Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jack Nicholson

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jack Nicholson made an impact.

Jack Nicholson is a highly acclaimed American retired actor and filmmaker, considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. His illustrious five-decade career earned him numerous awards, including three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Film Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was also honored with the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center Honor. Nicholson is known for often portraying rebellious characters who challenge social norms in his films.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1950: Visited sister and worked for Hanna and Barbera

In 1950, at age 13, Jack Nicholson visited his sister in California and took a job as an office worker for animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.

May 5, 1955: First Day as Working Actor

May 5, 1955, marked Jack Nicholson's first day as a working actor, on Tales of Wells Fargo.

1958: Film Debut in The Cry Baby Killer

In 1958, Jack Nicholson made his film debut in the low-budget teen drama, "The Cry Baby Killer".

1960: Starred in The Wild Ride

In 1960, Jack Nicholson starred as a rebellious dirt-track race driver in the film "The Wild Ride".

1967: Wrote The Trip

In 1967, Jack Nicholson wrote the screenplay for the counterculture film The Trip.

1969: Breakthrough Role in Easy Rider

In 1969, Jack Nicholson had his breakthrough role in Easy Rider, playing alcoholic lawyer George Hanson, which earned him his first Oscar nomination.

1969: Nominated for Oscar for Easy Rider

In 1969, Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Easy Rider.

1970: Appeared in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

In 1970, Jack Nicholson appeared in the film adaptation of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", though much of his performance was cut.

1970: Starred in Five Easy Pieces

In 1970, Jack Nicholson starred in "Five Easy Pieces" alongside Karen Black, receiving an Academy Award nomination for his performance.

1970: Nominated for Oscar for Five Easy Pieces

In 1970, Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Five Easy Pieces.

1971: Directed Drive, He Said

In 1971, Jack Nicholson directed the film Drive, He Said.

1971: Starred in Carnal Knowledge

In 1971, Jack Nicholson starred in "Carnal Knowledge", receiving a Golden Globe nomination.

1973: Starred in The Last Detail

In 1973, Jack Nicholson starred in "The Last Detail", winning Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival and receiving Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

1974: Starred in Chinatown

In 1974, Jack Nicholson starred in Roman Polanski's noir thriller "Chinatown", receiving an Academy Award nomination for his role as Jake Gittes.

1974: Nominated for Oscar for The Last Detail and Chinatown

In 1974, Jack Nicholson was nominated for Oscars for his roles in both The Last Detail and Chinatown.

1975: Starred in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

In 1975, Jack Nicholson starred as Randle P. McMurphy in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", a role for which he later won his first Academy Award for Best Actor. His performance was praised for its balance of humor and genuine concern for his fellow patients.

1975: Starred in "The Passenger"

In 1975, Jack Nicholson starred in Michelangelo Antonioni's "The Passenger", playing a journalist who assumes a dead man's identity, only to find himself caught in a dangerous situation. Nicholson was so impressed with the film that he bought the world rights.

1975: Won Academy Award for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

In 1975, Jack Nicholson won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".

1976: Starred in "The Missouri Breaks"

In 1976, Jack Nicholson took on a less sympathetic role in Arthur Penn's western "The Missouri Breaks", primarily to work with Marlon Brando, whom he greatly admired.

1978: Directed Goin' South

In 1978, Jack Nicholson directed the film Goin' South.

1980: Starred in "The Shining"

In 1980, Jack Nicholson starred as Jack Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining". Nicholson drew upon his own experiences as a writer for the role and improvised the famous "Here's Johnny!" line. The filming process was intense, with many scenes requiring numerous takes due to Kubrick's perfectionism.

1981: Starred in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Reds"

In 1981, Jack Nicholson starred in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Reds", where he portrayed writer Eugene O'Neill.

1981: Starred in Reds

In 1981, Jack Nicholson starred in the film Reds, comparing himself to playwright Eugene O'Neill.

1981: Nominated for Oscar for Reds

In 1981, Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Reds.

