Biography
Perhaps no other actor of his generation made more of a lasting impression than Jack Nicholson. Over the course of several decades, Nicholson delivered one sterling performance after another in films that have long been considered as being some of the greatest ever made. Though he got his start with low-budget king Roger Corman in the late-1950s, the actor eventually made his mark with a memorable supporting role in the iconic counterculture …
Jack Nicholson SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2010 | Co-starred with Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson in James L. Brooks' "How Do You Know" | |
2007 | Co-starred with Morgan Freeman as dying men who must fulfill their list of goals in Rob Reiner's "The Bucket List" | |
2006 | Portrayed an Irish gang boss in Martin Scorsese's "The Departed"; received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role | |
2003 | Co-starred with Diane Keaton in "Something's Gotta Give"; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor | |
2003 | Starred with Adam Sandler in the comedy "Anger Management"; he also contributed to the script | |
2002 | Portrayed a retired salesman in Alexander Payne's "About Schmidt"; received BAFTA, SAG and Oscar leading role nominations | |
2001 | Cast as a retired detective investigating a child's murder in "The Pledge"; directed by Sean Penn | |
1997 | Portrayed an obsessive-compulsive and homophopic writer in James L. Brooks' "As Good as It Gets"; received 11th Oscar nomination making him the most nominated male actor in the history of the award | |
1997 | Reunited with Rafelson for "Blood and Wine" | |
1996 | Had dual role of US President and a Las Vegas car dealership owner in Tim Burton's campy "Mars Attacks!" | |
1996 | Reprised his "Terms of Endearment" part in "Evening Star" | |
1994 | Reteamed with Mike Nichols to star opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in "Wolf" | |
1992 | Acted the role of Jimmy Hoffa in "Hoffa"; earned a Golden Globe nomination | |
1992 | Played a marine colonel in Rob Reiner's "A Few Good Men"; nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar | |
1990 | Directed the "Chinatown" sequel "The Two Jakes"; also reprised his role of Jake Gittes | |
1990 | Portrayed The Joker in Tim Burton's "Batman"; blockbuster merchandising deal earned him well in excess of $20 million | |
1985 | Formed T.E.N. Productions with Robert Towne and Robert Evans to make a sequel to "Chinatown" | |
1985 | Acted opposite longtime lover Anjelica Huston in her father John Huston's "Prizzi's Honor" | |
1983 | Earned second Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor) for his portrayal of retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove in James Brooks' "Terms of Endearment" | |
1981 | Played Eugene O'Neill in Warren Beatty's "Reds"; nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Award | |
1980 | Starred opposite Shelley Duvall in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" | |
1978 | Directed "Goin' South," which offered James Belushi and Mary Steenburgen in their debut roles | |
1975 | Solidified standing with Best Actor Oscar for Milos Forman's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" | |
1975 | Portrayed an alienated American journalist in his one Euro-pic, Michelangelo Antonioni's "The Passenger" | |
1974 | Achieved mainstream Hollywood success as Jake Gittes in Roman Polanski's noir classic "Chinatown"; received Best Actor Oscar nomination | |
1971 | Film directorial debut with "Drive, He Said" (also co-wrote and co-produced) | |
1971 | Acted in Mike Nichols' "Carnal Knowledge" | |
1970 | Solidified star status with leading role in "Five Easy Pieces"; produced and directed by Rafelson; earned first Best Actor Oscar nomination | |
1969 | Cast in a scene-stealing, star-making supporting role in Dennis Hopper's "Easy Rider"; earned first Oscar nomination as Best Supporting actor | |
1968 | Initial collaboration with director Bob Rafelson (co-writing and co-producing with him), "Head"; starring the musical group, The Monkees | |
1967 | Wrote the screenplay for Roger Corman's "The Trip" co-starring Peter Fonda | |
1966 | Co-produced and acted in Monte Hellman's "The Shooting" and "Ride the Whirlwind" (also scripted) | |
1963 | Screenwriting debut, "Thunder Island"; a low-budget political thriller | |
1958 | Screen acting debut in "Cry Baby Killer" | |
| Professional stage debut in Hollywood stage production of "Tea and Sympathy" | ||
| Began career in cartoon department at MGM under William Hanna | ||
| Moved to Los Angeles at age 17 | ||
Awards
2007 | MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in The Departed |
2007 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Departed |
2006 | BAFTA Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in The Departed |
2006 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in The Departed |
2006 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Departed |
2003 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in About Schmidt |
2003 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Something's Gotta Give |
2002 | BAFTA Award for Actor In a Leading Role in About Schmidt |
2002 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in About Schmidt |
2002 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in About Schmidt |
2002 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor in About Schmidt |
2002 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in About Schmidt |
1998 | Golden Globe Award for Cecil B. DeMille Award |
1998 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | National Board of Review Award for Best Actor in As Good As It Gets |
1997 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in As Good As It Gets |
1993 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in A Few Good Men |
1993 | MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in A Few Good Men |
1992 | Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in A Few Good Men |
1992 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in A Few Good Men |
1992 | National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor in A Few Good Men |
1992 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Hoffa |
1989 | BAFTA Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Batman |
1989 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Batman |
1987 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in Broadcast News |
1987 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Ironweed |
1987 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in Ironweed |
1987 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor in Ironweed |
1987 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Ironweed |
1987 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor in The Witches of Eastwick |
1987 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in The Witches of Eastwick |
1985 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Prizzi's Honor |
1985 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor in Prizzi's Honor |
1985 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor in Prizzi's Honor |
1985 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in Prizzi's Honor |
1985 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Prizzi's Honor |
1983 | Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor in Terms of Endearment |
1983 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in Terms of Endearment |
1982 | BAFTA Award for Supporting Actor in Reds |
1981 | Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Reds |
1981 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Reds |
1981 | National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor in Reds |
1981 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in Reds |
1976 | BAFTA Award for Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1975 | Academy Award for Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1975 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1975 | National Board of Review Award for Best Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1975 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1975 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1974 | Academy Award for Actor in Chinatown |
1974 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor in Chinatown |
1974 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in Chinatown |
1974 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Chinatown |
1974 | BAFTA Award for Actor in The Last Detail |
1974 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor in The Last Detail |
1974 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in The Last Detail |
1974 | Cannes Film Festival for Best Actor in The Last Detail |
1973 | Academy Award for Actor in The Last Detail |
1973 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Last Detail |
1971 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Carnal Knowledge |
1970 | Academy Award for Actor in Five Easy Pieces |
1970 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Five Easy Pieces |
1969 | Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Easy Rider |
1969 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Easy Rider |
1969 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor in Easy Rider |
1969 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in Easy Rider |
1969 | BAFTA Award for Supporting Actor in Easy Rider |