Mike Nichols was an American comedian, director, and producer of the stage and screen. He began his career in the 1950s as a comedian alongside Elaine May doing improvisational comedy. Together they formed the comedy duo Nichols and May. Their live improv act was a hit sensation on Broadway, and the first of their three albums won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1962. Nichols also became known as a director of plays on the Broadway stage including Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park (1963), The Odd Couple (1965), and Plaza Suite (1968). He also directed acclaimed revival productions of Anton Chekov's The Seagull (2002), Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (2012) and Harold Pinter's Betrayal (2013).
Nichols was also known as a film director breaking out with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and The Graduate (1967) starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. Nichols continued directing acclaimed films such as the war film Catch-22 (1970), the sexual coming of age drama Carnal Knowledge (1971), the drama Silkwood (1983), the romantic comedy Working Girl (1988), the farce comedy The Birdcage (1996), the political drama Primary Colors (1998), the romantic drama Closer (2004), and biographical drama Charlie Wilson's War (2007). Nichols also became known for his work on television directing HBO adaptations of Margaret Edson's Wit (2001) and Tony Kushner's Angels in America (2003) starring Meryl Streep and Al Pacino.
Theatre Year Title Director Producer Writer Performer Venue Ref.1960 An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May John Golden Theatre1963Barefoot in the Park The Biltmore Theatre1964The KnackNew TheatreLuv Helen Hayes Theatre1965The Odd Couple Plymouth Theatre1966The Apple Tree Shubert Theatre 1967The Little Foxes Ethel Barrymore Theatre 1968Plaza Suite Plymouth Theatre 1971The Prisoner of Second Avenue Eugene O'Neill Theatre 1973Uncle Vanya Circle in the Square Theatre 1976Streamers Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre Comedians Music Box Theatre 1977Annie Eugene O'Neill Theatre The Gin Game John Golden Theatre 1978Drinks Before DinnerPublic Theater1980Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Long Wharf TheatreBilly Bishop Goes to War Morosco Theatre Lunch Hour Ethel Barrymore Theatre1981Fools Eugene O'Neill TheatreGrown Ups Lyceum Theatre1984The Real Thing Plymouth TheatreHurlyburly Ethel Barrymore TheatreWhoopi Goldberg Lyceum Theatre1986Social SecurityEthel Barrymore Theatre1987Standup ShakespeareTheatre 8901988Waiting for GodotMitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center1990Eliot LovesGoodman Theatre1992Death and the MaidenBrooks Atkinson Theatre1996The Designated MournerRoyal National Theatre1999James Naughton: Street of DreamsPromenade Theatre2001The Seagull The Public Theater, Off-Broadway2003The Play What I WroteLyceum Theatre2004Whoopi: The 25th Anniversary Show2005SpamalotShubert Theatre2008The Country GirlBernard B. Jacobs Theatre2012Death of a SalesmanEthel Barrymore Theatre2013Betrayal
Film
Year Title Director Producer Notes 1966 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Based on the 1962 play by Edward Albee 1967 The Graduate Based on the 1963 novella by Charles Webb 1968 Teach Me! Short film; Also writer 1970 Catch-22 Based on the 1961 novel by Joseph Heller 1971 Carnal Knowledge 1973 The Day of the Dolphin Based on the 1967 novel by Robert Merle 1975 The Fortune 1980 Gilda Live Documentary 1983 Silkwood Based on Who Killed Karen Silkwood? by Howard Kohn 1986 Heartburn Based on the 1983 novel by Nora Ephron 1988 Biloxi Blues Based on the 1984 play by Neil Simon Working Girl 1990 Postcards from the Edge Based on the 1987 novel by Carrie Fisher 1991 Regarding Henry 1993 The Remains of the Day Based on the 1989 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro 1994 Wolf 1996 The Birdcage Based on La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret and the 1978 film by Édouard Molinaro, Francis Veber, Marcello Danon and Jean Poiret 1998 Primary Colors Based on Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics by Joe Klein 2000 What Planet Are You From? 2004 Closer Based on the 1997 play by Patrick Marber 2007 Charlie Wilson's War Based on Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History by George Crile III
Executive producer The Longshot (1986) Friends with Kids (2011) Crescendo! The Power of Music (2014) (Documentary)
Performer The Designated Mourner (1997) as Jack
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1957–1958The Steve Allen Show Himself 2 episodes 1958Omnibus Performer Episode: "The Suburban Review"The DuPont Show of the Month Rod Carter Episode: "The Red Mill" 1959–1960 The Jack Paar Tonight Show Himself 5 episodes 1960 Playhouse 90 Arthur Millman Episode: "Journey to the Day" What's My Line? Himself Episode: "Elaine May & Mike Nichols" 1962 President Kennedy's Birthday Salute Himself Television special 1964–1965 The Jack Paar Program Himself (guest) 6 episodes 1976 Family ProducerTelevision series 1986 Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary Special Himself (cameo) Television special 2001 Wit Director, writer, and executive producerTelevision movie 2003 Angels in America Director and executive producerMiniseries, 6 episodes
Discography Improvisations to Music (1958) Mercury An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1960) Mercury Mike Nichols & Elaine May Examine Doctors (1961) Mercury MG 20680/SR 60680 In Retrospect (1962) Polygram, compilation, re-released as compact disc in 1996
See also Mike Nichols' unrealized projects
References
External links - American Film Institute 2010 Life Achievement Award - American Film Institute The Evolution of Mike Nichols, New York article