Jack Nicholson
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- April 22, 1937 in Manhattan, New York, USA
- Active Years
- 1944–2025 (82 Years)
- Total Credits
- 168 credits in database
Acting Born Apr 22, 1937 Manhattan, New York, USA 168 credits
Biography
John Joseph Nicholson, known as Jack Nicholson, is a retired American actor, film director, producer, and writer. Born on April 22, 1937, in Manhattan, New York, he is widely recognized for his portrayals of neurotic characters, often within dark-themed narratives. Throughout his career, Nicholson has been nominated for Academy Awards 12 times. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and As Good as It Gets, and the award for Best Supporting Actor for Terms of Endearment. With three total acting wins, he is tied with Walter Brennan for the most acting wins by a male actor and is one of only two actors nominated for an Academy Award in every decade from the 1960s to the 2000s.
Sources & verification
Jack Nicholson — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Jack Nicholson - Wikipedia
Jack Nicholson - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jack Nicholson - IMDb
Jack Nicholson - Hollywood Walk of Fame
Jack Nicholson was so taken with Diane Keaton's Oscar-nominated ...
How Archytele verifies pages
Advertisement
Advertisement
Career overview
Jack Nicholson began his professional career working as a writer and part-time actor. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated 148 known credits in the film industry. He is regarded as one of the greatest actors in cinema history, having appeared in notable films such as Chinatown and As Good as It Gets. His body of work spans multiple decades, during which he established a reputation for his distinct acting style and ability to inhabit complex, often dark roles. In addition to his work as an actor, Nicholson has contributed to the industry as a director and producer. His professional achievements have been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beyond his primary acting roles, he has collaborated with various performers throughout his career, including Faye Keaton and Leonardo DiCaprio. Nicholson is currently retired from the film industry.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Jack Nicholson.
Frequent co-stars
Danny DeVito
5 shared titles
Luana Anders
4 shared titles
Anjelica Huston
4 shared titles
Jeff Morris
4 shared titles
John P. Ryan
4 shared titles
Scatman Crothers
3 shared titles
Tracey Walter
3 shared titles
Ann-Margret
3 shared titles
Richard Bradford
3 shared titles
Harry Dean Stanton
3 shared titles
Career timeline
John Candy: I Like MeBreakdown: 1975SNL50: The Homecoming ConcertFilms to Die For
Shine On: The Forgotten Shining LocationJack of Three Trades: In Focus on Nicholson the Director
Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend
Morceaux de CannesUntold: Deal with the Devil
Kubrick by Kubrick40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a ClassicJoker: Put on a Happy Face
Basketball: A Love Story
Mansfield 66/67Jack Nicholson - The Devilish Smile of HollywoodThe Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Sticky Fingers Live at the Fonda Theatre 2015
I Am Divine
Close UpRoman Polanski: A Film Memoir
Corman's World
How Do You KnowI'm Still HereStardustBBStory: An American Film RenaissanceDrive, He Said: A Cautionary Tale of Campus Revolution and Sexual Freedom
Roman Polanski: Wanted and DesiredNotes on an American Film Director at WorkRob Reiner Interviews the Stars: Jack NicholsonShadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight
Into the Wild · ThanksThe Bucket ListMy Spy FamilyThe Visions of Stanley KubrickLost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick
The DepartedWitness to 'Reds'
Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast
Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is WildJack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild · Producer
Something's Gotta GiveAnger ManagementEasy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved HollywoodCelebrities Uncensored
Nudes in the NewsAbout SchmidtPaul McCartney: Back in the U.S.
