by Marc Eliot
NOMINATED: Best Actor: Wolf (1994)
1991
NOMINATED: Best Actor: Batman (1989)
1988
WON: Best Actor: The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS
1998
WON: Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): As Good as It Gets (1997)
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
1994
WON: Life Achievement Award
AUSTIN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
2006
WON: Best Supporting Actor: The Departed (2006)
BAFTA FILM AWARDS
2007
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: The Departed (2006)
2003
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: About Schmidt (2002)
1990
NOMINATED: Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Batman (1989)
1983
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Reds (1981)
1977
WON: Best Actor: One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
1975
WON: Best Actor: Chinatown (1974)
1974
WON: Best Actor: The Last Detail (1973)
1970
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor: Easy Rider (1969)
BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS
1999
NOMINATED: Favorite Actor (Video): As Good as It Gets (1997)
BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS AWARDS
1986
WON: Best Actor: Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
1984
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Terms of Endearment (1983)
1982
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Reds (1981)
BROADCAST FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
2007
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor: The Departed (2006)
2003
WON: Best Actor: About Schmidt (2002)
1998
WON: Best Actor: As Good as It Gets (1997)
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
1974
WON: Best Actor: The Last Detail (1973)
1971
NOMINATED: Golden Palm: Drive, He Said (1971)
CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
2006
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor: The Departed (2006)
2002
NOMINATED: Best Actor: About Schmidt (2002)
CINE VEGAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
2004
WON: Marquee Award
DALLAS–FORT WORTH FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
2003
WON: Best Actor: About Schmidt (2002)
DAVID DI DONATELLO AWARDS
1976
WON: Best Foreign Actor: One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
FOTOGRAMAS DE PLATA
1975
WON: Best Foreign Movie Performer
GOLDEN GLOBES
2007
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: The Departed (2006)
2004
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy: Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
2003
WON: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama: About Schmidt (2002)
1999
WON: Cecil B. DeMille Award for outstanding contribution to the entertainment field.
1998
WON: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy/Musical: As Good as It Gets (1997)
1993
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama: Hoffa (1992)
1993
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: A Few Good Men (1992)
1990
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy/Musical: Batman (1989)
1988
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama: Ironweed (1987)
1986
WON: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy/Musical: Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
1984
WON: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Terms of Endearment (1983)
1982
NOMINATED: Best Motion Picture Actor in a Supporting Role: Reds (1981)
1976
WON: Best Motion Picture Actor—Drama, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
1975
WON: Best Motion Picture Actor—Drama: Chinatown (1974)
1974
NOMINATED: Best Motion Picture Actor—Drama: The Last Detail (1973)
1972
NOMINATED: Best Motion Picture Actor—Drama: Carnal Knowledge (1971)
1971
NOMINATED: Best Motion Picture Actor—Drama: Five Easy Pieces (1970)
1970
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor: Easy Rider (1969)
GOLDENE KAMERA
2004
WON: Goldene Kamera, Film International
KANSAS CITY FILM CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS
1984
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Terms of Endearment (1983)
1982
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Reds (1981)
1975
WON: Best Actor: Chinatown (1974)
1970
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Easy Rider (1969)
LAUREL AWARDS
1971
WON: Golden Laurel, Best Dramatic Performance, Male (2nd place): Five Easy Pieces (1970)
1971
NOMINATED: Golden Laurel Star, Male (9th place)
1970
WON: Golden Laurel, Male Supporting Performance: Easy Rider (1969)
LONDON CRITICS CIRCLE FILM AWARDS
1999
WON: Actor of the Year: As Good as It Gets (1997)
LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
2002
WON: Best Actor: About Schmidt (2002)
1987
WON: Best Actor: Ironweed (1987)
1983
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Terms of Endearment (1983)
MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
2001
WON: Stanislavsky Prize
MTV MOVIE AWARDS
2007
WON: Best Villain: The Departed (2006)
1993
NOMINATED: Best Male Performance: A Few Good Men (1992)
1993
NOMINATED: Best Villain: A Few Good Men (1992)
NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
2006
WON: Best Ensemble: The Departed (2006) (shared with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg)
1997
WON: Best Actor: As Good as It Gets (1997)
1992
WON: Best Supporting Actor: A Few Good Men (1992)
1983
