---
name: "Jack Nicholson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jack-nicholson"
fi1m_id: "jack-nicholson"
imdb_id: "nm0000197"
tmdb_id: 514
wikidata_id: "Q39792"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "22 April 1937"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 23
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 21
updated: "2026-10-05T04:18:34.801139+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jack Nicholson

## Identity

Jack Nicholson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jack-nicholson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jack-nicholson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000197
- **TMDB ID:** 514
- **Wikidata ID:** Q39792
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Nicholson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39792, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000197/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/514

Actor. Born 22 April 1937 in Manhattan, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 22 April 1937, Manhattan, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1969–2010
- **Also known as:** John Joseph Nicholson, Jack Joseph Nicholson, Джон Джозеф Николсон
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 23: 21 acting, 2 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Danny DeVito](https://film.one/person/danny-devito.md), [James L. Brooks](https://film.one/person/james-l-brooks.md), [Diane Keaton](https://film.one/person/diane-keaton.md), [Jeff Daniels](https://film.one/person/jeff-daniels.md), [John Huston](https://film.one/person/john-huston.md), [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://film.one/person/michelle-pfeiffer.md), [Mike Nichols](https://film.one/person/mike-nichols.md), [Peter Guber](https://film.one/person/peter-guber.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 3 Oscars (3 won · 9 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 21 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 79 (2), 1970s 85 (4), 1980s 77 (8), 1990s 70 (4), 2000s 78 (4), 2010s 60 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 73 across 18 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 12 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 14 of 21 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 14, Comedy 10, Romance 7, Crime 4, Fantasy 3, Horror 3
- **Screen time:** 44 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,530m across 21 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Nicholson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39792, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000197/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/514

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Chinatown*](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md) (93), [*Five Easy Pieces*](https://film.one/film/five-easy-pieces.md) (88), [*About Schmidt*](https://film.one/film/about-schmidt.md) (77), [*As Good as It Gets*](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md) (77), [*Reds*](https://film.one/film/reds.md) (77), [*Easy Rider*](https://film.one/film/easy-rider.md) (76), [*Tommy*](https://film.one/film/tommy.md) (74)
- **Hulu:** [*Terms of Endearment*](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md) (81)
- **HBO Max:** [*Batman*](https://film.one/film/batman.md) (77)
- **Tubi:** [*The Witches of Eastwick*](https://film.one/film/the-witches-of-eastwick.md) (73)
- **Disney+:** [*Something's Gotta Give*](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md) (72)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Mars Attacks!*](https://film.one/film/mars-attacks.md) (66)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Jack Nicholson

> Jack Nicholson makes a character's vanity unusually enjoyable, then gives us reasons to distrust it. We rate him most highly in *Chinatown*, where the charm remains persuasive without disguising the detective's faults.

Jack Nicholson's slow, disreputable grin invites us to enjoy someone we might otherwise avoid. In Roman Polanski's *Chinatown* (1974), that invitation is especially persuasive: his Jake Gittes is intelligent, vain and funny, and not nearly as reliable as his confidence suggests. Nicholson lets us notice how pleased the detective is with himself without making him ridiculous. We rate him most highly here, where the charm works and there is still reason to question the man using it.

The early work for Roger Corman gave way to a breakthrough supporting part as George Hanson in *Easy Rider* (1969), then a run of leading roles in the 1970s. Rebellious characters suited him, including Randle Patrick McMurphy in *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975). His intensity made such men difficult to disregard. But *Chinatown* is our clearest example of how much he can do when he need not push so hard to hold our attention.

We laughed at Gittes's self-assurance, then felt uneasy about how readily we had taken it as proof that he knew what he was doing. Nicholson earns that discomfort by keeping the detective's fallibility visible, even while his charm makes us willing to follow him. The humour belongs to the character; it does not stop the investigation for a succession of jokes. That is why this performance rewards attention beyond the familiar pleasure of watching Nicholson be persuasive.

The larger performances remain part of the appeal, from Jack Torrance in *The Shining* (1980) to the Joker in *Batman* (1989). *As Good as It Gets* (1997) also makes use of his comic and romantic timing. There is a cost when his expansiveness overwhelms a film, though, and the overplaying in *The Departed* (2006) gives us less pleasure than the measured shifts in Gittes. His appearances became fewer after 2000, but the useful distinction is not simply between early and late Nicholson. If the more demonstrative performances have put you off, start with *Chinatown*.

