Entertainment world's finest pay tribute to The Graduate director Mike Nichols, dead at 83

Steven Spielberg described Mike Nichols’ death as 'a seismic loss'.

17:18 21 November 2014

Countless people in the entertainment industry have paid tribute to legendary filmmaker Mike Nichols who passed away at the age of 83 following cardiac arrest on Wednesday. He is the man behind several classic American films including The Graduate, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, and Working Girl.

Steven Spielberg said that the filmmaker’s death is a “seismic loss.” He added: "Mike was a friend, a muse, a mentor, one of America’s all-time greatest film and stage directors, and one of the most generous people I have ever known."

Meryl Streep, on the other hand, described him as “an inspiration and joy to know… a friend without whom, well, we can’t imagine our world, an indelible irreplaceable man.”

Paul Simon, the writer of “Mrs Robinson” for The Graduate said: "My dear friend of 47 years. I love and admire Mike Nichols," while Art Garfunkel told Billboard: "To act for him on camera was to glide on a liquid film of intelligence."

Meanwhile, Tom Hanks, who starred in the 2007 film Charlie Wilson’s War paid tribute by citing one of the director’s own quotes saying: "Forward. We must always move forward. Otherwise what will become of us?"