1982: Starred in "The Border"

In 1982, Jack Nicholson starred in "The Border" as an immigration enforcement agent. Director Tony Richardson encouraged Nicholson to give a less expressive performance than in his earlier roles.

1983: Won Oscar for "Terms of Endearment"

In 1983, Jack Nicholson won his second Oscar, an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove in "Terms of Endearment". His scenes with Shirley MacLaine were particularly praised for their buoyant edge.

1983: Won Academy Award for Terms of Endearment

In 1983, Jack Nicholson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "Terms of Endearment".

1985: Starred in "Prizzi's Honor"

In 1985, Jack Nicholson starred in "Prizzi's Honor", directed by John Huston, who praised Nicholson's ability to illuminate the book.

1985: Nominated for Oscar for Prizzi's Honor

In 1985, Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Prizzi's Honor.

1986: Starred in "Heartburn"

In 1986, Jack Nicholson starred in "Heartburn", adding to his prolific work in the 1980s.

1987: Starred in "The Witches of Eastwick", "Broadcast News", and "Ironweed"

In 1987, Jack Nicholson starred in "The Witches of Eastwick", "Broadcast News", and "Ironweed", receiving three Oscar nominations for his work.

1987: Nominated for Oscar for Ironweed

In 1987, Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Ironweed.

1989: Played The Joker in "Batman"

In 1989, Jack Nicholson played the Joker in the film "Batman", a role he considered a piece of pop art, and earned a significant portion of the box office gross.

1989: Starred in Batman

In 1989, Jack Nicholson starred in the film Batman.

1990: Directed The Two Jakes

In 1990, Jack Nicholson directed the film The Two Jakes.

1992: Nominated for Academy Award for "A Few Good Men"

In 1992, Jack Nicholson received another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "A Few Good Men", where he played Col. Nathan R. Jessup. His performance was described as "spellbinding".

1992: Starred in "Man Trouble" and "Hoffa"

In 1992, Jack Nicholson starred in "Man Trouble" and "Hoffa". He received a Razzie nomination for "Man Trouble", but also earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in "Hoffa".

1992: Nominated for Oscar for A Few Good Men

In 1992, Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role in A Few Good Men.

1996: Starred in "Mars Attacks!"

In 1996, Jack Nicholson collaborated with Tim Burton again on "Mars Attacks!", playing two characters.

1997: Won Oscar for "As Good as It Gets"

In 1997, Jack Nicholson won his third Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "As Good as It Gets", directed by James L. Brooks. He played Melvin Udall, a novelist with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

1997: Won Academy Award for As Good as It Gets

In 1997, Jack Nicholson won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in "As Good as It Gets".

2001: Received Stanislavsky Award and Starred in "The Pledge"

In 2001, Jack Nicholson received the Stanislavsky Award at the Moscow International Film Festival. He also starred in "The Pledge" as a retired police detective.

2002: Starred in "About Schmidt"

In 2002, Jack Nicholson starred in "About Schmidt", earning nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.

2002: Nominated for Oscar for About Schmidt

In 2002, Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role in About Schmidt.

2003: Starred in "Anger Management"

In 2003, Jack Nicholson starred in "Anger Management" as an aggressive therapist.

2003: Starred in "Something's Gotta Give"

In 2003, Jack Nicholson starred in "Something's Gotta Give", earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

2006: Starred in "The Departed"

In 2006, Jack Nicholson starred in Martin Scorsese's "The Departed", earning critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination.

2007: Starred in "The Bucket List"

In 2007, Jack Nicholson co-starred in "The Bucket List", researching his role by visiting cancer patients in a Los Angeles hospital.

2010: Starred in "How Do You Know"

In 2010, Jack Nicholson starred in "How Do You Know", which was his last film role as of 2023.

2017: Toni Erdmann Remake Abandoned

In 2017, Jack Nicholson was slated to star in an English-language remake of "Toni Erdmann" opposite Kristen Wiig, but the project was later abandoned.