Jack Nicholson

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

April 22, 1937 · Neptune, New Jersey, USA

Birth name

John Joseph Nicholson

“The less people know about me, the easier my job is.” Jack Nicholson is an American actor, director, and film producer. His ability to play a wide range of characters positioned him as one of Hollywood's biggest stars. He began working as an administrative assistant for the Metro Goldwyn Mayer cartoon studio, while he trained as an actor in a group called Players Ring Theater which allowed him to obtain roles in plays and television programs. In 1958, he made his film debut with a low-budget teen drama, The Cry Baby Killer, playing the title role. Throughout his career, he dared all kinds of genres and roles, and his versatility allowed him to perform comedy, thriller, western, romance, and horror. However, his face stood out for playing psychopaths: from the iconic Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980) who became a movie icon, to the Joker in Tim Burton's Batman (1989). One of his most important films was director Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974). Nicholson has been nominated for Oscars twelve times, winning three of them for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), As Good as It Gets (1997) and Terms of Endearment (1984). His charisma, trademark smile, and ability to bring a unique intensity to his characters have made him a leading figure in the industry.