Mike Nichols (November 6, 1931 - November 19, 2014)

Word came out of Hollywood today that producer, writer, director Mike Nichols had passed away. He was 83. I think all creatives have a "bond" with each other. There is a connection. It was always weird but I always felt a connection with Mr. Nichols. We had a similar background within the industry. He started out as a performer, an actor then turned to directing. Not uncommon, so did I. His background was stage, again not all that uncommon. But, he would direct a ton of the same plays I would wind up directing. Of course there were all the Neil Simon classics, "Barefoot" "Odd Couple" and others. He would transition into directing films, again I wanted to and eventually went down the same path. In the 80's he directed "Social Security" a play I would direct several times. He was also firmly entrenched as a film director at this time. His "The Graduate" would win him an Oscar and again, would become a play I would later direct. I truly believed he picked these plays because the stories were great! He was a writer, ditto, and as such new great stories when he saw them. We are all story tellers at our soul. And Nichols knew how to tell a story! He would direct musicals, although he was not all that comfortable with them and again, I can relate...boy can I relate! But he selected the shows based on the story! He was passionate about getting the story not only right, but telling it in the most entertaining way. And it wasn’t just comedies! This man so impressed Hollywood with his stage directing his first film was, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” Not an easy task!! Again, he got the story right!

Nichols spent a lifetime telling us great stories, be it stage, film or television. He was an EGOT. He had won the EMMY, GRAMMY, OSCAR and TONY awards! He won the Tony 6 times as a director…more than any other director in Broadway history. He not only inspired his actors to some of their finest performances, he inspired anyone who was out there wanting to tell a story. He was a genius who had an effect on me as well as countless other writer, producer and directors out there. I will miss him and his work. I will not miss his inspiration though because he will continue to inspire me and make me strive to not only tell the story…but tell it right! Thank you Mr. Nichols, for everything.