John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937), known as Jack Nicholson, is an iconic Academy Award winning American method actor internationally reknowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award 12 times and won three. He is tied with Walter Brennan for most wins by a male actor, and second to Katharine Hepburn for most acting wins overall (four). He is also one of only two actors nominated for an Academy Award for acting (either lead or supporting) in every decade since the 1960s; the other is Sir Michael Caine. He has won seven Golden Globe Awards, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001. In 1994, he became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. He is best known for his films Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, As Good as It Gets, Tim Burton's Batman, and Martin Scorsese's The Departed.
Nicholson was born at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune City, New Jersey to a showgirl, June Frances Nicholson (stage name June Nilson). June had married Italian American showman Donald Furcillo (stage name Donald Rose) six months earlier in Elkton, Maryland, on October 16, 1936.Elkton was a town known for its "quickie" marriages. Furcillo however, was already married, and, although he offered to take care of the child, June's mother Ethel insisted that she bring up the baby, partly so that June could pursue her dancing career. Although Donald Furcillo claimed to be Nicholson's father and to have committed bigamy by marrying June, biographer Patrick McGilligan, who wrote Jack's Life (published in December 1995) asserted that Eddie King, June's manager, may be the father and other sources have suggested that June Nicholson was unsure of who the father was. Nicholson has chosen not to have a DNA test or to pursue the matter.
Nicholson was brought up believing his grandparents John J. Nicholson (a department store window dresser in Asbury Park, New Jersey) and Ethel May Rhoads (a hairdresser, beautician and amateur artist in Neptune, New Jersey) were his parents. Nicholson only discovered that his parents were actually his grandparents and his sister was in fact his mother in 1974 after being informed by a Time Magazine journalist who was doing a feature on him. By this time, both his mother and grandmother had died (in 1963 and 1970, respectively). Nicholson has stated he does not know who his father is, saying "Only Ethel and June knew and they never told anybody".
Nicholson was raised in his mother's Catholic religion. Nick, as he was known to his high school friends, attended high school at nearby Manasquan High School where he was voted "class clown" by the Class of 1954. A theatre and a drama award at the school are named in his honor.In 2004, Nicholson attended his 50 year high school reunion, much to the surprise and delight of his fellow classmates.
In his adult personal life, Nicholson has been notorious for his inability to "settle down", with a place on Maxim's "Top 10 Living Legends of Sex" with an alleged 2,000 women who he has slept with. He has five children by four different women; he was married once.
- Jennifer Nicholson (b. 1963) with former wife Sandra Knight (married June 17, 1962 - August 8, 1968)
- Caleb Goddard (b. 1970) with Susan Anspach, his Five Easy Pieces co-star
- Honey Hollman (b. 1981) with Danish model Winnie Hollman
- Lorraine Nicholson (b. 1990) and Raymond Nicholson (b. 1992) with Rebecca Broussard.
He has been romantically linked to numerous actresses and models for decades. Nicholson's longest relationship was for 17 years to actress Anjelica Huston, the daughter of film director John Huston. However, the relationship ended when the news reported that Rebecca Broussard had become pregnant with his child.
He is also a close friend of film director Roman Polanski, whom he has supported through many personal crises including the death of his wife, Sharon Tate, at the hands of the Manson Family. He also supported Polanski through his conviction for statutory rape, a crime which took place on the Nicholson estate on Mulholland Drive.
Nicholson lived next door to Marlon Brando for a number of years on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Hills. Warren Beatty also lived nearby, earning the road the nickname "Bad Boy Drive". After Brando's death in 2004, Nicholson purchased his neighbor's bungalow for $6.1 million, with the purpose of having it demolished. Nicholson stated that it was done out of respect to Brando's legacy, as the house had become derelict.
Although he was brought up as a Roman Catholic, Nicholson told Vanity Fair in 1992 that he does not for now believe in God. Although Nicholson is personally against abortion, he is pro-choice.[16] He is a supporter of the Democratic Party and has donated to many of its campaigns.
He is a fan of big-market teams like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Lakers. His attendance at Lakers games is almost legendary, as he has been spotted sitting courtside for the past 25 years at both The Forum and the Staples Center. In a few instances, Nicholson has engaged in arguments with game officials and opposing players, and has even walked onto the court. Nicholson argued with officials so much during a 2001 Lakers playoff game that he was assessed a technical foul. His ardent refusal to miss a Lakers home game means that studios must schedule filming around the Lakers home schedule.
Unlike actors who turn down roles because they fear that the films will perform poorly, Nicholson is known for turning down roles in films because he thinks that they may be too much of a success.