## Biography

Jack Nicholson is an American actor. He first gained prominence with a supporting role in *Easy Rider* (1969).

Nicholson starred as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes in *Chinatown* (1974) and as Jack Torrance in *The Shining* (1980). Other notable roles include Randle Patrick McMurphy in *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975), the Joker in *Batman* (1989), and Melvin Udall in *As Good as It Gets* (1997). He received twelve Academy Award nominations for acting and won three times: Best Actor for *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* and *As Good as It Gets*, and Best Supporting Actor for *Terms of Endearment* (1983). He has also won seven Golden Globe Awards and received the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award in 1994 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001.

*Sources: imdb.com, www-britannica-com.translate.goog, wikiwand.com.*

## On Fi1m (23)

### Performed in (21) — the average rests on these

- *I'm Still Here* (2010), Fi1m 60, as Jack Nicholson — [page](https://film.one/film/im-still-here-2010.md)
- *The Departed* (2006), Fi1m 84, as Costello — [page](https://film.one/film/the-departed.md)
- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), Fi1m 72, as Harry Sanborn — [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *About Schmidt* (2002), Fi1m 77, as Warren Schmidt — [page](https://film.one/film/about-schmidt.md)
- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), Fi1m 77, as Melvin Udall — [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)
- *Mars Attacks!* (1996), Fi1m 66, as President Dale / Art Land — [page](https://film.one/film/mars-attacks.md)
- *Wolf* (1994), Fi1m 60, as Will Randall — [page](https://film.one/film/wolf.md)
- *A Few Good Men* (1992), Fi1m 79, as Col. Nathan R. Jessep — [page](https://film.one/film/a-few-good-men.md)
- *Batman* (1989), Fi1m 77, as Joker / Jack Napier — [page](https://film.one/film/batman.md)
- *Broadcast News* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Bill Rorich — [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)
- *The Witches of Eastwick* (1987), Fi1m 73, as Daryl Van Horne — [page](https://film.one/film/the-witches-of-eastwick.md)
- *Heartburn* (1986), Fi1m 55, as Mark — [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md)
- *Prizzi's Honor* (1985), Fi1m 82, as Charley Partanna — [page](https://film.one/film/prizzis-honor.md)
- *Terms of Endearment* (1983), Fi1m 81, as Garrett Breedlove — [page](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md)
- *Reds* (1981), Fi1m 77, as Eugene O'Neill — [page](https://film.one/film/reds.md)
- *The Shining* (1980), Fi1m 88, as Jack Torrance — [page](https://film.one/film/the-shining.md)
- *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975), Fi1m 86, as Randle Patrick McMurphy — [page](https://film.one/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest.md)
- *Tommy* (1975), Fi1m 74, as The Specialist — [page](https://film.one/film/tommy.md)
- *Chinatown* (1974), Fi1m 93, as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes — [page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md)
- *Five Easy Pieces* (1970), Fi1m 88, as Robert Eroica Dupea — [page](https://film.one/film/five-easy-pieces.md)
- *Easy Rider* (1969), Fi1m 76, as George Hanson — [page](https://film.one/film/easy-rider.md)

### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Into the Wild* (2007), Fi1m 78, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-wild.md)
- *Targets* (1968), Fi1m 82, as Lt. Andre Duvalier (archive footage) (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/targets.md)

