Nicholson is also a well-known and highly visible fan of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers; he has courtside seats. It is in his contract that he does not film movies during Laker games. When he is at a televised Lakers game, he is invariably sought out for celebrity camera shots during one or more breaks in the game. While he used to be often accompanied by a girlfriend, he can usually be seen with one of his young children now.
In 1998, after Nicholson visited Cuba and had a three hour conversation with Fidel Castro, he told Daily Variety that, "He is a genius." According to former Cuban intelligence officer Delfin Fernandez, Nicholson's hotel room, in Cuba, was bugged with both video and audio recording devices at the instruction of Castro.
Was asked, along with Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman to play Al Pacino's famed role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather
He is known to his friends as Pickles.
Ranked #6 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. [1994]
Used to be a messenger boy for MGM's cartoon department.
Children: Jennifer Nicholson (b. 1963) with Sandra Knight; Caleb (b. 1970) with Susan Anspach ; Honey Hollman (b. 1981) with Danish supermodel, Winnie Hollman; Lorraine (b. 1990) and Raymond (b. 1992) with Rebecca Broussard.
He was the 2001 John F. Kennedy Center Honors recipient.
Dedicated his Oscar for As Good as It Gets (1997) to J.T. Walsh, his co-star in A Few Good Men (1992) who had died shortly before the Academy Awards in 1998.
In 1994, in an apparent bout of rage, he smashed a man's car window in with a golf club. He expressed remorse for the incident in an interview with US Magazine.
Loves jokes at his expense so much that he showed up at every Academy Awards hosted by Billy Crystal, who in turn would incorporate Nicholson somehow in the telecast.
Lives on famed "Bad Boy Drive" a.k.a. Mulholland Drive in Beverly Hills, California. It's nicknamed so because its residents have included former Hollywood bad boys Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and the late Marlon Brando.
Avid Los Angeles Lakers fan. He never misses a Lakers home game. Because of this, producers on his films must work the shooting schedule around the Lakers' schedule.
Was asked, along with Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty, to play the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972).
Dated Lara Flynn Boyle [1999-2001]
The Best Lady at his wedding to Sandra Knight was Millie Perkins. The Best Man was Harry Dean Stanton. After their divorce, Nicholson lived, for a time, at Harry Dean Stanton's place.
Never does televised interviews except for press conferences. But in 2004, while attending a fashion show for his daughter, designer Jennifer Nicholson, he agreed to be interviewed briefly by Robert Verdi for E! Entertainment.
Flew to Cuba and met with Fidel Castro in June 1998. While there, he also met with leaders of the Cuban film industry, enjoyed local restaurants, jazz clubs and visited a famous cigar factory. He left greatly impressed with the country and its Communist dictator, who he described as "a genius", though the luxuries he was treated to on the island are off-limits to most Cuban citizens.
Each one of the films for which he has won an Oscar has also won Best Actress in a Leading Role (Louise Fletcher, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Shirley MacLaine, Terms of Endearment (1983); Helen Hunt, As Good as It Gets (1997)).
Has a second home in Aspen, Colorado.
Graduate of Manasquan High School, Manasquan, New Jersey, where he was voted "Class Clown" by the Class of 1954.
Boyhood friend of Danny DeVito. Nicholson's relatives and DeVito's relatives ran a hair salon together.
Presented the Best Picture Oscar five times (in 1971, 1976, 1977, 1989, and 1992), more than any other actor or actress.
Owns a large art collection including works by Pablo Picasso and Tamara de Lempicka
Batman creator Bob Kane personally recommended him for the role of the Joker in Batman (1989).
The illegitimate son of Donald Furcillo, the son of Italian immigrants, and June Nicholson, whose father, Jack Sr., was Irish and mother, Ethel May, was of Dutch descent. He never knew his father and was raised by his grandmother. He was led to believe that June was his older sister.
Turned down the role of Johnny Hooker in The Sting (1973) to play Billy "Bad Ass" Buddusky in The Last Detail (1973), which was written by his close friend Robert Towne, as he did not want to appear in a purely commercial picture just then. Robert Redford eventually played the part. Both Nicholson and Redford were nominated for Best Actor of 1973 at the Academy Awards, losing to Jack Lemmon for Save the Tiger (1973).
Turned down the lead role of Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), even though he knew the movie would be a hit as he felt that the special effects would overwhelm any actor in the movie.
Appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Tommy (1975). Ironically, both of those films were nominated for Best Actress Oscars. "Cuckoo" star Louise Fletcher won.
Has been nominated for an acting Oscar in five different decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s).
In 2004, he attended his 50th high school reunion at Manasquan High School in Manasquan, New Jersey. Needless to say, his classmates were surprised and delighted that he attended.
Is one of only a few actors to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar after winning a Best Actor Oscar.
The character Shipwreck from the animated GI Joe series of the 1980s was partly based on him (and partly based on Popeye the Sailor Man).
Is of Italian, Irish, and Dutch heritage.
Claims his personal favorite performances are his works in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Batman, Hoffa and As Good As It Gets.
Trademarks: Shark's grin, sunglasses, Jersey drawl
