History of Jack Nicholson in Timeline
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.
1909: Donald Rose Born
In 1909, Donald Rose, who married Jack Nicholson's mother, was born.
1918: June Frances Nicholson Born
In 1918, June Frances Nicholson, Jack Nicholson's mother, was born.
1936: Mother Married Donald Rose
In 1936, Jack Nicholson's mother, June Frances Nicholson, married Donald Rose.
April 22, 1937: Jack Nicholson Born
On April 22, 1937, John Joseph Nicholson, later known as Jack Nicholson, was born. He would become a celebrated actor and filmmaker.
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.
1954: Voted Class Clown
In 1954, Jack Nicholson was voted "Class Clown" by his graduating class at Manasquan High School.
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.
1957: Joined California Air National Guard
In 1957, Jack Nicholson joined the California Air National Guard.
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".
1961: Called Up for Extended Active Duty
During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, Jack Nicholson was called up for several months of extended active duty in the Air National Guard.
1962: Jack Nicholson marries Sandra Knight
In 1962, Jack Nicholson married Sandra Knight, his co-star in "The Terror."
1962: Discharged from Air National Guard
In 1962, Jack Nicholson was discharged from the Air National Guard at the end of his enlistment.
September 13, 1963: Jennifer Nicholson born
On September 13, 1963, Jack Nicholson's daughter Jennifer was born with Sandra Knight.
1963: Death of June Frances Nicholson
In 1963, June Frances Nicholson, Jack Nicholson's mother, passed away.
1966: Jack Nicholson and Sandra Knight separate
In 1966, Jack Nicholson and Sandra Knight separated.
1967: Wrote The Trip
In 1967, Jack Nicholson wrote the screenplay for the counterculture film The Trip.
1968: Jack Nicholson and Sandra Knight divorce
In 1968, Jack Nicholson and Sandra Knight divorced.
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.
September 26, 1970: Caleb Goddard born
On September 26, 1970, Susan Anspach's son Caleb was born. Although his legal father was Mark Goddard, Anspach contended that Nicholson was Caleb's biological father.
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: Nicholson becomes Lakers season ticket holder
In 1970, Jack Nicholson became a Los Angeles Lakers season ticket holder.
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.
1970: Death of Grandmother
In 1970, Jack Nicholson's grandmother passed away.
1971: Nicholson begins relationship with Michelle Phillips
In 1971, Jack Nicholson began a relationship with Michelle Phillips, the ex-wife of Dennis Hopper.
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.
1972: Nicholson supports McGovern
In 1972, Jack Nicholson supported George McGovern in the presidential election.
1972: Michelle Phillips has a miscarriage
In 1972, during Jack Nicholson's relationship with Michelle Phillips, she suffered a miscarriage.
1972: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture
Jack Nicholson presented the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1972, marking the first of eight times he would present the award.
1973: Nicholson begins relationship with Anjelica Huston
In 1973, Jack Nicholson began his longest relationship with Anjelica Huston.
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: Discovered True Parentage
In 1974, Jack Nicholson learned that his "sister," June, was actually his mother, and his other "sister," Lorraine, was his aunt.
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.
1977: Polanski Arrested at Nicholson's Home
In 1977, Roman Polanski was arrested at Jack Nicholson's home for the sexual assault of a minor.
1977: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture
Jack Nicholson presented the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1977, adding to his appearances at the prestigious awards show.
1978: Directed Goin' South
In 1978, Jack Nicholson directed the film Goin' South.
1978: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture
Jack Nicholson presented the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978, continuing his involvement with the Academy Awards.
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.
January 26, 1982: Honey Hollman born
On January 26, 1982, Winnie Hollman gave birth to Honey Hollman, whose biological father was later discovered in 1999 to be Lou Adler.
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".
1984: Nicholson denies paternity of Caleb Goddard
In 1984, Jack Nicholson stated that he was not convinced that Caleb Goddard was his biological son.
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.
1988: Nicholson supports Dukakis
In 1988, Jack Nicholson supported Michael Dukakis in the presidential election.
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.
April 16, 1990: Lorraine Nicholson born
On April 16, 1990, Jack Nicholson and Rebecca Broussard had a daughter named Lorraine.
1990: Directed The Two Jakes
In 1990, Jack Nicholson directed the film The Two Jakes.
1990: Nicholson and Huston relationship ends
In 1990, Jack Nicholson's relationship with Anjelica Huston ended amidst Rebecca Broussard's first pregnancy.
1990: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture
Jack Nicholson presented the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1990, a recurring role at the Academy Awards.
February 20, 1992: Raymond Nicholson born
On February 20, 1992, Jack Nicholson and Rebecca Broussard had a son named Raymond.
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.
1992: Nicholson discusses religion in Vanity Fair
In a 1992 Vanity Fair interview, Jack Nicholson said he no longer believes in God but envies those who have faith.
1993: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture
Jack Nicholson presented the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1993, showcasing his continued presence at the Academy Awards.
February 8, 1994: Nicholson allegedly assaults Robert Blank
On February 8, 1994, Jack Nicholson allegedly assaulted Robert Blank with a golf club after a traffic incident in North Hollywood.
