Jack Nicholson Can You Handle The Truth
The internet has been awash with the rumor that Jack Nicholson is retiring from acting because of his failing memory. But as rampant as that rumor is, a small amount of media sources are reporting that the Oscar winning actor is not retiring. As we wait to hear from official sources, i.e. from Jack or his rep or spokesperson, can you handle the truth? Especially a truth so saddening that, if true, would signal the end to a career of brilliance?
On September 4 this year, RadarOnline reported that sources had revealed to them that the 76 year-old actor was hanging up his acting spurs. The reason was that the award winning actor had memory problems and could no longer remember his lines. Because of this, he was not reading scripts for future projects. It was also revealed that he would still attend functions, like the Academy Awards and other similar events.
The implication being that he was going to fade into the background like Sean Connery and Gene Hackman.
But according to Maria Shriver, yes that Maria Shriver the woman who terminated her relationship with the Terminator, Nicholson is not retiring. In fact, Jack is still reading scripts and eagerly looking forward to his next film role.
Hes Living A Quiet Life
In recent years, Jack Nicholsons life has quieted down, but some reports would have you believe hes become a hermit. In early 2015, the Daily Mail painted him as a recluse, stating that he rarely leaves his house or dresses in anything other than a bathrobe. He lives like a slob, sources allegedly told the publication. They describe a bizarre, chaotic and scruffy household that smacks of a down-at-heel retirement home rather than a bachelor love pad.
Long-time friend, the late Harry Dean Stanton, described Nicholsons quiet lifestyle more appealingly. Were both pretty reclusive, he said. Jacks got a cook and a secretary. He paints. I saw some of it a few years ago, its nice. He enjoys it. I would imagine its relaxing for him. According to Nicholson himself, slowing down suits him beautifully. Im not going to work until the day I die, thats not why I started this. I mean, Im not driven, he said to The Sun. I was driven but Im not, I dont have to be out there any more. In fact, theres part of me that never really liked being out there. I learnt how to function within out there.’ And the reclusive bit? Thats just a natural progression. You get older, you change, he said. I mean, Im not a loner, Im not a recluse, but I dont need all that any more. I dont enjoy it, simple as that.
The Extraordinary Life Of Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson is one of the most unique actors in Hollywood. His filmography is extensive and diverse just as much as his private affairs. Jack was never an attention-seeker but he was often the focus of tabloids. It wouldnt be just to only outline the startling facts about his life, so heres the astonishing, mesmerizing, and extraordinary short biography of Mr. Jack Nicholson.
Also Check: What Is The Difference Between Dementia And Senility
You May Like: Alzheimer Ribbon Color
> > > Best Memory Loss Solution Available
If youre experiencing memory loss, you should go to a doctor. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. He or she will also ask you about your medication and any stress youre experiencing. After the exam, he or she will likely ask you to make an appointment with a neuropsychologist. If youre unable to recall the details of your doctor, you may want to consult another healthcare provider.
He Was Dealt Even More Familial Blows
If the shocking truth of Jack Nicholson finding out about his biological father wasn’t enough, it wasn’t all the actor discovered. In fact, as Robert Crane and Christopher Fryer, the authors behind the 2012 biography, Jack Nicholson: The Early Years revealed, the woman who sent them the letter claiming she was married to Nicholson’s father also delivered this piece of groundbreaking goss: the celeb was lied to about who his mother was, too. As it turned out, his sister, June, was actually his biological mother, while Ethel May was his grandmother. This also made his other sister, Lorraine, his aunt.
While Crane and Fryer decided not to include the sensational information in their biography, the Easy Rider star discovered the truth after Time magazine ran the story, instead. As Biography would later note, “Since June was 17 years old, unmarried and uncertain of the father’s identity at the time of Nicholson’s birth, her parents agreed to treat Nicholson as their own child and never reveal to him his true parentage.”
So, how did Jack Nicholson take this mind-blowing piece of information? “Both grandmother and mother were deceased before this particular group of facts came to my attention,” the actor explained to Rolling Stone in 1986. “I was very impressed by their ability to keep the secret, if nothing else,” adding that he was raised by “strong women.”
Recommended Reading: Dementia Ribbon Color
Why Did Jack Nicholson Retire From Acting At 76
In 2013, three years after his last film, R Online published the claim that Jack Nicholson had retired from acting. According to an alleged insider, “There is a simple reason behind his decision it’s memory loss. Quite frankly, at 76, Jack has memory issues and can no longer remember the lines being asked of him.”
Does Jack Nicholson Have Memory Loss
In 2013, three years after his last film, R Online published the claim that Jack Nicholson had retired from acting. According to an alleged insider, “There is a simple reason behind his decision it’s memory loss. Quite frankly, at 76, Jack has memory issues and can no longer remember the lines being asked of him.” A couple of weeks later, the publication doubled down and suggested that Nicholson’s cocaine use could have sped up the memory loss process.