## Complete filmography (92)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Films to Die For* (2025), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *How Do You Know* (2010), as Charles
- *I'm Still Here* (2010), as Jack Nicholson — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/im-still-here-2010.md)
- *The Bucket List* (2007), as Edward Periman Cole
- *Making of Chinatown* (2007), Actor
- *Into the Wild* (2007), Thanks — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-wild.md)
- *My Spy Family* (2007), series, Actor
- *The Departed* (2006), as Costello — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-departed.md)
- *Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild* (2004), Producer
- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), as Harry Sanborn — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *Anger Management* (2003), as Dr. Buddy Rydell
- *About Schmidt* (2002), as Warren Schmidt — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/about-schmidt.md)
- *The Pledge* (2001), as Jerry Black
- *Velocity* (1999), as Johnny Varron (young) (archive footage)
- *Playboy: Playmate Pajama Party* (1999), Actor
- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), as Melvin Udall — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)
- *Completely Cuckoo* (1997), Actor
- *The Evening Star* (1996), as Garrett Breedlove
- *Mars Attacks!* (1996), as President Dale / Art Land — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/mars-attacks.md)
- *Blood and Wine* (1996), as Alex
- *The Crossing Guard* (1995), as Freddy Gale
- *Wolf* (1994), as Will Randall — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/wolf.md)
- *Hoffa* (1992), as James R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa
- *A Few Good Men* (1992), as Col. Nathan R. Jessep — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/a-few-good-men.md)
- *Man Trouble* (1992), as Harry Bliss
- *The Two Jakes* (1990), as J.J. "Jake" Gittes · Director, Producer
- *Batman* (1989), as Joker / Jack Napier — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/batman.md)
- *On the tracks of a filmmaker* (1988), as Jack Nicholson
- *Ironweed* (1987), as Francis Phelan
- *Broadcast News* (1987), as Bill Rorich — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)
- *Creepy Classics* (1987), as Rexford Bedlo - (archive footage)
- *Rabbit Ears - How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump* (1987), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Witches of Eastwick* (1987), as Daryl Van Horne — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-witches-of-eastwick.md)
- *Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories* (1987), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Elephant's Child* (1986), as Narrator (voice)
- *Heartburn* (1986), as Mark — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/heartburn.md)
- *Prizzi's Honor* (1985), as Charley Partanna — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/prizzis-honor.md)
- *Terms of Endearment* (1983), as Garrett Breedlove — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md)
- *The Border* (1982), as Charlie Smith
- *Reds* (1981), as Eugene O'Neill — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/reds.md)
- *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1981), as Frank Chambers
- *The Shining* (1980), as Jack Torrance — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-shining.md)
- *Goin' South* (1978), as Henry Moon · Director
- *The Last Tycoon* (1976), as Brimmer
- *The Missouri Breaks* (1976), as Tom Logan
- *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975), as Randle Patrick McMurphy — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest.md)
- *The Fortune* (1975), as Oscar 'Dix' Sullivan
- *Tommy* (1975), as The Specialist — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/tommy.md)
- *The Passenger* (1975), as David Locke
- *Chinatown* (1974), as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md)
- *The Last Detail* (1973), as Billy L. 'Badass' Buddusky
- *The King of Marvin Gardens* (1972), as David Staebler
- *A Safe Place* (1971), as Mitch
- *Carnal Knowledge* (1971), as Jonathan
- *Drive, He Said* (1971), as Annoyed Bearded Guy · Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Walt Whitman: Poet for a New Age* (1971), as Narrator
- *Five Easy Pieces* (1970), as Robert Eroica Dupea — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/five-easy-pieces.md)
- *On a Clear Day You Can See Forever* (1970), as Tad Pringle
- *Rebel Rousers* (1970), as Bunny
- *Easy Rider* (1969), as George Hanson — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/easy-rider.md)
- *Head* (1968), Writer, Producer, Songs
- *Targets* (1968), as Lt. Andre Duvalier (archive footage) (uncredited) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/targets.md)
- *Psych-Out* (1968), as Stoney
- *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, as Tom Murdock
- *The Trip* (1967), Writer
- *The St. Valentine's Day Massacre* (1967), as Gino, Hit Man (uncredited)
- *Hells Angels on Wheels* (1967), as Poet
- *Ride in the Whirlwind* (1966), as Wes · Writer, Producer
- *The Shooting* (1966), as Billy Spear · Producer
- *Back Door to Hell* (1964), as Burnett
- *Cordillera* (1964), Screenplay
- *Flight to Fury* (1964), as Jay Wickham · Writer
- *Ensign Pulver* (1964), as Yeoman Dolan
- *Thunder Island* (1963), Screenplay
- *The Terror* (1963), as Lt. Andre Duvalier
- *The Raven* (1963), as Rexford Bedlo
- *The Broken Land* (1962), as Will
- *Little Amy* (1962), series, as Jefferson City Coach
- *Little Amy* (1962), as Jefferson City Coach
- *The Hour of St. Francis* (1962), as Jim Evans
- *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Mr. Garland, Marvin Jenkins
- *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Bud
- *Studs Lonigan* (1960), as Weary Reilly
- *The Wild Ride* (1960), as Johnny Varron
- *The Little Shop of Horrors* (1960), as Wilbur Force
- *Too Soon to Love* (1960), as Buddy
- *Mr. Lucky* (1959), series, as Martin
- *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, as Tony Morgan
- *Bronco* (1958), series, as Bob Doolin
- *Cry Baby Killer* (1958), as Jimmy Wallace
- *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, as John Stark
- *Matinee Theater* (1955), series, as Musician's Son

