 At one point in the 1980s, Nichols—who was prone to bouts of depression—reported that he had considered suicide, a feeling apparently brought on by a psychotic episode he experienced after taking the drug Halcion.In the 1990s, Nichols directed several more successful, well-received films including "Postcards from the Edge" (1990) starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine; "Primary Colors" (1998) starring John Travolta and Emma Thompson; and "The Birdcage" (1996), an American remake of the 1978 French film "La Cage aux Folles" starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest.Both "The Birdcage" and "Primary Colors" were written by Elaine May, Nichols' comedy partner earlier in his career.