Mike Nichols, the director of The Graduate and an EGOT winner, died Wednesday night. He was 83.

Mike Nichols Dies

ABC News President James Goldston announced Nichols’ death, revealing that he had passed away due to a cardiac arrest.

“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.”

Nichols, best known for his directing work, helmed a number of well-known films. In addition to The Graduate – for which he won his Oscar – he helmed Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf, The Birdcage, Primary Colors, Closer and Charlie Wilsons War. He also directed notable TV projects Wit and the Angels in America miniseries, winning a pair of Emmys for each.

Before making it big in Hollywood with Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf  and The Graduate, Nichols had gotten his start staging productions of Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple, winning Tony’s for both. He returned to directing theater throughout his illustrious career, winning Tony awards for plays Plaza Suite, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, The Real Thing and Death of a Salesman. He also earned Tony awards for musicals Annie and Spamalot.

Nichols’ Grammy was for his 1961 comedy album An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May.

Nichols was born in Germany and escaped to the United States with his family when he was 7 after the Nazi’s rose to power. Nichols grew up in New York City and later went on to attend the University of Chicago and get involved in the city’s improv comedy and theater scene.

Nichols is survived by his wife, former ABC World News anchor Diane Sawyer, three children from previous marriages and four grandchildren.