Jack Nicholson – one of the greatest actors

Jack Nicholson is an American actor, film director, screenwriter and producer. He is considered one of the greatest actors in film history. He was nominated for Oscar award 12 times. He is one of only two actors nominated for Oscar for best role every decade since the 1960s (the second – Sir Michael Caine). In 1994 he became one of the youngest actors awarded American Institute of Motion Picture Arts award for lifetime achievement. Nicholson has won numerous awards, including three Oscar and BAFTA awards, seven Golden Globes, a six-time winner of the US National Board of Review Award and winner of the Screen Actors Guild Award.
John Joseph Nicholson (his real name) was born on April 22, 1937 in New York. Jack, like his peers, was the last representative of the generation that grew up without a TV influence. His mother was dancer and singer June Frances Nicholson (1918-1963; stage name – June Nilson).

In 1934, June became a presenter of Saturday morning radio show and musician Eddie King was her assistant. In the early 1930s King opened his own dance studio and June Nicholson was one of his first students. Two years later June met musician Don Rose and married him on October 16, 1936. Later she gave birth to a boy who was brought up by his grandparents.
At school Nicholson was first involved in theatrical productions, performing jazz song Managua, Nicaragua. The boy was also interested in baseball, football and basketball. Nicholson was a reporter for the school newspaper The Blue and Gray, where he wrote about the school sports teams’ achievements.

In 1955, Nicholson decided to become an actor after watching the films East of Eden, On the Waterfront and The Man with the Golden Arm with James Dean, Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra.
In 1956 he worked in West Hollywood’s Players Ring Theater and earned $ 14 per week. Over the next few years, Jack did everything to be noticed in Hollywood. He read scripts and agreed any offer he received.
Nicholson won his first Oscar for the role in the film version of Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The actor was offered the role of Michael Corleone in Godfather, but he refused.
Despite the fact that he was not even nominated for Oscar for his role in the film version of Stephen King’s novel The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980, it remains one of the most significant roles in his career.
Nicholson received his next Oscar for the role in James Brooks’ Terms of Endearment (1983).
The film Batman (1989), in which he played the Joker, has become an international hit.
In 1997 the actor won the third Oscar for his role of a neurotic writer in the movie As Good as It Gets.

Personal life
The actor has five children by four different women, although he was married only once.
He was married Sandra Knight from June 17, 1962 to August 8, 1968. Their daughter Jennifer Nicholson was born in 1963.
Caleb Goddard was born in 1970 by Susan Anspach, his partner in the film Five Easy Pieces (Nicholson’s paternity has not been confirmed).
Honey Hollman was born in 1981 by Danish model Winnie Hollman.
Lorraine Nicholson (born in 1990) and Raymond Nicholson (born in 1992) were born by Rebecca Broussard.
Nicholson had a romantic relationship with a number of actresses and models, some of which lasted for many years. Most long-term relationship, that lasted 17 years, was with Anjelica Huston, the daughter of film director John Huston.
Jack is a close friend of Roman Polanski, whom he supported during many personal misfortunes, including the death of his wife Sharon Tate, who was killed by Charles Manson Family.

Jack Nicholson – one of the greatest actors