Elaine May (born April 21, 1932) is an American screenwriter, film director, actress, and comedian. She made her initial impact in the 1950s from her
improvisational comedy routines with
Mike Nichols, performing as
Nichols and May. After her duo with Nichols ended, May subsequently developed a career as a director and screenwriter. She has been twice nominated for an
Academy Award, for
Heaven Can Wait (1978) and the Nichols-directed
Primary Colors (1998), but remains best known perhaps for her 1971 black comedy
A New Leaf, in which she also starred. In 1996, she reunited with Nichols to write the screenplay for
The Birdcage, directed by Nichols.