Mike Nichols’s 1986 heart attack was partially brought on by drug use, a new biography claims.
In “Mike Nichols: A Life,” author Mark Harris writes that in the mid-80s cocaine use was “ubiquitous” in the acclaimed director’s circles.
“Nichols had been using cocaine regularly for some time and had been known to use crack, too. He later said his drug use had contributed to his heart attack,” Harris writes in an excerpt published by New York Magazine.
After suffering a heart attack, “The Birdcage” director was prescribed Halcion for anxiety and difficulty sleeping, according to the book excerpt. Reported side effects of the benzodiazepine include paranoia and suicidal thoughts.
Harris writes that while Nichols was on the medication, the star became delusional and was convinced he was going broke, leading him to ask a wealthy friend to loan him $25 million. Eventually two pals, one of them being Carly Simon, persuaded the German-born Oscar winner to check himself into the psychiatric unit at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, according to the book excerpt.
There, he was allegedly weaned off the drug and his delusions and paranoia disappeared within weeks.
In 1988, Nichols married Diane Sawyer, his fourth wife.
The pair met when they were both waiting to board a flight from Paris to New York. Harris writes that Nichols approached the TV reporter and said, “You’re my hero,” to which she promptly replied, “And you’re mine.”
Nichols died two weeks after his 83rd birthday in 2014.
“Mike Nichols: A Life” will be available on February 2.