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, now-retired American actor and filmmaker, celebrated as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He is known for portraying rebellious characters who challenge societal norms. His illustrious five-decade career is marked by numerous prestigious awards, including three Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award, solidifying his status as a legendary figure in the film industry.
1950: First visit to California, job offer as animator
In 1950, at age 13, Jack Nicholson first came to California to visit his sister and took a job as an office worker for animation directors William Hanna and Joseph Barbera at the MGM cartoon studio. They offered him an entry-level job as an animator, but he declined.
May 5, 1955: First day as a working actor
On May 5, 1955, Jack Nicholson had his first day as a working actor on "Tales of Wells Fargo", which he considered lucky because 5 was Joe DiMaggio's jersey number.
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", playing the title role.
1960: Starred in The Wild Ride
In 1960, Jack Nicholson starred in the film "The Wild Ride" as a rebellious dirt-track race driver.
1967: Screenplay for The Trip
In 1967, Jack Nicholson gained his first real taste of writing success with the screenplay for the counterculture film "The Trip", directed by Roger Corman.
1969: Big break in Easy Rider
In 1969, Jack Nicholson got his big acting break when he was cast in "Easy Rider", playing alcoholic lawyer George Hanson, for which he received his first Oscar nomination.
1969: Oscar Nomination for Easy Rider
In 1969, Jack Nicholson received an Oscar nomination for his role in "Easy Rider".
1970: Appearance 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", although most of his performance was cut.
1970: Oscar Nomination for Five Easy Pieces
In 1970, Jack Nicholson received an Oscar nomination for his role in "Five Easy Pieces".
1970: Starred in Five Easy Pieces
In 1970, Jack Nicholson starred in "Five Easy Pieces" alongside Karen Black, a role that became defining for his persona. Both Nicholson and Black were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances.
1971: Notable role in Carnal Knowledge
In 1971, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "Carnal Knowledge".
1973: Starred in The Last Detail
In 1973, Jack Nicholson starred in Hal Ashby's "The Last Detail", winning Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival and receiving Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
1974: Oscar Nominations for The Last Detail and Chinatown
In 1974, Jack Nicholson received Oscar nominations for his roles in "The Last Detail" and "Chinatown".
1974: Starred in Chinatown
In 1974, Jack Nicholson starred in Roman Polanski's noir thriller "Chinatown", receiving another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
1975: Starring 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 film adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel, directed by Miloš Forman. He played an anti-authoritarian patient, inspiring other patients. The film received nine Academy Award nominations and won five, including Nicholson's first for Best Actor.
1975: Starring in "The Passenger"
In 1975, Jack Nicholson starred in Michelangelo Antonioni's "The Passenger" alongside Maria Schneider. He played journalist David Locke, who assumes a new identity in North Africa. The film, shot in Algeria, Spain, Germany, and England, received good reviews and revived Antonioni's reputation.
1975: Academy Award for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
In 1975, Jack Nicholson won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Randle McMurphy in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
1976: Role in "The Missouri Breaks"
In 1976, Jack Nicholson took a less sympathetic role in Arthur Penn's western "The Missouri Breaks" specifically to work with Marlon Brando, whom he greatly admired and considered an influence.
1978: Nicholson directed Goin' South
In 1978, Jack Nicholson directed the film "Goin' South".
1980: Notable role in The Shining
In 1980, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "The Shining".
1981: Oscar Nomination for Reds
In 1981, Jack Nicholson received an Oscar nomination for his role in "Reds".
1981: Starring in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Reds"
In 1981, Jack Nicholson starred in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Reds", where he portrayed the writer Eugene O'Neill with quiet intensity, garnering an Oscar nomination.
1982: Starring in "The Border"
In 1982, Jack Nicholson starred as an immigration enforcement agent in "The Border", directed by Tony Richardson. Richardson wanted Nicholson to portray his role with less expression and wear reflecting sunglasses.
1983: Academy Award for "Terms of Endearment"
In 1983, Jack Nicholson won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove in "Terms of Endearment", directed by James L. Brooks. Nicholson and Shirley MacLaine constantly tested and made adjustments during their scenes, contributing to the film's "buoyant edge."
1985: Oscar Nomination for Prizzi's Honor
In 1985, Jack Nicholson received an Oscar nomination for his role in "Prizzi's Honor".
1985: Starring in "Prizzi's Honor"
In 1985, Jack Nicholson starred in "Prizzi's Honor", directed by John Huston, which earned him another Oscar nomination.
1986: Notable role in Heartburn
In 1986, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "Heartburn".
1987: Notable role in Broadcast News
In 1987, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "Broadcast News".
1987: Oscar Nomination for Ironweed
In 1987, Jack Nicholson received an Oscar nomination for his role in "Ironweed".
1987: Starring in "The Witches of Eastwick", "Broadcast News", and "Ironweed"
In 1987, Jack Nicholson starred in "The Witches of Eastwick", "Broadcast News", and "Ironweed". His role in "Ironweed" earned him another Oscar nomination.
1989: Notable role in Batman
In 1989, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "Batman".
1989: Playing the Joker in "Batman"
In 1989, Jack Nicholson played the Joker in the "Batman" movie. The film was an international success, earning him an estimated $60 million to $90 million.
