Early Life
Nicholson moved to Los Angeles after high school and started in the mail room at MGM, then acted in low-budget films, including productions for Roger Corman, before his breakthrough in Easy Rider (1969).
Career
His Oscar-winning roles were in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Terms of Endearment (1983) and As Good as It Gets (1997). His other memorable roles include Chinatown, The Shining, Batman (as the Joker) and The Departed.
Legacy
Nicholson received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1994 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24