Julia Roberts has joined the throngs of entertainers to remember legendary director Mike Nichols, who died Wednesday at the age of 83.
“There are so few heroes in our world. So few impeccable craftsmen, so few people who personify unconditional love and friendship. Mike Nichols was like no other. In every way he was remarkable and amazing,” Roberts said in a statement to People Magazine.
The 47-year-old actress worked with Nichols on his last two films, 2004’s Closer and 2007’s Charlie Wilson’s War.
“His musings were like pearls, his jokes were timeless and perfectly placed, his stories – detailed and wholly entertaining, his warm embrace was where you wanted to live forever,” Roberts said in the statement.
“He savored life and friends and French macarons. He always, always told the truth. He loved Diane utterly, immeasurably, magically,” Roberts said of Nichols’s marriage to ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer.
“He was my most cherished friend.”
Mike Nichols' Life and Career in Pictures http://t.co/5AFq8GoMTe pic.twitter.com/8YrbXOOhqd
— Variety (@Variety) November 22, 2014
The entertainment industry is still reeling from the news of Nichols’ death from an apparent heart attack.
ABC News President James Goldston announced the famed director’s death Thursday morning.
“He was a true visionary, winning the highest honors in the arts for his work as a director, writer, producer and comic and was one of a tiny few to win the EGOT-an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony in his lifetime,” Goldston said in the statement.
“No one was more passionate about his craft than Mike.”
Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, more remember Mike Nichols: http://t.co/xHSq3xVTZi pic.twitter.com/QaKsoGo7f8
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) November 20, 2014
Some of Nichols’ most noted films include Barefoot in the Park, Annie, The Odd Couple, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Graduate.
Earning an Oscar for best director for The Graduate, he also directed Carnal Knowledge, Working Girl, and The Birdcage.