Nook NotesPick a film
Jack Nicholson

Actor

Jack Nicholson

Born April 22, 1937 in Manhattan, New York, USA68 films

John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is a retired American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for Academy Awards 12 times, winning Best Actor for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and for As Good as It Gets, and Best Supporting Actor for Terms of Endearment. He is tied with Walter Brennan for most acting wins by a male actor (three), and second to Katharine Hepburn for most acting wins overall (four).

Read more

He is also one of only two actors nominated for an Academy Award for acting (either lead or supporting) in every decade from the 1960s to 2000s (the other one being Michael Caine). He has won seven Golden Globe Awards, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001. In 1994, he became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. Notable films in which he has starred include, Easy Rider, Chinatown, The Shining, Reds, Batman, A Few Good Men, About Schmidt, Something's Gotta Give, and The Departed.

Start here

The best way into Jack Nicholson's work
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest posterFirst watchOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest19758.4as Randle Patrick McMurphyA petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Shining poster8.2The Shining1980The Departed poster8.2The Departed2006Chinatown poster7.9Chinatown1974Batman poster7.2Batman1989A Few Good Men poster7.6A Few Good Men1992As Good as It Gets poster7.4As Good as It Gets1997The Bucket List poster7.2The Bucket List2007Mars Attacks! poster6.4Mars Attacks!1996

Filmography

68 films as actor
  1. 2010How Do You KnowCharles
  2. 2010I'm Still HereJack Nicholson
  3. 2007The Bucket ListEdward Periman Cole
  4. 2006The DepartedCostello
  5. 2003Something's Gotta GiveHarry Sanborn
  6. 2003Anger ManagementDr. Buddy Rydell
  7. 2002About SchmidtWarren Schmidt
  8. 2001The PledgeJerry Black
  9. 1999Playboy: Playmate Pajama Party
  10. 1997As Good as It GetsMelvin Udall
  11. 1996The Evening StarGarrett Breedlove
  12. 1996Mars Attacks!President Dale / Art Land
  13. 1996Blood and WineAlex
  14. 1995The Crossing GuardFreddy Gale
  15. 1994WolfWill Randall
  16. 1992HoffaJames R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa
  17. 1992A Few Good MenCol. Nathan R. Jessep
  18. 1992Man TroubleHarry Bliss
  19. 1990The Two JakesJ.J. "Jake" Gittes
  20. 1989BatmanJoker / Jack Napier
  21. 1987IronweedFrancis Phelan
  22. 1987Broadcast NewsBill Rorich
  23. 1987Rabbit Ears - How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His HumpNarrator (voice)
  24. 1987The Witches of EastwickDaryl Van Horne
  25. 1987Rudyard Kipling's Just So StoriesNarrator (voice)
  26. 1986The Elephant's ChildNarrator (voice)
  27. 1986HeartburnMark
  28. 1985Prizzi's HonorCharley Partanna
  29. 1983Terms of EndearmentGarrett Breedlove
  30. 1982The BorderCharlie Smith
  31. 1981RedsEugene O'Neill
  32. 1981The Postman Always Rings TwiceFrank Chambers
  33. 1980The ShiningJack Torrance
  34. 1978Goin' SouthHenry Moon
  35. 1976The Last TycoonBrimmer
  36. 1976The Missouri BreaksTom Logan
  37. 1975One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestRandle Patrick McMurphy
  38. 1975The FortuneOscar 'Dix' Sullivan
  39. 1975TommyThe Specialist
  40. 1975The PassengerDavid Locke
  41. 1974ChinatownJ.J. 'Jake' Gittes
  42. 1973The Last DetailBilly L. 'Badass' Buddusky
  43. 1972The King of Marvin GardensDavid Staebler
  44. 1971A Safe PlaceMitch
  45. 1971Carnal KnowledgeJonathan
  46. 1971Drive, He SaidAnnoyed Bearded Guy
  47. 1970Five Easy PiecesRobert Eroica Dupea
  48. 1970On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverTad Pringle
  49. 1970Rebel RousersBunny
  50. 1969Easy RiderGeorge Hanson
  51. 1968Psych-OutStoney
  52. 1967The St. Valentine's Day MassacreGino, Hit Man (uncredited)
  53. 1967Hells Angels on WheelsPoet
  54. 1966Ride in the WhirlwindWes
  55. 1966The ShootingBilly Spear
  56. 1964Back Door to HellBurnett
  57. 1964Flight to FuryJay Wickham
  58. 1964Ensign PulverYeoman Dolan
  59. 1963The TerrorLt. Andre Duvalier
  60. 1963The RavenRexford Bedlo
  61. 1962The Broken LandWill
  62. 1962The Hour of St. FrancisJim Evans
  63. 1962Little AmyJefferson City Coach
  64. 1960Studs LoniganWeary Reilly
  65. 1960The Wild RideJohnny Varron
  66. 1960The Little Shop of HorrorsWilbur Force
  67. 1960Too Soon to LoveBuddy
  68. 1958Cry Baby KillerJimmy Wallace