Jack Nicholson

John Joseph Nicholson, born on April 22, 1937, in Neptune City, New Jersey, is celebrated as one of America's most iconic actors and filmmakers. With a career spanning over five decades, Nicholson has left an indelible mark on cinema, earning widespread acclaim and numerous awards for his performances.
Nicholson's talent and versatility have been recognized with three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Film Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He is particularly renowned for his ability to portray rebels and anti-establishment figures, bringing depth and complexity to his characters.


His Oscar-winning performances include "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975) and "As Good as It Gets" (1997) for Best Actor, and "Terms of Endearment" (1983) for Best Supporting Actor. Additionally, Nicholson has received Oscar nominations for his roles in a wide range of films, including "Easy Rider" (1969), "Chinatown" (1974), "The Shining" (1980), "A Few Good Men" (1992), and "About Schmidt" (2002).
Beyond his acting prowess, Nicholson has also ventured into directing, helming films such as "Drive, He Said" (1971), "Goin' South" (1978), and "The Two Jakes" (1990).
With his enduring legacy in Hollywood, Nicholson stands as one of only three male actors to win three Academy Awards and holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for a male actor, with a total of 12 nominations. His ability to captivate audiences across generations and genres solidifies his status as one of the greatest actors of all time.


John Joseph Nicholson was born on April 22, 1937, in Neptune City, New Jersey, to June Frances Nicholson and Donald Furcillo, although there has been speculation about his biological father. Raised by his grandparents under the impression that his mother was his sister, Nicholson only learned the truth about his parentage in 1974, when he was informed by Time magazine researchers.
Growing up in Neptune City and later Spring Lake, New Jersey, Nicholson attended Manasquan High School, where he gained a reputation as the "Class Clown" and developed a passion for theatre and drama. Despite his mischievous behavior, Nicholson left a lasting impact on his high school, with both a theatre and a drama award named in his honor. In 2004, he attended his 50-year high school reunion accompanied by his aunt Lorraine, who was revealed to be his biological mother.
Despite the revelation, Nicholson reflected on the experience as significant but not traumatizing, as he had already formed his psychological identity by that time. This revelation sheds light on the complex familial background that shaped the acclaimed actor's early life.


In 1957, Nicholson made the decision to join the California Air National Guard, a move he sometimes humorously referred to as an attempt to "dodge the draft" during the Korean War era. At that time, the Military Selective Service Act was still in effect, mandating that draftees serve up to two years of active duty. Following basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Nicholson served as a firefighter assigned to the unit based at the Van Nuys Airport. He participated in weekend drills and underwent two-week annual training sessions.
During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, Nicholson was called up for several months of extended active duty. He completed his enlistment and was discharged in 1962, marking the end of his military service. This brief period in the Air National Guard provided Nicholson with valuable experiences and insights that would later inform his acting career.


Nicholson's journey in California began in 1950 when he was just 13 years old. He visited his sister there and landed a job as an office worker at the MGM cartoon studio, working for animation directors William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Although they offered him a position as an animator, Nicholson declined, expressing his aspiration to pursue acting instead. His first day as a working actor was on May 5, 1955, which he considered lucky because it coincided with the jersey number of his boyhood idol, Joe DiMaggio, as he fondly recalled while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 56th Golden Globe Awards.


Nicholson underwent training as an actor with a group known as the Players Ring Theater. He began securing small parts in stage productions and television soap operas. His film debut came in the low-budget teen drama "The Cry Baby Killer" (1958), where he played the titular role. Over the following decade, Nicholson formed a close collaboration with producer Roger Corman, appearing in several of Corman's films. These included roles in "The Little Shop of Horrors," "The Raven," "The Terror," and "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre."


Nicholson also worked with director Monte Hellman on low-budget westerns, such as "Ride in the Whirlwind" and "The Shooting," which initially struggled to attract U.S. distributors but later gained cult status in the French art-house circuit and were eventually sold to television networks. Additionally, Nicholson made appearances in two episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" and starred as a rebellious dirt-track race driver in the 1960 film "The Wild Ride."
As his acting career faced challenges, Nicholson turned his attention to writing and directing. He found success with the screenplay for the 1967 counterculture film "The Trip," directed by Roger Corman and starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Although initially impressed by the script, Fonda was disappointed with the final film's editing, which he felt made it predictable. Nicholson also co-wrote, with Bob Rafelson, the film "Head," featuring The Monkees, and was involved in arranging the movie's soundtrack.

References

1.  Fear, David (April 22, 2021). "Jack Nicholson: 25 Essential Movies". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
2. ^ Ross, Graeme (April 20, 2017). "Jack Nicholson's twelve greatest performances". Independent. London. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
3. ^ Chilton, Charlotte (May 8, 2020). "Jack Nicholson's Life in Photos". Esquire. New York City. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
4. a b Katz, Ephraim. The Film Encyclopedia, HarperCollins (2012) pp. 1079–1080
5. ^ "Jack Nicholson Biography Film Actor (1937–)". Biography.com. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
6. a b Davies, Hunter (February 23, 1993). "INTERVIEW / Great film, Jack, now let's talk about you: Jack Nicholson". The Independent. London.
7. a b Marx, Arthur (Summer 1995). "On His Own Terms". Cigar Aficionado. Archived from the original on March 31, 2010.