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Jack Nicholson Biography

Birth Name:John Joseph Nicholson

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer, Director

Fast Facts

  • Inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2008
  • Received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University in 2011
  • Turned down offers to be a cartoonist for legendary animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
  • Quote: "If you get an impulse in a scene, no matter how wrong it seems, follow the impulse․ It might be something and if it ain't - take two!"
  • Known for portraying eccentric characters
  • Well known for utilizing the method acting technique
  • Was one of several high-profile actors to have turned down the role of Michael Corleone in "The Godfather․"
  • Was a childhood friend of fellow actor Danny DeVito

Awards

  • 1969KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1969NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1970Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1970BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1970Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1970Golden Laurel-Male Supporting Performance: winner
  • 1970NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1970NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1971Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1971Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 1971Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1971Golden Laurel-Best Dramatic Performance, Male: nominated
  • 1972Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1974Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1974Best Actor-: winner
  • 1974Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1974KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1974NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1975Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1975Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Movie Performer (Mejor intérprete de cine extranjero): winner
  • 1975Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 1975NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1975NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1975NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1975NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1976Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1976David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): winner
  • 1976Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 1977BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1977Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): winner
  • 1981KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1981LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1981NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1981NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1982Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1982BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1982NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1983BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1983KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1983LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1983NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1983NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1984Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 1984BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 1984NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1985Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
  • 1985LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1985NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1986Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1986BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1986David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): nominated
  • 1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1986Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): nominated
  • 1986NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1987LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1987NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1988Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1988Saturn Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1988David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): nominated
  • 1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1988Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
  • 1990American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
  • 1990BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1990CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1990Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
  • 1991Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1992ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1992NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1992NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1993Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1993CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1993MTV Movie Award-Best Male Performance: nominated
  • 1993MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: nominated
  • 1993Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
  • 1993SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1994Chainsaw Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1995Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1997LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1997SDFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1998Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1998American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): winner
  • 1998CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1998Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1998OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1998OFTA Film Award-Best Comedy/Musical Actor: winner
  • 1998OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1998SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1998TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: nominated
  • 1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Video: nominated
  • 1999Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: winner
  • 1999ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
  • 1999Audience Award-Best Foreign Actor (Melhor Ator Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2001TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: nominated
  • 2002ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2002Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2002LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2002NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2002SDFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2002SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2002TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: nominated
  • 2002UFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2002VVFP Award-Best Performance: nominated
  • 2002WAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2003Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2003Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2003BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2003COFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2003CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2003Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2003DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2003Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 2003INOCA-Best Actor: winner
  • 2003IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): nominated
  • 2003ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2003OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2003PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
  • 2004Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: winner
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2006ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2006ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2006BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2006CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006DFCC-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2006FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2006Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actor of the Year: winner
  • 2006NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 2006PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
  • 2006SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2007Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2007AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2007BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2007COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2007INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2007IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): winner
  • 2007MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: winner
  • 2007NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2007OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2007OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2007People's Choice Award-Favorite On-Screen Match-Up: nominated
  • 2008Movies for Grownups Award-Best Buddy Picture: winner
  • 2013Felix-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2018Felix-Best Actor: winner
  • 2023OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner