Question 1

True or false: He directed the music video for Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.'

Accepted Answer

False. John Landis directed 'Thriller.' Nichols directed the documentary 'HBO's Master Class' and several TV series, but no pop music videos.

Question 2

True or false: Before directing, Nichols was half of the legendary comedy duo Nichols and May.

Accepted Answer

True. With Elaine May, he pioneered improvisational comedy in the 1950s, influencing later troupes like Second City.

Question 3

True or false: Mike Nichols won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony—one of the few to achieve EGOT status.

Accepted Answer

True. Nichols earned the EGOT: Tony for 'Barefoot in the Park,' Grammy for comedy album, Emmy for 'Wings of Man,' Oscar for 'The Graduate.'

Question 4

True or false: He was born in Berlin and fled Nazi Germany as a child with his family.

Accepted Answer

True. Nichols was born Michael Igor Peschkowsky in Berlin in 1931; his Jewish family escaped to the U.S. in 1938.

Question 5

True or false: His film 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' was the first movie to be rated PG-13.

Accepted Answer

False. The PG-13 rating debuted in 1984. 'Virginia Woolf' (1966) was rated X for its adult content, later changed to R.

Question 6

True or false: Mike Nichols directed the original Broadway production of 'Hamilton.'

Accepted Answer

False. 'Hamilton' was directed by Thomas Kail. Nichols did direct 'Angels in America' and 'Spamalot' on Broadway.

Question 7

True or false: Mike Nichols was a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and advised on cultural policy.

Accepted Answer

True. Nichols and his wife, journalist Annabel Davis-Goff, were part of Kennedy's social circle. He informally discussed arts with JFK.

Question 8

True or false: Mike Nichols directed 'The Godfather Part II' but left the project early.

Accepted Answer

False. Francis Ford Coppola directed both 'Godfather' films. Nichols was considered for 'The Godfather' but never involved.

Mike Nichols Trivia Questions