RIP Mike Nichols

Dead at 83, per AP:

https://twitter.com/ap/status/535406864293691392

One of the all-time greats, if for The Graduate alone.

Also has a journalism connection as husband of Diane Sawyer and father-in-law of Rachel Nichols.

 

I'm embarrassed to say I had no idea of the connection to Rachel, who I knew a little bit when she was Rachel Alexander and at the WP.

RIP

 

Genius and from what I understand a relentlessly positive, upbeat guy.

 

Had the EGOT, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. His comedy sketch work with Elaine May still stands up well over 50 years later.

 

Okay, The Graduate will be what he's most remembered for, but don't forget The Bird Cage, one of the funniet movies I still watch often.

 

There are 12 total, but only 6 are still living:

Mel Brooks
Rita Moreno
Whoopi Goldberg (won the Tony as a producer)
Scott Rudin (producer)
Jonathan Tunick (conductor/composer)
Robert Lopez (co-created The Book of Mormon, also wrote that "Let It Go" song from Frozen)

(The deceased ones are Nichols, Richard Rodgers, Helen Hayes, Marvin Hamlisch, John Gielgud & Audrey Hepburn).

 

Wait... John Gielgud has a Grammy?

 

Won it with William Shatner for "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

 

Won it for a Shakespeare spoken-word album in 1979, according to this:

http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=Gielgud&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All

 

I forgot he directed The Birdcage.

RIP.