors Workshop in New York City. He is one of the elite in show business to have won all the major entertainment awards: Oscar, Tony, Emmy, and Grammy. Nichols passed away in New York City in 2014, at age 83.

Awards and Accomplishments

• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, Spamalot (2005)
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special, Angels in America (2004)
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries, Angels in America (2004)
• Kennedy Center Honors (2003)
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special, Wit (2001)
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie, Wit (2001)
• Peabody Award, Wit (2001)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play, The Real Thing (1984)
• Tony Award for Best Play, The Real Thing (1984)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play, The Real Thing (1984)
• Tony Award for Best Musical, Annie (1977)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play, Comedians (1977)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Annie (1977)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play, The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1972)
• BAFTA Award for Best Film, The Graduate (1968)
• BAFTA Award for Best Director, The Graduate (1968)
• Golden Globe Award for Best Director, The Graduate (1968)
• Academy Award for Best Director, The Graduate (1968)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play, Plaza Suite (1968)
• BAFTA Award for Best Film, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1967)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play, Luv and The Odd Couple (1965)
• Tony Award for Best Director of a Play, Barefoot in the Park (1964)
• Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album (1961)