The Hollywood production community is mourning the loss of production designer and visual consultant David Nichols, who passed at the age of 78.

Nichols' career spanned over three decades, working on iconic films such as Rocky and Taxi Driver, before passing from unspecified causes, via Variety.

While no cause of death was specified, Nichols passed away in Taos, New Mexico on Wednesday.






R.I.P.: The Hollywood production community is mourning the loss of production designer and visual consultant David Nichols, who passed at the age of 78


Nichols started his career as an art director on a pair of films in 1970, The Student Nurses and one of Roger Corman's last few films, Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.

While he also served as an art director on the 1975 Merchant & Ivory film The Wild Party starring Raquel Welch, he transitioned into the role of a visual consultant.






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He served as a visual consultant on Martin Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha in 1972, which lead to him filling the same role on Scorsese classics Mean Streets in 1973 and Taxi Driver in 1976, along with the 1976 Best Picture winner Rocky.






Career: Nichols started his career as an art director on a pair of films in 1970, The Student Nurses and one of Roger Corman's last few films, Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It


He also had an uncredited acting role as a political rally attendee in Taxi Driver, before transitioning into another new role as production designer.

Nichols' first film as production designer was the 1981 sports comedy Long Shot starring Leif Garrett, which he followed up with director Wes Craven's 1982 horror classic Swamp Thing, based on Len Wein's comic. 

His other credits as a production designer include Heartbreakers, Hoosiers, The Serpent and the Rainbow and Great Balls of Fire throughout the 1980s.






New job: He also had an uncredited acting role as a political rally attendee in Taxi Driver, before transitioning into another new role as production designer


Nichols continued to work steadily through the 1990s, serving as a production designer on the WWII film A Midnight Clear and the comedy classic Groundhog Day.

He was also the production designer on Airheads starring Adam Sandler, Brendan Fraser and Steve Buscemi, the drama Mr. Holland's Opus and Buddy with Rene Russo.

His final two films were 1999's Three to Tango with Matthew Perry, Dylan McDermott and Neve Campbell and 2000's Gossip starring James Marsden, Lena Headey and 웹툰 Norman Reedus






>Steady work: Nichols continued to work steadily through the 1990s, serving as a production designer on the WWII film A Midnight Clear and the comedy classic Groundhog Da


>Nichols also worked in various capacities on a number of Broadway productions throughout his career as well

>Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a celebration of Nichols' life is said to be announced at a later date when pandemic conditions improve and shelter-in-place orders are lifted

>Fans are asked to donate in his name to animal support foundation, in lieu of sending flowers. 






>Broadway: Nichols also worked in various capacities on a number of Broadway productions throughout his career as wel




>Read more:

>David Nichols, Visual Consultant on ‘Rocky,' ‘Taxi Driver,' Dies at 78 - Variety