Jack Nicholson

When thinking about actors in the spotlight, one of the top names in almost always Jack Nicholson. With many talents from writing and acting, Jack Nicholson has had made many popular films and worked with many big-name actors. With a passion for acting, art, and writing, he has become one of the most notable individuals on the red carpet today.

In the Beginning

Born in Neptune City, New Jersey, Jack Nicholson (John Joseph Nicholson) was the son of a showgirl and her husband Donald Furcillio, an American showman. Born on April 22, 1937, Jack Nicholson was raised by his grandparents, who he thought to believe was his biological parents, due to the fact that June Nilson, Jack’s mother, was only eighteen years old at the time and wanted to continue her career. In high school, he was commonly considered the “class clown,” where he graduated from Manasquan High School in 1954.

Career Accomplishments

Early in his career, Jack Nicholson worked as a gofer for the MGM cartoon studio, where he was offered a position as an animation artist. He declined this offer to achieve his goal of becoming an actor. His first film was The Cry Baby Killer (1958) and later appeared in The Andy Griffith Show. With his career seemingly going nowhere, Jack began writing for film. He wrote The Trip in 1967 and later Head, starring The Monkees.

Most Known For

Today Jack Nicholson is most known for his debut in Easy Rider, where he played a hard-drinking lawyer, receiving his first Oscar nomination. Later in 1870 he received a Best Actor nomination for his role in Five Easy Pieces and was the first choice for the role of Father Damien Karras in The Exorcist the same year. He finally achieved his first Best Actor Award in 1975 with his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He is most recognized for his role in Stephen King’s 1980 movie The Shining. More recently, he has had notable roles in A Few Good Men (1992), As Good As It Gets (1997), The Departed (2006), and many more.

Where Is He Now

Currently, Jack Nicholson remains one of the most notable faces on the red carpet and in Hollywood. This past February 2015, he made an appearance on the special 40^th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (SNL) He is an avid fan of the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Lakers and can usually be seen sitting on the sidelines, usually courtside, at most of these games. He has achieved 12 Acadamy Awards, 3 Oscar Wins, and will continue to remain a figure among the celebrities.