Jack Nicholson is one of the greatest and most charismatic actors of all time. Earlier this week, he celebrated his 88th birthday. His career began in 1955 during the last phases of the industry’s Golden Era and culminated in 2010. He can still be spotted around LA and supporting his favorite team, the Los Angeles Lakers, courtside at their games. During his career, he has won three Oscars for Best Actor, three British Academy Film Awards, six Golden Globe Awards and a Grammy. His starring film roles include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Last Detail, Chinatown, A Few Good Men, Batman, The Departed and As Good as It Gets, to name a few. Films he has starred in have earned a combined $2.3B+ worldwide. Even with all of his success, Nicholson remains humble. Several years ago he was quoted as saying, “With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and seventy.”
Saul Zaentz, Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher and Michael Douglas posing with their Oscars at the 1976 Academy Awards on March 30, 1976. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, the LA Times and UCLA.
Before he hit the big time or even the small screen, Nicholson served in the California Air National Guard. He joined in 1957 and attended Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He then did weekend drills with his two-week annual training at the Van Nuys Airport. He served as a firefighter on base at a unit and did time on active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. Nicholson finished his tour in 1962. While on his way up in Hollywood and in service, he looked to the greats for inspiration:
“There’s no one before or since like Marlon Brando. The gift was enormous and flawless, like [Pablo Picasso]. Brando was a genius who was the beginning and end of his own revolution. You didn’t rush him. He had a tremendous gift just in his stillness. I was in high school when I saw The Wild One (1953). He changed my life forever… a monumental artist. There was no way to follow in his footsteps. He was just too large and just too far out of sight. He truly shook the world, and his influence will be there long into the future.”
During his reserve duties, Nicholson played in The Cry Baby Killer, The Little Shop of Horrors and The Broken Land in film and in the Tales of Wells Fargo, Sea Hunt and Bronco. Nicholson appeared in many top programs throughout the 60s, such as The Andy Griffith Show, Dr. Kildare and The Guns of Will Sonnett. His career took flight with Easy Rider to close out the decade. In the 1960s, Nicholson reconnected with fellow California National Guard veteran Sandy Bresler, whom he met while in service. Bresler signed him as a client in 1961 while Bresler worked at the William Morris Agency. Bresler launched his own firm in the late 1960s and continued to represent Nicholson until Bresler’s passing last year. Their partnership lasted over 60 years. Nicholson stated to the crowd during his acceptance of the Cecil B. Demille Award at the Golden Globes in 1999 about Bresler, “There is only one agent who has stayed with me, guided me, tolerated my tantrums, my operatic behavior and so forth. His Name escapes me,” he jested and said, “Sandy Bresler, my pal and comrade in arms!”
In the 1970s, Nicholson’s career progressed and he met mogul Robert Evans. Evans was known for his work on The Godfather, Chinatown, Love Story and Rosemary’s Baby while at Paramount Pictures. Evans and Nicholson became good friends while working on Chinatown together in a relationship that lasted over 50 years. Evans consulted with Nicholson on different film projects through the years and partnered on the Chinatown sequel, The Two Jakes. In the 1980s, when Evans fell on hard times, Nicholson helped orchestrate the new owner selling it back to Evans so he could have his home. Evans paid for Nicholson to fly to meet with the new owner and Nicholson’s skills led to Evans getting the beloved Woodland estate back.
Nicholson’s love of the Lakers began in 1970 when he became a season ticket holder. He had courtside seats at The Forum and Staples Center. He also loves the New York Yankees and collects art from artists Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol and Jack Vettriano. He is a constant student of life and is quoted as saying, “The minute you’re not learning, I believe you’re dead.”
Through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Nicholson was cruising through life and the industry. He starred in many films to include Terms of Endearment, Ironweed, Hoffa, Mars Attacks!, About Schmidt, The Pledge, Anger Management, Something’s Gotta Give, The Bucket List and his most recent screen role in How Do You Know. He has been mostly retired since 2010, with a couple of appearances on Saturday Night Live as himself. Nicholson understands his life and where he is going as well. He stated about his mortality:
“One of the toughest parts of aging is losing your friends. At first, it starts quietly, then pretty soon it’s every month, and you can’t help but think, “When is that bell going to go off for me?” And on top of that, you feel this constant loss. At this time of life, you feel just a sword’s point from death. It’s frightening – who wants to face God and the clear white light? I know I definitely don’t. Yet.”
Nicholson was married to Sandra Knight and he spent 17 years partnered with Anjelica Houston, a member of Hollywood royalty. He has six children, two of whom, Lorraine and Ray, are actors like their father. Lorraine starred in Soul Surfer and Ray acted in Panic, Out of the Blue and Smile 2. Ray Nicholson continues to make a name for himself in the industry and, hopefully, will have a career like his dad’s.
Nicholson has left an indelible mark on the world of screen acting with many memorable characters that will stand the test of time. He has had high-level success, won many awards and portrayed real characters that come right off the screen. His films are known around the world and his film character one-liners serve as pop culture vernacular with people worldwide. We can all handle the truth of Nicholson. Long live King Jack! Here’s Johnny!