Jack Nicholson Biography

Jack Nicholson, actor

Birthdate: April 22, 1937

Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City

Sign: Taurus

John Joseph Nicholson was born in Manhattan, New York, on April 22, 1937 to showgirl June Frances Nicholson. As he was raised by his grandparents, the future Oscar Award-winning actor thought they were his parents and her mother was his sister, only finding out the truth in 1974 after being informed by a Time Magazine journalist who was doing a feature on him. When that happened, his grandmother and real mother were already dead, thus, he wasn't able to inquire who his real father was.

Nicholson's first Hollywood job was as a go-fer for animation company Hanna-Barbera. He was offered a starting level position as an animation artist but he declined as he wanted to become an actor.

His big acting break came in 1969 when he landed a part road movie "Easy Rider" as a hard-drinking attorney George Hanson. He received his first Oscar nomination for the role, which also became his lucky break in Hollywood. His first Best Actor nomination came the following year when he played a former piano prodigy in "Five Easy Pieces."

His role in the 1975 film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" gave him his first Best Actor Oscar. After the film, he started taking more unusual and challenging roles. His character, tormented writer Jack Torrance, in the 1980 horror film "The Shining" might not have earned him an Academy Award nod, but it became one of his most momentous roles ever.

Aside from multiple acting projects and nominations, Nicholson also embarked on the directorial side of the industry. His first film as a director was "Drive, He Said," which was released in 1971.

Nicholson was married once to Sandra Knight from 1962 to 1968. They have one daughter together, Jennifer Nicholson, who was born in 1963. His other children are Honey Hollman, born in 1981, with Danish model Winnie Hollman; son Caleb Goddard, born 1970, with actress Susan Anspach; daughter Lorraine Nicholson, born 1990, and Raymond Nicholson, born 1990, from actress/model Rebecca Broussard.

He became involved with numerous actresses at different times. His most notable relationship probably was with actress Anjelica Huston, which lasted from 1973 to 1989. They split up when it was reported that Broussard became pregnant with his child.

It was announced in May 2008 that Nicholson will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame, located at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 10.