Yet, those close to Nicholson said the reports were flat-out false, and he was “actively reading scripts and … looking forward to his next project,” as per E!. The actor also claimed he had “a mathematician’s brain” in an interview with The Sun. He also disputed the claims that his drug use had impacted his health. “The only person I’ve ever had to say, ‘I have to go home now’ to is Jack Nicholson,” he said. “Contrary to opinion, however sated I got, I always looked after myself. I’m in good shape a little stout, but healthy. And I’ve done it all. I’ve woken up in trees, I’ve woken up almost hanging off cliffs, but I’ve always known how to sort myself out.”
In 2019, The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Duke Nicholson, Jack’s grandson. He had just spent Thanksgiving with his grandfather and was asked about his health. “He’s doing great,” the young Nicholson said, dispelling any unfounded worries. “He’s 100 percent.”
You May Like: Does Alzheimer’s Cause Dementia
The Charles Manson Connection
The ’60s and ’70s in Hollywood were a different time and Jack Nicholson was definitely a part of the “It” scene. As Rolling Stone wrote of the star in 2007, Nicholson has ” acid” with Marlon Brando, and even partied with the Beatles and Bob Dylan. As the outlet so succinctly put it, Nicholson is “the coolest man alive.” Pretty awesome, huh?
But, with that fame also came some disturbing connections. Friends with Roman Polanski, Jack Nicholson also sparked a rapport with Sharon Tate, wife to the Rosemary’s Baby director, and a Hollywood icon in her own right. Tragically, Tate’s life was cut short at 26 when she was brutally murdered by Charles Manson‘s “family” of followers. As Marc Eliot wrote in his unauthorized biography, Nicholson, “Jack managed to secure passes to watch the proceedings in person. He was fascinated by Manson’s persona and the crazy way he looked during the proceedings,” adding that the actor was there “almost every day.”
That being said, it wasn’t all mesmerizing tabloid fodder for Nicholson: the outcome of the Manson murders left the Chinatown star feeling paranoid as “everybody in Hollywood knew everything Jack did,” resulting in the celeb sleeping “with a hammer under his pillow.”
Is Jack Nicholson Looking For Inspiration
Rather than retired, Jack Nicholson appears to be uninspired. His selectiveness has taken on a new life lately. “In my profession, a retirement statement is the most unnecessary statement that you could possibly make,” he joked to MTV. “If I get a good script tomorrow that I want to do, I’m sure I’ll be doing it. If I don’t, I won’t.” For Nicholson, it’s about quality. To get him back in the saddle, he’ll need to read something great.
“The movie business is the greatest business but I only want to do films that move people, films about emotions and people.” he said in an interview withThe Sun. But Nicholson sees an unsettling shift happening in audiences, one that he’s not about to embrace any time soon. “Maybe people in their twenties and thirties don’t actually want to be moved any more,” he said. “They may want just to see more bombs, more explosions, because that is what they have grown up with. And I’ll never do that type of movie.”
If that means he never acts again, Nicholson sounds perfectly capable of sleeping easy at night. “I like not working,” he said to SheKnows. “I know that’s hideous and maybe even blasphemous, but I really do.” He suggests there may also be a competitive element to his absence. “I’m kind of a guy who likes to prove things. Everybody always said, ‘There’s no way you could not work.’ Well, I’m kind of proving them wrong.”
Recommended Reading: Dementia Awareness Ribbon
Directing And Films With Wes Anderson
Her next films and were not widely seen, but the miniseries which featured her as frontierswoman earned Huston an nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special. Following in her father’s footsteps, her directorial debut came with the drama , based on a by about a poor, physically abused and girl. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for .
In , a modern, interpretation of the Cinderella story alongside and , Huston appeared as Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent, the new wife of Auguste de Barbarac, a wealthy widower. The film was acclaimed by critics and made a respectable US$98 million globally. Lisa Schwarzbaum from praised her performance as a cruel stepmother: “Huston does a lot of eye narrowing and eyebrow raising while toddling around in an extraordinary selection of extreme headgear, accompanied by her two less-than-self-actualized daughtersthe snooty, social-climbing, nasty Marguerite, and the dim, lumpy, secretly nice Jacqueline. “Nothing is final until you’re dead”, Mama instructs her girls at the dinner table, “and even then I’m sure God negotiates.”
Her next directorial effort, the Irish dramedy in which she also starred as the title character was released to mixed reviews. The New York Times reviewer Stephen Holden found it “nothing more than a series of homey skits loosely woven into a portrait of a saint.”
Why Jack Nicholson Disappeared From Hollywood
Jack Nicholson is one of the greatest actors to bless our screens. From Easy Rider to The Bucket List and the many gems in between, he has been a fan favorite for viewers and a model for actors. But Nicholsons also been absent for more than a decade. Last appearing in How Do You Know in 2010, the man with the iconic smile has been gone so long many have begun to wonder if he will ever return.
What a sad fact it would be if we really never got to see Nicholson in a film again. Sure, we might catch him courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game or see him win an honorary award at an awards show, but many fans want to see him showcase his acting talents, if only one last time. But the question has never really been answered. Where is Jack? What made him step away from the limelight? Is it something to do with Nicholsons complex and tragic past? Well try to answer these questions by looking at some of the reasons why Jack Nicholson disappeared from Hollywood.
