Nicholson, Jack, 1937–, American film actor, b. Neptune, N.J. After appearing in a series of low-budget movies for some 10 years, he scored his first success with Easy Rider (1969). One of Hollywood's most accomplished actors, adept at both drama and comedy and known for his versatility, charm, and debonair rebelliousness, Nicholson has won Academy Awards for his work in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Terms of Endearment (1983), and As Good as It Gets (1997). His other films include Five Easy Pieces (1970), Chinatown (1974), The Shining (1980), Prizzi's Honor (1985), Ironweed (1987), Batman (1989), A Few Good Men (1992), Hoffa (1992), and About Schmidt (2002). Nicholson has also directed several films, including The Two Jakes (1990), a sequel to Chinatown, in which he also starred.

Bibliography

See P. McGilligan, Jack's Life (1994).

Nicholson, Jack

(born April 22, 1937, Neptune, N.J., U.S.) U.S. film actor. He acted in low-budget movies before earning acclaim for his performance as an alcoholic lawyer in Easy Rider (1969). He followed that success with such diverse roles as a loner alienated from his family and friends in Five Easy Pieces (1970), a chauvinist in Carnal Knowledge (1971), a detective in Chinatown (1974), and a patient in a mental hospital in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975, Academy Award). Nicholson's later movies include the horror film The Shining (1980), Terms of Endearment (1983, Academy Award), the biographical Hoffa (1992), As Good As It Gets (1997, Academy Award), About Schmidt (2002), and The Departed (2006). Noted for his devilish grin and his slow speaking style, he has attained iconic status as one of the most popular and admired stars of his time.

Nicholson, Jack (1937– ) film actor; born in Neptune, N.J. At age 17 he began as an office boy at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and joined a theater group; after a few stage and television roles, he made his first film, a Roger Corman cheapie, The Cry Baby Killer (1958). After years of producing, writing, and acting in little-regarded movies, he became an instant success in Easy Rider (1969). Thereafter he made a career out of playing explosive nonconformists who combine mordant humor with menacing charisma. He won Oscars for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Terms of Endearment (1983). His efforts at directing feature films were not so well received, but his presence in many films such as Batman (1989) guarantees excitement.