RIP, Mike Nichols: Tom Hanks Says Director Changed Lives, Meryl Streep Calls Him "Irreplaceable"

"To have been his friend was a blessing," playwright Tom Stoppard said of the fallen star

By Bruna Nessif Nov 20, 2014 10:12 PMTags
Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols, Tom Hanks Frazer Harrison, Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Hollywood is in mourning.

The sudden death of acclaimed director and Diane Sawyer's husband, Mike Nichols, has affected a number of stars in the industry, both those who have merely appreciated and praised Nichols' career and those who were lucky enough to work with him.

Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks are two stars who were fortunate enough to be part of Nichols' past projects, and these two actors are the latest celebs to speak out about the passing of their former colleague and friend.

"'Forward. We must always move forward. Otherwise what will become of us?,' said Mike Nichols, who changed the lives of those who knew him, who loved him, who will miss him so," Hanks, who who worked with Nichols on the 2007 film, Charlie Wilson's War, said in a statement.

Streep, who has a long list of Nichols' films under her belt (1983's Silkwood, 1986's Heartburn, the 1990 comedy Postcards from the Edge and the two-part 2003 HBO miniseries, Angels in America), said, "An inspiration and joy to know, a director who cried when he laughed, a friend without whom, well, we can't imagine our world, an indelible irreplaceable man."

"Everyone who was close to Mike has suffered a loss which cannot be repaired, ever," Tom Stoppard, who joined forces with Nichols for his 1984 Broadway play The Real Thing, said. "To have been his friend was a blessing. To have worked with him was both a privilege and the best of times. He was my hero."

Additionally, The Recording Academy released the following statement regarding the tragic news: "Grammy winner Mike Nichols was one of the world's most celebrated directors who achieved great success in both film and theater. In addition to being a Grammy Award winner, Nichols also received multiple Emmy, Oscar and Tony Awards, making him one of the most decorated figures in the entertainment industry.

"A highly accomplished visionary with a career that spanned more than six decades, Nichols was also a gifted producer and comedian. Nichols' knack for impeccable comedic timing paired with unmatched passion for his craft earned him a stellar reputation as countless high-profile stars longed to work with him. We have lost a brilliant member of our creative community, and our sympathies go out to his family, his friends, and all who have benefited from and have been moved by his extraordinary talent."

The 83-year-old, who passed away suddenly Wednesday evening, was described as a "true visionary" by the president of ABC News, James Goldston.

Nichols' is responsible for bringing The GraduateThe BirdcageSilkwood, Working Girl and so many other classic films to the big screen, which has helped earn him an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy and an Academy Award—putting him in a league with only a few others—throughout his very successful career.

He had been married to Sawyer since 1988 and while the two had no children together, he had two daughters and a son from previous marriages.