Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols (real name - Mikhail Igorevich Peshkovsky) was born on November 6, 1931 in Berlin, in the family of a doctor, a Russian Jew. In 1939, the family emigrated to the United States from Nazi Germany. After the death of his father, the family was on the verge of poverty, and to pay for his studies at the University of Chicago, Mike Nichols worked as a night watchman, postal worker, and truck driver. Fascinated by his acting career, he studied at Lee Strasberg's Acting Studio (New York), and more

Mike Nichols (real name - Mikhail Igorevich Peshkovsky) was born on November 6, 1931 in Berlin, in the family of a doctor, a Russian Jew. In 1939, the family emigrated to the United States from Nazi Germany. After the death of his father, the family was on the verge of poverty, and to pay for his studies at the University of Chicago, Mike Nichols worked as a night watchman, postal worker, and truck driver. Fascinated by his acting career, he studied at Lee Strasberg's Acting Studio (New York), and on his return to Chicago, organized an improvisational theater troupe. Mike Nichols began his career as a comedian and singer with performances in restaurants and cabaret. After touring his Broadway productions and television appearances, including with his first wife Helen May, Mike Nichols made his Broadway debut as a director in 1963. His comedies were very popular, and in 1966 the director made his film debut - bringing to the screen the famous drama "Who is afraid of Virginia Woolf?". The main roles in the film were played by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Barton. With this very successful work, nominated for the Academy Award in 13 nominations at once, the director immediately declared himself as an “actor” director, and actresses Elizabeth Taylor and Sandy Dennis were awarded the Oscar. No less interest was caused by the next picture of Nichols - "The Graduate", based on the novel by C. Webb, released in 1967. It was in her, which became the manifesto of the “new Hollywood”, that the talent of Dustin Hoffman was first clearly revealed. For "The Graduate," Nichols won an Oscar for directing. The anti-war Catch-22 (1970) based on the novel by D. Heller, however, remained a disappointment for most viewers, but the director was rehabilitated by Carnal Knowledge (1971). Having staged Dolphin Day (1973) and State (1975), Mike Nichols in the second half of the 1970s again turned to theatrical productions, and was awarded 6 Tony Awards for them. In 1983, the director triumphantly returned to cinema with the social drama about the trade union activist Silkwood. Then followed "Jealousy" ("Oskomin") (1985) and "Biloxy Blues" (1988), popular with the audience was "Business Woman" (1988) with Melanie Griffith in the title role. The next directorial works of Mike Nichols were the dramas Postcards from the edge of the abyss (1990) and Something About Harry (1991), the parable film The Wolf (1994) with Jack Nichols in the title role was a great success. The audience was interested in his films “Cage for Birds” (1996) and “Basic Colors” (1998). An obvious failure was the film “From What Planet Are You?” (2000), but a year later the director rehabilitated himself by filming the Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a teacher who began to fight cancer – “Epilogue” (2001). The main role in the film was played by Emma Thompson.