You May Like: Smelling Farts Prevents Cancer
Jack Nicholson’s Last Film Was A Bomb
On paper, How Do You Know should’ve been great. It starred Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and of course, Jack Nicholson himself. The film was also written and directed by James L. Brooks, the creator of TV series like Taxi and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Plus, Brooks and Nicholson had teamed up several times before, collaborating on Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good As It Gets. But none of it bought the movie any extra love from critics.
Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club said the film was “hopelessly muddled,” and Roger Ebert sounded like a disappointed dad when he wrote, “I expected this movie to be better.” The famous film critic then went on to say the screenplay didn’t do much with Nicholson’s character. “It’s a heavy role,” Ebert claimed, “and there’s too little to lighten it,” adding the poorly written role made Nicholson seem like “a creep.” The film only made $48 million worldwide against a budget of $120 million, which is how you know audiences would rather watch Tron Legacy.
While we don’t know for a fact that How Do You Know inspired Nicholson’s retirement, it’s a pretty logical guess, especially when you look at other legends who’ve retired after starring in big flops. For example, Gene Hackman vanished afterWelcome to Mooseport, and Sean Connery packed it up and went home after The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. If you’ve got a big enough bank account, why not call it quits after surviving such an awful bomb?
Memory Loss Could Be To Blame For Jack Nicholson’s Retirement
17:38, 14 February 2018 GMT| Last updated 16:44, 19 March 2018 GMT
He’s one of the greatest actors ever to have walked the Earth, he’s appeared in some of the most celebrated films of all time and yet over the past eight years we’ve heard relatively little from Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson.
2017 brought news that the beloved icon would be coming out of his unofficial retirement to star in a Hollywood remake of German drama/comedy Toni Erdmann, but in the months since there has been precious little news on the project.
Loadingâ¦
Sadly, there’s a reason Jack hasn’t been on our screens nearly enough over the past ten-or-so years which, according to sources close to the actor, is memory loss.
Boasting a staggering 66 films, a record 12 Oscar nominations and three wins , Nicholson’s career leaves most others in the dust. But at 80 years of age, Nicholson’s time in front of the cameras appears to have drawn to a close.
“There is a simple reason behind his decision – it’s memory loss,” a source told Radar in 2013. “Quite frankly, at 76, Jack has memory issues and can no longer remember the lines being asked of him.”
The rumours of Nicholson’s retirement resurfaced last year after his long-time friend and Easy Rider co-star Peter Fonda told the Independent: “I think he is Âbasically retired. I don’t want to speak for him, but he has done a lot of work and he has done very well as a person financially.
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.
Also Check: Does Diet Coke Cause Alzheimer’s
Jack Nicholson Has No Idea Who His Real Father Is
Jack Nicholson had an unconventional upbringing. As Marc Eliot wrote in his unauthorized biography, Nicholson, the future star’s birth certificate listed John and Ethel May Nicholson as his parents but his father was out of the picture early on. “I was raised entirely by women,” Nicholson revealed to Daily Mail in 2011. ” ran a beauty parlor and I spent most of my time there. She taught me manners and I learned how to be around women, what women liked. I am insanely well-mannered and polite, and because of that I have nothing but gratitude for my upbringing.”
It’s after Nicholson became a successful actor in the ’70s, however, that he was dealt a shocking blow: he had no idea who his actual father was. As the 2012 biography, Jack Nicholson: The Early Years by Robert Crane and Christopher Fryer, revealed, “a woman in New Jersey” mailed the authors with a letter claiming she was “married to Jack Nicholson’s biological father.” Adding that he “was a wonderful man,” she urged the authors not to repeat what the press thus far had mentioned: “that he was a hard-drinking deadbeat.”
While the book’s writers decided against exposing this sudden truth, it was Time who eventually ran the story. As Crane and Fryer wrote, “it turned out Jack had not been aware of his true family designations.” They ended up simply giving Nicholson the revealing letter.
The One That Got Away
Jack Nicholson’s tumultuous 17-year relationship with girlfriend, Anjelica Huston, is one filled with heartbreak mainly because of his incessant philandering ways that ultimately led the actress to leave him. The New York Post summarized Huston’s autobiography, Watch Me, writing, “After hoping for almost two decades to marry and start a family with him, she learned that he would instead be having a child with a younger woman.” Oof.
The starlet’s book details numerous incidents of Nicholson being a jerk to his long-time love, even an experience in France where the actor left his girlfriend in the middle of the street to go on a bike ride with a random woman they had just run into. Miraculously, Huston stuck through it all until she heard about one of his affairs which resulted in a child causing her to deliver physical blows.
Huston didn’t run into her former flame for many years until they were both cast in 1995’s The Crossing Guard. As she revealed in her book, Nicholson approached her on the final day of shooting and declared, “You and me, Toots we’re like Love in the Time of Cholera” referring to Gabriel García Márquez’s iconic love story of the same name.
Years later, it looks like Jack Nicholson regrets his cheating ways. Recalling his past to Closer , the actor revealed the experience at the time left him “annihilated emotionally,” adding, “I’m childish and I did make a mistake.”
Read Also: Etiology Of Dementia