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Terms of Endearment (1983)
1981
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Reds (1981)
1975
WON: Best Actor: One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS AWARDS
1986
WON: Best Actor: Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
1984
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Terms of Endearment (1983)
1975
WON: Best Actor: One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
1975
WON: Best Actor: Chinatown (1974)
1970
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Easy Rider (1969)
NEW YORK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS
1987
WON: Best Actor: The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
1985
WON: Best Actor: Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
1983
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Terms of Endearment (1983)
1975
WON: Best Actor: One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
1974
; WON: Best Actor: Chinatown (1974)
1969
WON: Best Supporting Actor: Easy Rider (1969)
ONLINE FILM CRITICS SOCIETY AWARDS
2007
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor: The Departed (2006)
2003
NOMINATED: Best Actor: About Schmidt (2002)
1998
WON: Best Actor: As Good as It Gets (1997)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
2007
NOMINATED: Favorite On-Screen Match-Up, The Departed (2006) (shared with Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio)
PHOENIX FILM CRITICS SOCIETY AWARDS
2006
WON: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: The Departed (2006)
2003
NOMINATED: Best Actor in a Leading Role: About Schmidt (2002)
RAZZIE AWARDS
1993
NOMINATED: Worst Actor: Hoffa (1992)
SANT JORDI AWARDS
1977
WON: Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
GOLDEN SATELLITE AWARDS
2006
NOMINATED: Best Actor in a Supporting Role: The Departed (2006)
2003
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: About Schmidt (2002)
1998
WON: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical: As Good as It Gets (1997)
1997
NOMINATED: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical: Mars Attacks! (1996)
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS
2007
NOMINATED: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: The Departed (2006) (shared with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg)
2003
NOMINATED: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: About Schmidt (2002)
1998
WON: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: As Good as It Gets (1997)
SOUTHEASTERN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
1993
WON: Best Supporting Actor: A Few Good Men (1992)
TEEN CHOICE AWARDS
2003
NOMINATED: Choice Movie Hissy Fit: Anger Management (2003)
WALK OF FAME
1997
STAR on Walk of Fame: Located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard
WASHINGTON DC AREA FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
2002
WON: Best Actor: About Schmidt (2002)
NOTES AND SOURCES
BOOKS AND VIDEOS
Bergen, Candice. Knock Wood. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984.
Biskind, Peter. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock-’n’-Roll Generation Saved Hollywood. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998.
———. Star. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010.
Brode, Douglas. The Films of Jack Nicholson (3rd ed.). Secaucus, NJ: Carol, 1996.
Corman, Roger. The Nurses Collection (DVD). Shout DVD #SF 13149, rere-leased 2012.
Crane, Robert David, and Christopher Fryer. Jack Nicholson: Face to Face. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1975.
———. Jack Nicholson: The Early Years. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2012.
Douglas, Kirk. The Ragman’s Son: An Autobiography. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988.
Kinn, Gail, and Jim Piazza. The Academy Awards. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal, 2002.
Lim, Dennis, ed. The Village Voice Film Guide. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2007.
McDougal, Dennis. Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2008.
Phillips, John, and Jim Jerome. Papa John: An Autobiography. New York: Dolphin Books, 1986.
Phillips, Michelle. California Dreamin’. New York: Warner Books, 1986.
Sarris, Andrew. The American Cinema: Directors and Directions, 1929–1968. New York: Dutton, 1968.
———. Confessions of a Cultist. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1971.
———. You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Schickel, Richard. Conversations with Scorsese. New York: Knopf, 2011.
Sellers, Robert. Hollywood Hellraisers: The Wild Lives and Fast Times of Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty, and Jack Nicholson. New York: Skyline, 2010.
Stapleton, Alex (dir.). Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel. DVD. A&E IndieFilms, 2011.
Stevens, George Jr. Conversations at the American Film Institute with the Great Moviemakers: The Next Generation from the 1950s to Hollywood Today. New York: Knopf, 2012.
Wiley, Mason, and Damien Bona. Inside Oscar (rev. ed.). New York: Ballantine, 1996.
Winkler, Peter L. Dennis Hopper: The Wild Ride of a Hollywood Rebel. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade Books, 2011.
OPENING QUOTES
1 “There is James Cagney …” Mike Nichols, to Ron Rosenbaum, New York Times Magazine, July 13, 1986.
2 “Marlon Brando influenced me …” Jack Nicholson, quoted in Hollywood Reporter, August 10, 2004.