1990: Nicholson directed The Two Jakes
In 1990, Jack Nicholson directed the film "The Two Jakes".
1992: Notable role in Hoffa
In 1992, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "Hoffa".
1992: Oscar Nomination for A Few Good Men
In 1992, Jack Nicholson received an Oscar nomination for his role in "A Few Good Men".
1992: Role in "A Few Good Men"
In 1992, Jack Nicholson received another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Col. Nathan R. Jessup in "A Few Good Men", portraying the "essence of the quintessential military mindset."
1992: Razzie Nominations for "Man Trouble" and "Hoffa"
In 1992, Jack Nicholson was nominated for Razzie Awards as worst actor for "Man Trouble" and "Hoffa". However, his performance in "Hoffa" also earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
1996: Collaboration on "Mars Attacks!"
In 1996, Jack Nicholson collaborated with Tim Burton on "Mars Attacks!", playing two characters: President James Dale and Art Land.
1996: Notable role in Mars Attacks!
In 1996, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "Mars Attacks!".
1997: Academy Award for "As Good as It Gets"
In 1997, Jack Nicholson won his next Academy Award for Best Actor in the romantic comedy "As Good as It Gets", his third film directed by James L. Brooks. Nicholson played Melvin Udall, a "wickedly funny" novelist with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The film was a box-office success, grossing $314 million.
2001: Stanislavsky Award and Starring in "The Pledge"
In 2001, Jack Nicholson received the Stanislavsky Award at the 23rd Moscow International Film Festival. He also starred in "The Pledge", portraying retired police detective Jerry Black.
2002: Oscar Nomination for About Schmidt
In 2002, Jack Nicholson received an Oscar nomination for his role in "About Schmidt".
2002: Starring in "About Schmidt"
In 2002, Jack Nicholson starred in Alexander Payne's comedy-drama "About Schmidt", playing a retired actuary. His performance earned him nominations for multiple awards.
2003: Notable roles in Anger Management and Something's Gotta Give
In 2003, Jack Nicholson played notable roles in the films "Anger Management" and "Something's Gotta Give".
2003: Starring in "Anger Management"
In 2003, Jack Nicholson starred in "Anger Management", playing an aggressive therapist assigned to help an overly pacifist man.
2003: Starring in "Something's Gotta Give"
In 2003, Jack Nicholson starred in the romantic comedy "Something's Gotta Give", directed by Nancy Meyers, playing an aging playboy. His performance led to a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
2006: Presenting at the Academy Awards
In 2006, Jack Nicholson co-presented the Academy Award for Best Picture, marking one of his many appearances in that role.
2006: Notable role in The Departed
In 2006, Jack Nicholson played a notable role in the film "The Departed".
2006: Return to the Dark Side in "The Departed"
In late 2006, Jack Nicholson marked his return to the dark side in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning film "The Departed", playing Frank Costello, a Boston Irish Mob boss. The role earned him critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination.
2007: Presenting at the Academy Awards
In 2007, Jack Nicholson co-presented the Academy Award for Best Picture, marking one of his many appearances in that role.
2007: Co-starring in "The Bucket List"
In 2007, Jack Nicholson co-starred with Morgan Freeman in Rob Reiner's "The Bucket List", portraying dying men fulfilling their goals. He researched the role by visiting a Los Angeles hospital to observe cancer patients.
2010: Nicholson retired from acting after starring in How Do You Know
In 2010, Jack Nicholson retired from acting after starring in the film "How Do You Know".
2010: Starring in "How Do You Know"
In 2010, Jack Nicholson reunited with James L. Brooks for a supporting role in the film "How Do You Know" starring Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, and Owen Wilson. The film was a financial and critical failure.
September 2013: Vanity Fair Article
In September 2013, Jack Nicholson said in a Vanity Fair article that he did not consider himself retired but was less driven to work.
February 15, 2015: Appearance on SNL 40
On February 15, 2015, Jack Nicholson made a special appearance as a presenter on SNL 40, the 40th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live.
2017: Abandoned Toni Erdmann Remake
In 2017, Jack Nicholson was reported to be starring in an English-language remake of "Toni Erdmann" opposite Kristen Wiig, but the project was later abandoned.
October 2019: Declined Cameo in "Doctor Sleep"
In October 2019, with the release of "The Shining" sequel "Doctor Sleep", director Mike Flanagan revealed he approached Jack Nicholson for a cameo appearance, but Nicholson declined.
November 2, 2023: Lou Adler shares anecdote about Jack Nicholson's unofficial retirement
On November 2, 2023, record producer Lou Adler, a friend of Jack Nicholson, mentioned on Marc Maron's podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, that Nicholson unofficially retired from acting after 13 years since his last film, stating that Nicholson was content with a quiet life of reading and relaxation.
2023: "How Do You Know" Remains Last Film Role
As of 2023, "How Do You Know" remains Jack Nicholson's last film role, bringing his filmography to 80 films.
February 16, 2025: Jack Nicholson appears on SNL 50
On February 16, 2025, Jack Nicholson made a rare appearance on SNL 50, the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live, where he introduced Adam Sandler, who performed a tribute song to the show.
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