Nichols, Mike, 1931-, American actor and director, b. Berlin, Germany, as Michael Igor Peschkowsky. He and his family emigrated to the United States in 1939, and he studied (1950-53) at the Univ. of Chicago. A founder of The Second City, the comedic and improvisational group, he and fellow member Elaine May formed a satiric duo (1957-61) and scored a Broadway hit in 1960. Nichols debuted as a director with the Broadway production of Barefoot in the Park (1963) and since then he has been a successful stage and screen director, noted for his intelligence and his ability to draw the best from his actors. His early work concentrated on light comedies, often written by Neil Simon. Nichols won Tony awards for Barefoot and for Luv (1964), The Odd Couple (1965), Plaza Suite (1968), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1971), and The Real Thing (1984). Later Broadway directorial credits include Hurlyburly (1984), Death and the Maiden (1992), and the musical Spamalot (2005). His films frequently portray dramatic human relationships and often cast a wry or sardonic cinematic eye on the tensions of modern American society. He began his movie career directing Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and won an Academy Award for his next film, The Graduate (1967). Subsequent films include Catch-22 (1970), Carnal Knowledge (1971), Silkwood (1983), Working Girl (1988), The Birdcage (1996), Primary Colors (1998), Closer (2004), and Charlie Wilson's War (2007). Nichols, who has had occasional acting roles, is also an Emmy-winning television director and a successful screenwriter and producer.

orig. Michael Igor Peschkowsky

(born Nov. 6, 1931, Berlin, Ger.) German-born U.S. stage and film director. He and his parents fled Germany for the U.S. in 1938. After studying at the University of Chicago and the Actors Studio, he formed a comic improvisational group in Chicago. He and Elaine May (b. 1932) toured with and recorded a set of brilliant social-satire routines. He later directed several Broadway hits, including Barefoot in the Park (1963), The Odd Couple (1965), and Plaza Suite (1968). His first film, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), was followed by The Graduate (1967, Academy Award); his later films include Catch-22 (1970), Silkwood (1983), Working Girl (1988), and Primary Colors (1998). His productions focused on the absurdities and horrors of modern life as revealed in personal relationships.

Learn more about Nichols, Mike with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Michael Igor Peschkowsky

(born Nov. 6, 1931, Berlin, Ger.) German-born U.S. stage and film director. He and his parents fled Germany for the U.S. in 1938. After studying at the University of Chicago and the Actors Studio, he formed a comic improvisational group in Chicago. He and Elaine May (b. 1932) toured with and recorded a set of brilliant social-satire routines. He later directed several Broadway hits, including Barefoot in the Park (1963), The Odd Couple (1965), and Plaza Suite (1968). His first film, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), was followed by The Graduate (1967, Academy Award); his later films include Catch-22 (1970), Silkwood (1983), Working Girl (1988), and Primary Colors (1998). His productions focused on the absurdities and horrors of modern life as revealed in personal relationships.

Learn more about Nichols, Mike with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Nichols is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 374 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Nichols is located at (41.479113, -91.308291).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 374 people, 138 households, and 102 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,604.8 people per square mile (627.8/km²). There were 142 housing units at an average density of 609.3/sq mi (238.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.36% White, 1.07% African American, 1.60% Asian, 9.89% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.99% of the population.

There were 138 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,750, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $32,045 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,082. About 4.7% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links