Mike Nichols (born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American television, stage and movie director, writer, producer and comedian. He was half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the movie "The Graduate". His other movies include "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Catch-22", "Carnal Knowledge", "Silkwood", "Working Girl", "The Birdcage", "Closer", "Charlie Wilson's War" (his final movie), and the TV mini-series "Angels in America". He also staged the original theatrical productions of "Barefoot in the Park", "Luv", "The Odd Couple" and "Spamalot".