The Lincoln Center will pay tribute to the late stage and screen director Mike Nichols on Thursday evening.
The esteemed icon died suddenly of cardiac arrest on Wednesday evening. He was 83. The Lincoln Center’s distinctive digital signage, known as Blades along West 65th Street in New York City, will be lit from 7:45―8:00 p.m. with a special message in Nichols’ memory. The iconic director was also honored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center at its annual gala in 1999.
Nichols was a rare EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner. In 1964, he directed his first Broadway play, “Barefoot in the Park,” winning his first Tony Award.
In 1976 he directed the premiere of David Rabe’s “Streamers” at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. In 1987 he directed a special invitational production of Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The all-star cast included Anne Bancroft, E. G. Marshall, George C. Scott, Margaret Leighton, Maria Tucci, Austin Pendleton, and Richard A. Dysart. In 1988 he returned to Lincoln Center Theater to direct “Waiting for Godot” with Robin Williams and Steve Martin.
Nichols leaves behind his wife of 26 years, Diane Sawyer, three children — Daisy, Max and Jenny — and four grandchildren. Also of note, CNN anchor Rachel Nichols is Mike’s daughter-in-law, married to Max.