3 “He’s our Bogart …” Henry Jaglom, quoted in People, December 6, 2002.
4 “When I started off …” Jack Nicholson, quoted in “Cries & Whispers,” August 22, 2002.
5 “He has a great deal of respect …” Bruce Dern, to Robert Crane and Christopher Fryer, Jack Nicholson: The Early Years, p. 72.
6 “What would it be like …” Jack Nicholson, to Mike Sager, Esquire, January 2004.
INTRODUCTION
1 “One never really recovers from his own birth …” Jack Nicholson, quoted in the Playboy interview by Richard Warren Lewis, Playboy, April 1972.
2 “I had Shorty …” Jack Nicholson, quoted by Dennis McDougal, Five Easy Decades, p. 12.
CHAPTER 1
1 “I have the blood of kings …” Jack Nicholson, quoted by Neal Weaver, After Dark, October 1969.
2 “It’s a miracle …” Jack Nicholson, to Bill Davidson, “The Conquering Anti-hero,” New York Times Magazine, October 12, 1975.
3 “rocked the house …” Lorraine, quoted by Robert Sellers, Hollywood Hellraisers, p. 17.
4 The anecdote about lying on the floor kicking and screaming is from Mimi Machu, who also noted that Jack would lose his wallet and keys several times a week during their relationship. Quoted by Leo Janos, Cosmopolitan, December 1976.
5 “Later on …” Jack Nicholson, quoted in Playboy, April 1972.
6 because of his extended human skills rather than superhuman skills or supernatural powers … Jack Nicholson, quoted in New York Times, June 18, 1989.
7 “I was very driven …” Jack Nicholson, quoted in Rolling Stone, October 5, 2006.
8 “I never felt poor …” Jack Nicholson, to Martin Torgoff, Interview, August 1984.
9 “He wanted to be an athlete …” Classmate Hoop Keith, quoted by Dennis McDougal, Five Easy Decades, p. 17.
10 “He would hang around …” Sandra Hawes, quoted ibid., p. 19.
CHAPTER 2
1 “I got into acting by being a fan …” Jack Nicholson, quoted by Neal Weaver, After Dark, October 1969.
2 “[When I was old enough] I headed west …” Jack Nicholson, to Peter Bogdanovich, Suddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, 2006.
3 “There were certain things …” Jack Nicholson, to David Sheff, Playboy, January 2004.
4 “I was part of a generation …” Jack Nicholson, quoted in Playboy, April 1972.
5 “I had no [real or meaningful] friends …” Jack Nicholson, to Martin Torgoff, Interview, August 1984.
6 “I had [already] bought a [plane] ticket …” Jack Nicholson, to Peter Bogdanovich, Suddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, 2006.
7 “I saw everybody …” Ibid.
8 “I think I knew …” Jack Nicholson, quoted by Dennis McDougal, Five Easy Decades, p. 13.
9 “When an actor …” Jeff Corey, quoted by Jack Nicholson in Los Angeles Times, November 3, 2002.
10 “I liked him a lot …” Georgianna Carter, quoted by Dennis McDougal, Five Easy Decades.
CHAPTER 3
1 “Early on, I would say …” Jack Nicholson, to Robert Crane and Christopher Fryer, Genesis Magazine, February 1975.
2 “Corman was one of those guys …” Mike Medavoy, interview by author, April 19, 2012.
3 “One of the things …” David Thomson, commentary for Criterion collection of BBS films, 2010.
4 “Corman provided everyone …” Peter Biskind, interview by author, June 18, 2012.
5 “It was difficult …” Roger Corman, interview by author.
6 “I began work on Monday …” Roger Corman, quoted in Michael Ned Holte, “Value Engineering: Roger Corman Within His Own Context,” East of Borneo, October 10, 2010.
7 “The only job …” Roger Corman, interview by author.
8 “The idea was to save money …” Mike Medavoy, interview by author.
9 “I could see the problem …” Roger Corman, interview by author.
10 “I had learned the use …” Ibid.
11 “[Corman] came into the class” and “show me some poetry” and “Maybe, Jeff …” Jack Nicholson to Jay Cocks, Time, August 12, 1974.
12 “I was absolutely certain …” Roger Corman, interview by author.
13 “Times were changing …” Ibid.
14 “I hadn’t really worked before …” Jack Nicholson, speaking in the documentary film Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel, directed by Alex Stapleton, DVD, A&E IndieFilms, 2011.