Jack Nicholson
Born John Joseph Nicholson Jr. on
1937
in Neptune City, NJ
Jack Nicholson is both a charmer and a cliche. Passionate about truth in his art and a mendacious hypocrite in real life. Wildly generous, yet appallingly parsimonious. A pothead and a fine art collector. A priapic satyr and a romantic fool. In 1954, he took his swaggering wit to Hollywood. He worked as a gofer in the MGM animation department, until — in a story that may be true, or may be a bit of mythology — he was "discovered" in an elevator by MGM producer Joe Pasternak. Nicholson threw himself into acting classes, local theater, a stint in the National Guard, some Beat/intellectual auto-didacting, bit parts in television, Reichian therapy, screenwriting, an early marriage, a lot of drugs and a lot of buddying up with other soon-to-be-famous actors, writers, directors and producers. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he kept feverishly busy with roles in B-horror films (learning from his early mentor Roger Corman the economy of budget and script). He also did Nouvelle Vague westerns, and recycled, "Wild One"-influenced biker flicks. "Easy Rider" was followed by "Five Easy Pieces," "Carnal Knowledge" and, of course, "Chinatown."
|
Related stars
|
|
Points of interest
Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Best Supporting Actor | Easy Rider | Nomination |
| 1970 | Best Actor | Five Easy Pieces | Nomination |
| 1973 | Best Actor | The Last Detail | Nomination |
| 1974 | Best Actor | Chinatown | Nomination |
| 1975 | Best Actor | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Win |
| 1981 | Best Supporting Actor | Reds | Nomination |
| 1983 | Best Supporting Actor | Terms of Endearment | Win |
| 1985 | Best Actor | Prizzi's Honor | Nomination |
| 1987 | Best Actor | Ironweed | Nomination |
| 1992 | Best Supporting Actor | A Few Good Men | Nomination |
| 1997 | Best Actor | As Good As It Gets | Win |
| 2002 | Best Actor | About Schmidt | Nomination |
Permalink
|
Delicious
|
Digg
|
Facebook
|
Twitter
|
Enjoy more stories like this for 
Share a thought about Jack Nicholson
Did you ever meet Jack Nicholson? Share your memory.
Which other stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame have connections to Jack Nicholson?
Are other places in the world important to Jack Nicholson?
Does Jack Nicholson deserve this star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?