Acting
Jack Nicholson
Born 1937-04-22
Manhattan, New York, USA
Department: Acting
Biography
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is a retired American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for Academy Awards 12 times, winning Best Actor for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and for As Good as It Gets, and Best Supporting Actor for Terms of Endearment. He is tied with Walter Brennan for most acting wins by a male actor (three), 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 from the 1960s to 2000s (the other one being 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. Notable films in which he has starred include, Easy Rider, Chinatown, The Shining, Reds, Batman, A Few Good Men, About Schmidt, Something's Gotta Give, and The Departed.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Jack Nicholson
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The Shining
1980
TMDB4.1
Movie
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The Departed
2006
TMDB4.1
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1975
TMDB4.2
Movie
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Into the Wild
2007
TMDB3.9
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Batman
1989
TMDB3.6
Movie
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Mars Attacks!
1996
TMDB3.2
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Chinatown
1974
TMDB4.0
Movie
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A Few Good Men
1992
TMDB3.8
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As Good as It Gets
1997
TMDB3.7
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The Bucket List
2007
TMDB3.6
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (172 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Breakdown: 1975 | Self (The Passenger-archive footage) | Movie | 2025 |
 | Films to Die For | (archive footage) (uncredited) | Movie | 2025 |
 | Tim Burton: Life in the Line | Self (footage) | TV Series | 2025 |
 | Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror | Self (archive photo) | Movie | 2025 |
 | John Candy: I Like Me | Self - Actor (archive footage) | Movie | 2025 |
 | SNL50: The Homecoming Concert | Self | Movie | 2025 |
 | Shine On: The Forgotten Shining Location | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2024 |
 | Jack of Three Trades: In Focus on Nicholson the Director | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2024 |
 | Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2022 |
 | Untold: Deal with the Devil | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2021 |
 | Morceaux de Cannes | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2021 |
 | Kubrick by Kubrick | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2020 |
 | Joker: Put on a Happy Face | Self | Movie | 2020 |
 | 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2020 |
 | Basketball: A Love Story | Self (archive footage) | TV Series | 2018 |
 | Jack Nicholson - The Devilish Smile of Hollywood | Self | Movie | 2017 |
 | The Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Sticky Fingers Live at the Fonda Theatre 2015 | Self - Audience Member | Movie | 2017 |
 | Mansfield 66/67 | Self - Actor(archive footage) | Movie | 2017 |
 | I Am Divine | Self (archive) | Movie | 2014 |
 | Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2012 |
 | Close Up | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2012 |
 | Corman's World | Self - Actor | Movie | 2011 |
 | How Do You Know | Charles | Movie | 2010 |
 | BBStory: An American Film Renaissance | Self | Movie | 2010 |
 | Drive, He Said: A Cautionary Tale of Campus Revolution and Sexual Freedom | Self | Movie | 2010 |
| America Lost and Found: The BBS Story | Self | Movie | 2010 | |
 | Soul Searching in 'Five Easy Pieces' | Self | Movie | 2010 |
 | Stardust | Self (uncredited) | Movie | 2010 |
 | I'm Still Here | Jack Nicholson | Movie | 2010 |
| Mulholland Drive - Ein Hollywood-Mythos | Self | Movie | 2010 | |
 | Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight | Self | Movie | 2008 |
