Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols, husband of ABC News presenter Diane Sawyer, has died at the age of 83, ABC confirms to Us Weekly.
Nichols, who won an Oscar for directing the 1967 film The Graduate, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the evening.
The German-born director also received Academy Award nominations for his work on 1988's Working Girl, 1993's The Remains of the Day, 1983's Silkwood, and 1966's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He was also one of only 12 stars to win all four major entertainment awards — an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Nichols' celebrated career began in the 1950s after a stint at the University of Chicago. The late star dropped out of college to pursue his entertainment dreams, and the gamble paid off. In addition to his storied film career, Nichols' Broadway credits include the recent revival of Death of a Salesman and Annie in the 1970s, and he took home his Emmy award for the critically acclaimed Angels in America HBO miniseries.
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Playwright Tom Stoppard, who worked with the director on the Tony-winning The Real Thing in the '80s, was a huge fan of Nichols, describing him in the past as "a giver."
"He’s good at comfort and joy. He’s good at improving the shining hour and brightening the dark one, and, of course, he’s superlative fun. To me he is the best of America,” Stoppard added.
Nichols and his news presenter wife Sawyer had been married for 26 years. The acclaimed director is survived by three children: Daisy, Max, and Jenny, and four grandchildren.
A private family funeral is due to be held later in the week while a bigger, more public memorial will take place at a later date.