## Gallery

- ![Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980)](https://film.one/media/title/3555/still-41625ac84217.jpg) Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in *The Shining* (1980) — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes in Chinatown (1974)](https://film.one/media/title/2692/still-c3fc690b41d4.jpg) Jack Nicholson as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes in *Chinatown* (1974) — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson as Robert Eroica Dupea in Five Easy Pieces (1970)](https://film.one/media/title/6384/still-a40c47010e70.jpg) Jack Nicholson as Robert Eroica Dupea in *Five Easy Pieces* (1970) — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson as Costello in The Departed (2006)](https://film.one/media/title/5405/still-50b8c5a05454.jpg) Jack Nicholson as Costello in *The Departed* (2006) — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson as Garrett Breedlove in Terms of Endearment (1983)](https://film.one/media/title/6359/still-35bea55fb0a2.jpg) Jack Nicholson as Garrett Breedlove in *Terms of Endearment* (1983) — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson as Randle Patrick McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)](https://film.one/media/title/5571/still-3c86e9ed4937.jpg) Jack Nicholson as Randle Patrick McMurphy in *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975) — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson](https://film.one/media/person/59472/gallery-d8c8dff49424.jpg) Jack Nicholson — Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel  Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Jack_Nicholson_2001.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jack Nicholson](https://film.one/media/person/59472/gallery-c1bf6d36eb58.jpg) Jack Nicholson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson](https://film.one/media/person/59472/gallery-85a3b2a2d07c.jpg) Jack Nicholson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson](https://film.one/media/person/59472/gallery-05eaf36acfde.jpg) Jack Nicholson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan R. Jessep in A Few Good Men (1992)](https://film.one/media/title/4085/still-1899dfd7ba08.jpg) Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan R. Jessep in *A Few Good Men* (1992) — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall in As Good as It Gets (1997)](https://film.one/media/title/4529/still-f8a29ad7edb0.jpg) Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall in *As Good as It Gets* (1997) — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 3 won, 9 nominated

- 2003: Best Actor (nominated), for *About Schmidt*
- 1998: Best Actor (won), for *As Good as It Gets*
- 1993: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *A Few Good Men*
- 1988: Best Actor (nominated), for *Ironweed*
- 1986: Best Actor (nominated), for *Prizzi's Honor*
- 1984: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *Terms of Endearment*
- 1982: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Reds*
- 1976: Best Actor (won), for *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*
- 1975: Best Actor (nominated), for *Chinatown*
- 1974: Best Actor (nominated), for *The Last Detail*
- 1971: Best Actor (nominated), for *Five Easy Pieces*
- 1970: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Easy Rider*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 3 won

- 1983: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Reds*
- 1977: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), for *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*
- 1975: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), for *Chinatown*

### Golden Globes — 7 won

- 2003: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *About Schmidt*
- 1999: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (won)
- 1998: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (won), for *As Good as It Gets*
- 1986: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (won), for *Prizzi's Honor*
- 1984: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (won), for *Terms of Endearment*
- 1976: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*
- 1975: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *Chinatown*

### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won

- 1974: Best Actor (won)

### Other awards — 9 won

- New Jersey Hall of Fame 2010: New Jersey Hall of Fame (won)
- California Hall of Fame 2008: California Hall of Fame (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Villain 2007: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain (won), for *The Departed*
- Stanislavsky Award 2001: Stanislavsky Award (won)
- Actor Awards 1998: Actor Awards (won)
- Critics' Choice Awards 1998: Critics' Choice Awards (won)
- AFI Life Achievement Award 1994: AFI Life Achievement Award (won)
- Grammy Awards 1988: Grammy Awards (won)
- Saturn Awards 1988: Saturn Awards (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jack-nicholson