The PledgeAmerica | A Tribute to HeroesStanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures
Playboy: Playmate Pajama PartyVelocity
Junket Whore
As Good as It Gets
Mars Attacks!Blood and WineThe Evening StarShirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
The Crossing GuardThe Rolling Stones: Totally StrippedThe Rolling Stones: Stripped
Wolf
A Few Good MenHoffaMan Trouble
The Two JakesThe Two Jakes · DirectorThe Two Jakes · Producer
Batman
On the tracks of a filmmaker
The Witches of EastwickBroadcast NewsIronweedCreepy ClassicsRabbit Ears - How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump
Full Filmography
168 titles- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- Breakdown: 1975 (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (2025) as Self
- Films to Die For (2025) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Shine On: The Forgotten Shining Location (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Jack of Three Trades: In Focus on Nicholson the Director (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Morceaux de Cannes (2021)
- Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Kubrick by Kubrick (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Joker: Put on a Happy Face (2020) as Self
- Basketball: A Love Story (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Mansfield 66/67 (2017) as Self - Actor(archive footage)
- Jack Nicholson - The Devilish Smile of Hollywood (2017) as Self
- The Rolling Stones: From the Vault - Sticky Fingers Live at the Fonda Theatre 2015 (2017) as Self - Audience Member
- I Am Divine (2014) as Self (archive)
- Close Up (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- Corman's World (2011) as Self - Actor
- How Do You Know (2010) as Charles
- I'm Still Here (2010) as Jack Nicholson
- Stardust (2010) as Self (uncredited)
- BBStory: An American Film Renaissance (2010) as Self
- Drive, He Said: A Cautionary Tale of Campus Revolution and Sexual Freedom (2010) as Self
- Soul Searching in 'Five Easy Pieces' (2010) as Self
- Mulholland Drive - Ein Hollywood-Mythos (2010) as Self
- America Lost and Found: The BBS Story (2010) as Self
- Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) as Self / Jake Gittes (archive footage)
- Notes on an American Film Director at Work (2008) as Self
- Rob Reiner Interviews the Stars: Jack Nicholson (2008) as Self
- Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight (2008) as Self
- Into the Wild (2007) Thanks
- The Bucket List (2007) as Edward Periman Cole
- My Spy Family (2007)
- The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (2007) as Self
- Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick (2007) as Self
- View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining' (2007) as Self
- The Departed (2006) as Costello
- Witness to 'Reds' (2006) as Self
- Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast (2005) as Self - Presenter
- Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild (2004) as Self(archive footage)
- Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild (2004) Producer
- Something's Gotta Give (2003) as Harry Sanborn
- Anger Management (2003) as Dr. Buddy Rydell
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) as Self
- Celebrities Uncensored (2003) as Self
- Nudes in the News (2002) as Warren Schmidt (archive footage)
- About Schmidt (2002) as Warren Schmidt
- Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S. (2002) as Self
- The Pledge (2001) as Jerry Black
- America | A Tribute to Heroes (2001) as Self
- Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001) as Self
- Playboy: Playmate Pajama Party (1999)
- Velocity (1999) as Johnny Varron (young) (archive footage)
- Junket Whore (1998) as Self
- As Good as It Gets (1997) as Melvin Udall
- Mars Attacks! (1996) as President Dale / Art Land
- Blood and Wine (1996) as Alex
- The Evening Star (1996) as Garrett Breedlove
- Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- The Crossing Guard (1995) as Freddy Gale
- The Rolling Stones: Totally Stripped (1995) as Self
- The Rolling Stones: Stripped (1995) as Self
- Wolf (1994) as Will Randall
- A Few Good Men (1992) as Col. Nathan R. Jessep
- Hoffa (1992) as James R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa
- Man Trouble (1992) as Harry Bliss
- The Two Jakes (1990) as J.J. "Jake" Gittes
- The Two Jakes (1990) Director
- The Two Jakes (1990) Producer
- Batman (1989) as Joker / Jack Napier
- On the tracks of a filmmaker (1988) as Jack Nicholson
- The Witches of Eastwick (1987) as Daryl Van Horne
- Broadcast News (1987) as Bill Rorich
- Ironweed (1987) as Francis Phelan
- 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)
- Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories (1987) as Narrator (voice)
- Heartburn (1986) as Mark
- Barbra Streisand: One Voice (1986) as Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
- The Elephant's Child (1986) as Narrator (voice)
- Prizzi's Honor (1985) as Charley Partanna
- Live Aid (1985) as Self
