Mike Nichols : Ah Sweet Drugged Bald Mystery of Life

Amid all the deserving praise for the genius Mike Nichols, a few odd bits of trivia have become common knowledge. For example, due to a bizarre reaction to a whooping cough vaccination, Mike lost all the hair on his body and it never grew back. He not only wore a wig, but fake eyebrows, too.

And, perhaps naturally enough, his career did have its ups and downs. He was married four times. His lasting final marriage began when this confident, successful man was at low ebb:

They look pretty good in that picture.

Here they are less than two weeks ago. That's how it is. Mike Nichols had a fatal heart attack. While he looked a bit withered at 83, who knew he was going to suddenly die?

One minute you're smiling for the camera, and you've got the Tony and Grammy and Oscar and Emmy and all the famous people of the world know you. Next, they're attending a funeral.

He touched just about everyone in some way or another. One of his supposedly worst pictures, "Day of the Dolphin," had the touching sound of the dolphin, and the sad, pathetic cry of "Fa loves Pa." Love can come to most anyone and in the strangest ways, and there are sacrifices.

Another odd thing he did was take the story of Morecambe and Wise to Broadway, where, of course, nobody knew who the fuck that British comedy team were. Faintly disguised, "The Play Wot I Wrote" had brilliant touches from the veteran director, a great gimmick (a different guest cameo every night) and a very poignant ending for the two enduring comedians who shared a loving bond. The literal fade out was probably the vision of director Nichols, more than the author or the scenic designer.

Lots of comedies and dramas. A bald guy who confidently lived the good life with his wig and fake eyebrows. A man who smiled for the camera as if he had all the time in the world.

So it is, that every day we are given odd bits and pieces to help us along with our lives, even as others lose theirs.