Award-winning director Mike Nichols died Wednesday night (November 20) according to ABC News’ president, James Goldston.
The 83-year-old was one of only 12 EGOT holders, winning four Emmys, one Grammy, one Oscar and nine Tony awards. He is best known for directing “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and “The Graduate.”
In addition, Mike was the husband of recently retired “ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer.
"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 a statement. "No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike.”
In addition to his impressive EGOT status, he also received an AFI Award and was honored at the Kennedy Center. During his speech for the AFI award, Mike said the motto he lived by was, “The only safe thing is to take a chance.”
Diane and Mike were married for 26 years. Mike is survived by Diane, their three kids – Daisy, Max and Jenny – and four grandkids.