 | Rob Reiner Interviews the Stars: Jack Nicholson | Self | Movie | 2008 |
 | Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired | Self / Jake Gittes (archive footage) | Movie | 2008 |
 | Notes on an American Film Director at Work | Self | Movie | 2008 |
 | The Bucket List | Edward Periman Cole | Movie | 2007 |
 | Making of Chinatown | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2007 |
 | View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining' | Self | Movie | 2007 |
 | The Visions of Stanley Kubrick | Self | Movie | 2007 |
 | Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick | Self | Movie | 2007 |
 | Into the Wild | Thanks | Movie | 2007 |
 | My Spy Family | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 2007 |
 | Witness to 'Reds' | Self | Movie | 2006 |
 | The Departed | Costello | Movie | 2006 |
 | Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast | Self - Presenter | Movie | 2005 |
| Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild | Self(archive footage) | Movie | 2004 | |
| Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild | Producer | Movie | 2004 | |
 | Something's Gotta Give | Harry Sanborn | Movie | 2003 |
 | Celebrities Uncensored | Self | TV Series | 2003 |
 | Anger Management | Dr. Buddy Rydell | Movie | 2003 |
 | Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood | Self | Movie | 2003 |
 | About Schmidt | Warren Schmidt | Movie | 2002 |
 | Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S. | Self | Movie | 2002 |
| Nudes in the News | Warren Schmidt (archive footage) | TV Series | 2002 | |
 | America | A Tribute to Heroes | Self | Movie | 2001 |
 | Stanley Kubrick - Ein Leben für den Film | Self | Movie | 2001 |
 | The Pledge | Jerry Black | Movie | 2001 |
 | Velocity | Johnny Varron (young) (archive footage) | Movie | 1999 |
 | Playboy: Playmate Pajama Party | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1999 |
 | Playmate Pajama Party | self | Movie | 1999 |
 | Junket Whore | Self | Movie | 1998 |
 | As Good as It Gets | Melvin Udall | Movie | 1997 |
 | Completely Cuckoo | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1997 |
 | The Evening Star | Garrett Breedlove | Movie | 1996 |
 | Mars Attacks! | President Dale / Art Land | Movie | 1996 |
 | Blood and Wine | Alex | Movie | 1996 |
 | Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 1996 |
 | The Rolling Stones: Totally Stripped | Self | Movie | 1995 |
 | The Rolling Stones: Stripped | Self | Movie | 1995 |
 | The Crossing Guard | Freddy Gale | Movie | 1995 |
 | Wolf | Will Randall | Movie | 1994 |
 | Hoffa | James R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa | Movie | 1992 |
 | A Few Good Men | Col. Nathan R. Jessep | Movie | 1992 |
 | Man Trouble | Harry Bliss | Movie | 1992 |
 | The Two Jakes | J.J. "Jake" Gittes | Movie | 1990 |
| The Two Jakes | Director | Movie | 1990 |
| The Two Jakes | Producer | Movie | 1990 |
 | Batman | Joker / Jack Napier | Movie | 1989 |
 | On the tracks of a filmmaker | Jack Nicholson | Movie | 1988 |
 | Ironweed | Francis Phelan | Movie | 1987 |
 | Broadcast News | Bill Rorich | Movie | 1987 |
 | Creepy Classics | Rexford Bedlo - (archive footage) | Movie | 1987 |
| Rabbit Ears - How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump | Narrator (voice) | Movie | 1987 | |
 | The Witches of Eastwick | Daryl Van Horne | Movie | 1987 |
 | Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories | Narrator (voice) | Movie | 1987 |
 | Barbra Streisand: One Voice | Self - Audience Member (uncredited) | Movie | 1986 |
| The Elephant's Child | Narrator (voice) | Movie | 1986 | |
 | Heartburn | Mark | Movie | 1986 |
 | Live Aid | Self | Movie | 1985 |
 | Prizzi's Honor | Charley Partanna | Movie | 1985 |
| Goldene Kamera | Self | TV Series | 1984 | |
 | Terms of Endearment | Garrett Breedlove | Movie | 1983 |
 | Not Necessarily the News | Self (archive footage) | TV Series | 1983 |
 | The Border | Charlie Smith | Movie | 1982 |
 | Reds | Eugene O'Neill | Movie | 1981 |
 | The Postman Always Rings Twice | Frank Chambers | Movie | 1981 |
