Jack Nicholson turned 84 last week and in honour of the acting legend celebrating his birthday, here are some of his best movies from each decade, from the 60s to the early 00s. Sadly Jack Nicholson hasn’t appeared on our screens since 2010 but has stated in interviews that he has not retired just yet.
1960s
Easy Rider, 1969
Easy Rider is a 60s road movie about two bikers who travel across America with money they made from a big cocaine deal, played by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. They then meet Jack Nicholson’s character George Hanson who is an alcoholic lawyer. Showing how well Nicholson is in a supporting role, he was nominated that year for his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
1970s
Five Easy Pieces, 1970
Five Easy Pieces can be described as Nicholson’s big breakout role that made him a star, followed by a nomination for Best Actor at the Oscars. It tells the story of a former piano child prodigy who resented his life and moved away, but after his father is ill, he comes back to his hometown with his new girlfriend (Karen Black).
Chinatown, 1974
Classic Neo-Noir thriller Chinatown stars Nicholson as Jake “JJ” Gittes, a private detective hired to spy on a cheating husband by Faye Dunaway’s character Evelyn. He is then taken on a mysterious and psychological journey of twists and turns.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest features an outstanding performance by Nicholson as McMurphy, securing his first Oscar win for Best Actor. Based on the novel of the same name it’s set in a mental institution where he plays a criminal who claims insanity.
The Passenger, 1975
Nicholson plays a journalist, David Locke, who takes the identity of a dead man without knowing he was an arms dealer. Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and set in Chad during the Civil war, it also stars Maria Schneider.
1980s
The Shining, 1980
Stanley Kubrick’s classic horror is about Jack Torrance and his family, where he becomes the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel for the winter. Jack slowly turns crazy by the paranormal activity that he experiences at the hotel leading to his memorable “Here’s Johnny” line which was improvised by Nicholson.
Terms of Endearment, 1983
Nicholson has a memorable supporting role in this 80s family comedy with Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. He plays a retired astronaut next door neighbour, Garrett Breedlove, receiving his second Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
The Witches of Eastwick, 1987
In this 80s fantasy comedy, Nicholson plays mysterious Daryl Van Horne opposite three leads Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Eventually the newcomer to the idyllic village grants all their wishes but not everything is as it seems.
Batman, 1989
Tim Burton’s 80s Batman flick stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier later known as Joker after being driven insane from his disfigured appearance. Nicholson stands out as the manic and sadistic villain with excellent one liners.
1990s
A Few Good Men, 1992
Directed by Rob Reiner, this courtroom drama stars Tom Cruise and Demi Moore, about two U.S Marines who are accused of murder of another marine. Nicholson portrays Colonel Nathan R. Jessup and while only appearing in three scenes he still stands out with his iconic “you can’t handle the truth” speech being a memorable moment from the film.
As Good as it Gets, 1997
In this 90s heart-warming romantic comedy, Nicholson portrays Melvin Udall, a hateful old man who dislikes everyone. Here he shows how he can play a romantic lead, falling for a waitress played by Helen Hunt, while still maintaining his villainous acting style, which helped him receive his third Oscar for Best Actor.
2000s
The Departed, 2006
The Departed is Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic involving a cat and mouse chase between Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon as undercover cops, with a brilliant performance by Nicholson as Irish American mob boss Frank Costello.
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