Jack Nicholson cannot help but steal a movie. His presence is simultaneously relatable, aspirational and challenging and his performances are almost always unique, emotional, and—in most cases—inimitable. Who but Nicholson could have played Randle “Mac” McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest? Who else could have so successfully seduced The Witches of Eastwick? He was perfection as the Joker in Batman. He simply is Col. Nathan Jessup in A Few Good Men. So many moments, characters, and movies through the years simply revolve around him. His career traces the modern evolution of the Hollywood era—making him a living legend with more than six decades of proof, and vivid memories that everyone still enjoys whenever he appears on screen.
WHY WE LOVE JACK NICHOLSON • He reshaped the mold of the leading man
EVERYONE’S FAVORITE ANTIHERO • NICHOLSON WAS FAR FROM AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS
HIS LEGACY • FILMMAKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN JACK NICHOLSON’S PASSION
THE LEGENDARY ROLES • NICHOLSON’S MOST ICONIC CHARACTERS, AND THE STORIES BEHIND THEM
GEORGE HANSON • Easy Rider, 1969
BOBBY EROICA DUPEA • Five Easy Pieces, 1970
JAKE GITTES • Chinatown, 1974
RANDLE McMURPHY • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975
JACK TORRANCE • The Shining, 1980
GARRETT BREEDLOVE • Terms of Endearment, 1983
THE JOKER • Batman, 1989
COL. NATHAN JESSUP • A Few Good Men, 1992
MELVIN UDALL • As Good as It Gets, 1997
Jack Nicholson
PHOTO CREDITS