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- Not Necessarily the News (1983) as Self (archive footage)
- Terms of Endearment (1983) as Garrett Breedlove
- The Border (1982) as Charlie Smith
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) as Frank Chambers
- Reds (1981) as Eugene O'Neill
- The Shining (1980) as Jack Torrance
- Making 'The Shining' (1980) as Self
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- The Kennedy Center Honors (1978) as Self
- Goin' South (1978) as Henry Moon
- Goin' South (1978) Director
- The Missouri Breaks (1976) as Tom Logan
- The Last Tycoon (1976) as Brimmer
- TVTV Looks at the Oscars (1976) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) as Randle Patrick McMurphy
- Tommy (1975) as The Specialist
- The Passenger (1975) as David Locke
- The Fortune (1975) as Oscar 'Dix' Sullivan
- Chinatown (1974) as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes
- The Last Detail (1973) as Billy L. 'Badass' Buddusky
- The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) as David Staebler
- Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here (1972) as Self
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- Carnal Knowledge (1971) as Jonathan
- Drive, He Said (1971) as Annoyed Bearded Guy
- Drive, He Said (1971) Director
- Drive, He Said (1971) Screenplay
- Drive, He Said (1971) Producer
- A Safe Place (1971) as Mitch
- Walt Whitman: Poet for a New Age (1971) as Narrator
- Five Easy Pieces (1970) as Robert Eroica Dupea
- On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) as Tad Pringle
- Rebel Rousers (1970) as Bunny
- Easy Rider (1969) as George Hanson
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- Targets (1968) as Lt. Andre Duvalier (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Head (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- Head (1968) Writer
- Head (1968) Producer
- Head (1968) Songs
- Psych-Out (1968) as Stoney
- The Guns of Will Sonnett (1967) as Tom Murdock
- The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) as Gino, Hit Man (uncredited)
- Hells Angels on Wheels (1967) as Poet
- The Trip (1967) Writer
- Ride in the Whirlwind (1966) as Wes
- Ride in the Whirlwind (1966) Writer
- Ride in the Whirlwind (1966) Producer
- The Shooting (1966) as Billy Spear
- The Shooting (1966) Producer
- Ensign Pulver (1964) as Yeoman Dolan
- Back Door to Hell (1964) as Burnett
- Flight to Fury (1964) as Jay Wickham
- Flight to Fury (1964) Writer
- Cordillera (1964) Screenplay
- The Terror (1963) as Lt. Andre Duvalier
- The Raven (1963) as Rexford Bedlo
- Thunder Island (1963) Screenplay
- Little Amy (1962) as Jefferson City Coach
- The Broken Land (1962) as Will
- The Hour of St. Francis (1962) as Jim Evans
- Little Amy (1962) as Jefferson City Coach
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Jaime Angel
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Mr. Garland
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Marvin Jenkins
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Bud
- The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) as Wilbur Force
- The Wild Ride (1960) as Johnny Varron
- Studs Lonigan (1960) as Weary Reilly
- Too Soon to Love (1960) as Buddy
- Hawaiian Eye (1959) as Tony Morgan
- Mr. Lucky (1959) as Martin
- Sea Hunt (1958) as John Stark
- Bronco (1958) as Bob Doolin
- Cry Baby Killer (1958) as Jimmy Wallace
- Matinee Theater (1955) as Musician's Son
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Cecil B. DeMille Award Recipient
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jack Nicholson best known for?
Jack Nicholson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including John Candy: I Like Me (2025), SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (2025), Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021), Basketball: A Love Story (2018).
When and where was Jack Nicholson born?
Jack Nicholson was born on April 22, 1937 in Manhattan, New York, USA.
How many credits does Jack Nicholson have?
Jack Nicholson has accumulated over 168 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2025.
What is Jack Nicholson's background in cinema and television?
John Joseph Nicholson, known as Jack Nicholson, is a retired American actor, film director, producer, and writer. Born on April 22, 1937, in Manhattan, New York, he is widely recognized for his portrayals of neurotic characters, often within dark-themed narratives. Throughout his career, Nicholson has been nominated fo...
Jack Nicholson by the numbers
168credits
141films
27TV series
1944–2025active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) as Randle Patrick McMurphy — aged about 38
- The Departed (2006) as Costello — aged about 69
- The Shining (1980) as Jack Torrance — aged about 43
- Live Aid (1985) as Self — aged about 48
- Chinatown (1974) as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes — aged about 37
- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self - Actor (archive footage) — aged about 88
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Jack Nicholson.