August 15, 1994: Tessa Gourin born
On August 15, 1994, Jeannine Gourin reportedly gave birth to Jack Nicholson's daughter Tessa, whom Nicholson has never publicly acknowledged.
1995: Nicholson's art collection recognized
In 1995, artist Edward Ruscha commented that Jack Nicholson has "one of the best collections out here".
1996: Caleb Goddard claims Nicholson acknowledged him
In 1996, Caleb Goddard claimed that Jack Nicholson had privately recognized him as his son.
1996: Starred in "Mars Attacks!"
In 1996, Jack Nicholson collaborated with Tim Burton again on "Mars Attacks!", playing two characters.
1996: Lawsuit against Nicholson alleging assault
In 1996, Jack Nicholson faced a lawsuit from Catherine Sheehan alleging assault after she requested money for sex, which ended in a settlement and subsequent dismissal.
1997: Death of Donald Rose
In 1997, Donald Rose, who married Jack Nicholson's mother, passed away.
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".
1998: Nicholson publicly acknowledges Caleb Goddard
By 1998, Jack Nicholson publicly acknowledged Caleb Goddard as his son and stated that they had a good relationship.
1999: Lou Adler revealed as Honey Hollman's father
In 1999, it was discovered that Lou Adler is the biological father of Honey Hollman, though she maintains a relationship with Jack Nicholson.
2000: Nicholson and Boyle break up
In 2000, Jack Nicholson and Lara Flynn Boyle initially broke up.
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.
May 2003: Nicholson almost ejected from Lakers game
In May 2003, Jack Nicholson was almost ejected from a Lakers playoff game after yelling at a referee.
2003: Kingdom of Fear published
In 2003, Hunter S. Thompson's autobiography "Kingdom of Fear" was published, which describes Nicholson's friendship with Thompson.
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.
2004: Nicholson and Boyle split permanently
In 2004, Jack Nicholson and Lara Flynn Boyle split up permanently, after which Nicholson was linked to Kate Moss.
2004: Attended High School Reunion
In 2004, Jack Nicholson attended his 50-year high school reunion accompanied by his aunt Lorraine.
2004: Nicholson buys and demolishes Brando's bungalow
In 2004, after Marlon Brando's death, Jack Nicholson purchased his bungalow for $6.1 million with the purpose of demolishing it out of respect for Brando's legacy.
2005: Nicholson attends Hunter S. Thompson's memorial
In 2005, Jack Nicholson attended Hunter S. Thompson's private memorial service in Colorado, alongside Johnny Depp, John Cusack, and Sean Penn.
2006: Nicholson dates Paz de la Huerta
In 2006, Jack Nicholson dated actress Paz de la Huerta.
2006: Starred in "The Departed"
In 2006, Jack Nicholson starred in Martin Scorsese's "The Departed", earning critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination.
2006: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture
Jack Nicholson presented the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006, maintaining his tradition of presenting at the Academy Awards.
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.
2007: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture
Jack Nicholson presented the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2007, marking another appearance as a presenter at the Academy Awards.
May 2008: Nicholson to be inducted into California Hall of Fame
In May 2008, it was announced that Jack Nicholson would be inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
December 15, 2008: Nicholson inducted into California Hall of Fame
On December 15, 2008, Jack Nicholson was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
2008: Nicholson supports Hillary Clinton
In 2008, Jack Nicholson supported Hillary Clinton in the presidential election.
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.
2010: Nicholson inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame
In 2010, Jack Nicholson was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
2011: Nicholson receives honorary degree from Brown University
In 2011, Jack Nicholson received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University.
September 2013: Comments on retirement in Vanity Fair article
In September 2013, Jack Nicholson stated in a Vanity Fair article that he didn't consider himself retired but was less driven to work.
February 15, 2015: Appeared 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.
June 3, 2016: Interviewed about Muhammad Ali on HBO
On June 3, 2016, after the death of Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicholson appeared on HBO's "The Fight Game" for an exclusive interview about his friendship with Ali.
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.
2018: Declined appearance in Ready Player One
Jack Nicholson was approached to appear in Steven Spielberg's science-fiction film "Ready Player One" in 2018, but he declined.
October 2019: Declined Cameo in Doctor Sleep
In October 2019, director Mike Flanagan revealed that Jack Nicholson declined a cameo appearance in "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to "The Shining".
January 2020: Nicholson expresses grief over Kobe Bryant's death
In January 2020, after the death of Kobe Bryant, Jack Nicholson gave a rare interview expressing his grief.
2020: Nicholson supports Bernie Sanders
In 2020, Jack Nicholson supported Bernie Sanders in the presidential election.
2021: Nicholson withdraws from public appearances
By 2021, Jack Nicholson had withdrawn from regular attendance at Lakers games and public appearances.
November 2, 2023: Lou Adler discusses Nicholson's unofficial retirement
On November 2, 2023, record producer Lou Adler discussed Jack Nicholson's unofficial retirement on Marc Maron's podcast, saying Nicholson enjoys a quiet life of reading and relaxation.
2023: Filmography reaches 80 films
As of 2023, Jack Nicholson's filmography includes 80 films, with "How Do You Know" remaining his last film role.
2023: Nicholson attends Lakers playoff game
In 2023, Jack Nicholson attended a Lakers playoff game, marking his first appearance at a Lakers game in nearly two years.
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.
