Mike Nichols: A Look Back at the Director’s Best Films

Director Mike Nichols passed away today at the age of 83. The revered director (and husband of Diane Sawyer) was best known for directing films like The Graduate and Working Girl and The Remains of the Day, which he also produced. He was a member of the select group of EGOT winners — those who have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards.

Nichols excelled at translating stage productions into sublime films, including Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which earned him the Oscar for best director. He also staged the original theatrical productions of Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple and Spamalot, winning his eighth Tony Award a few years ago for his revival of Death of a Salesman.

In addition to the films he directed for the screen, he also directed some incredible features for television, including the mini-series Angels in America and Wit, which both earned Emmy Awards.

As a primer for newcomers or a walk down cinematic memory lane for those looking to honor the memory of a great director, here are eight of his best films:

The Graduate (1967)

Catch-22 (1970)

Biloxi Blues (1988)

Silkwood (1983)

Working Girl (1988)

Closer (2004)

The Birdcage (1996)

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

See Mike Nichols' Legendary Career in Photos