Award-Winning Facts About Jack Nicholson, Hollywood’s Favorite Lothario
For much of his life, Jack Nicholson had no idea about a dark family secret. When a reporter dug up the truth, the actor was in for the shock of a lifetime.
1. He’s The Man With The Most
Jack Nicholson has had so many outrageous roles in movies that it's hard for fans to pick the best. Is it the murderous hotel caretaker in The Shining, the misplaced patient in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, or a detective after the truth in Chinatown? Fans adore him, and so do the members of the Academy.
In fact, Nicholson went on to become the male actor with the most Oscar nominations ever. Of course, none of this compares to the success he’s enjoyed in the bedroom.
2. They Made A Bizarre Family Decision
Born on April 22, 1937, in Neptune City, New Jersey, Jack Nicholson posed a major problem for his family. His mother was a showgirl named June Francis Nicholson. June was just 17 years old at the time—and so the family made a drastic decision.
They decided that June’s parents would raise their grandchild as if he were their son and tell little Jack that his mother was his sister. Great plan, except Nicholson’s eventual fame would make it impossible to keep this a secret.
3. He Was A Clown
The first hint that Nicholson would be an actor was when his school voted him “Class Clown”. The not-so-funny part of being the class clown was that Nicholson spent nearly every afternoon in detention. But don’t worry about Nicholson. He had a childhood friend named Danny Devito who was just as funny as he was.
Little did Nicholson know, these boyhood chums would soon meet up again in Hollywood.
4. He Got A Big Break
While still a teenager, Nicholson went to Hollywood and, after working for a short time with animators Hanna and Barbera, he joined the Players Ring Theater to learn how to act. He quickly started getting small parts in soap operas and on the stage.
In 1958, his big break fell in his lap. He was going to be the lead actor in a movie.
But things didn’t turn out as planned.