 | Making 'The Shining' | Self | Movie | 1980 |
 | The Shining | Jack Torrance | Movie | 1980 |
 | The Kennedy Center Honors | Self | TV Series | 1978 |
 | Goin' South | Henry Moon | Movie | 1978 |
| Goin' South | Director | Movie | 1978 |
 | Ciné regards | Self | TV Series | 1978 |
 | The Last Tycoon | Brimmer | Movie | 1976 |
 | The Missouri Breaks | Tom Logan | Movie | 1976 |
 | TVTV Looks at the Oscars | Self | Movie | 1976 |
 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Randle Patrick McMurphy | Movie | 1975 |
 | Saturday Night Live | Self | TV Series | 1975 |
| Saturday Night Live | Self (uncredited) | TV Series | 1975 |
 | The Fortune | Oscar 'Dix' Sullivan | Movie | 1975 |
 | Tommy | The Specialist | Movie | 1975 |
 | The Passenger | David Locke | Movie | 1975 |
 | Chinatown | J.J. 'Jake' Gittes | Movie | 1974 |
 | The Last Detail | Billy L. 'Badass' Buddusky | Movie | 1973 |
 | The King of Marvin Gardens | David Staebler | Movie | 1972 |
 | Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here | Self | Movie | 1972 |
| Film '72 | Self | TV Series | 1971 | |
 | A Safe Place | Mitch | Movie | 1971 |
 | Carnal Knowledge | Jonathan | Movie | 1971 |
 | Drive, He Said | Annoyed Bearded Guy | Movie | 1971 |
| Drive, He Said | Director | Movie | 1971 |
| Drive, He Said | Screenplay | Movie | 1971 |
| Drive, He Said | Producer | Movie | 1971 |
 | Walt Whitman: Poet for a New Age | Narrator | Movie | 1971 |
 | Five Easy Pieces | Robert Eroica Dupea | Movie | 1970 |
 | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever | Tad Pringle | Movie | 1970 |
 | Rebel Rousers | Bunny | Movie | 1970 |
 | Easy Rider | George Hanson | Movie | 1969 |
 | Head | Self (uncredited) | Movie | 1968 |
| Head | Writer | Movie | 1968 |
| Head | Producer | Movie | 1968 |
| Head | Songs | Movie | 1968 |
 | Targets | Lt. Andre Duvalier (archive footage) (uncredited) | Movie | 1968 |
 | Psych-Out | Stoney | Movie | 1968 |
 | The Movie Orgy | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 1968 |
 | The Guns of Will Sonnett | Tom Murdock | TV Series | 1967 |
 | The Trip | Writer | Movie | 1967 |
 | The St. Valentine's Day Massacre | Gino, Hit Man (uncredited) | Movie | 1967 |
 | Hells Angels on Wheels | Poet | Movie | 1967 |
 | Ride in the Whirlwind | Wes | Movie | 1966 |
| Ride in the Whirlwind | Writer | Movie | 1966 |
| Ride in the Whirlwind | Producer | Movie | 1966 |
 | The Shooting | Billy Spear | Movie | 1966 |
| The Shooting | Producer | Movie | 1966 |
 | Back Door to Hell | Burnett | Movie | 1964 |
 | Cordillera | Screenplay | Movie | 1964 |
 | Flight to Fury | Jay Wickham | Movie | 1964 |
| Flight to Fury | Writer | Movie | 1964 |
 | Ensign Pulver | Yeoman Dolan | Movie | 1964 |
 | Thunder Island | Screenplay | Movie | 1963 |
 | The Terror | Lt. Andre Duvalier | Movie | 1963 |
 | The Raven | Rexford Bedlo | Movie | 1963 |
 | The Broken Land | Will | Movie | 1962 |
 | The Hour of St. Francis | Jim Evans | Movie | 1962 |
 | Little Amy | Jefferson City Coach | Movie | 1962 |
 | Little Amy | Jefferson City Coach | TV Series | 1962 |
 | The Andy Griffith Show | Mr. Garland | TV Series | 1960 |
| The Andy Griffith Show | Marvin Jenkins | TV Series | 1960 |
 | The Barbara Stanwyck Show | Bud | TV Series | 1960 |
 | Studs Lonigan | Weary Reilly | Movie | 1960 |
 | The Wild Ride | Johnny Varron | Movie | 1960 |
 | The Little Shop of Horrors | Wilbur Force | Movie | 1960 |
 | Too Soon to Love | Buddy | Movie | 1960 |
 | Mr. Lucky | Martin | TV Series | 1959 |
 | Hawaiian Eye | Tony Morgan | TV Series | 1959 |
 | Bronco | Bob Doolin | TV Series | 1958 |
 | Cry Baby Killer | Jimmy Wallace | Movie | 1958 |
 | Sea Hunt | John Stark | TV Series | 1958 |
 | Matinee Theater | Musician's Son | TV Series | 1955 |
 | The Oscars | Self | TV Series | 1953 |
 | Golden Globe Awards | Self - Cecil B. DeMille Award Recipient | TV Series | 1944 |
| Golden Globe Awards | Self - Nominee / Presenter | TV Series | 1944 |
| Golden Globe Awards | Self - Nominee | TV Series | 1944 |
 | Monty and the Movies | Self (archive footage) | Movie | — |