• October 14th, 2013

    Jack Nicholson Talks Non-Retirement, Loss Love & Getting Older

    Jack Nicholson Talks Non-Retirement, Loss Love & Getting Older

    Talking with Britain's The Sun, Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson laughs off reports of his "retirement" from making movies, and offers an interesting take on his life, love and career.

    Jack, whose 2010 film How Do You Know served as his most recent project, was said to have stepped out of the spotlight because he can no longer memorize scripts. However, the 12-time Oscar nominee insists that the speculation is "completely false" and maintains an opposite reason why he isn't on the big screen—a lack of desire to act.

    "I have a mathematician's brain," he confesses to The Sun. "I'm not going to work until the day I die, that's not why I started this. I mean, I'm not driven. I was driven — but I'm not, I don't have to be out there any more. In fact, there's part of me that never really liked being out there... You get older, you change."

    The 76-year-old actor, who began his career in the 1950s, also fears audiences no longer enjoy the type of pictures he wants to continue to make. "The movie business is the greatest business but I only want to do films that move people, films about emotions and people." His last few films, the aforementioned How Do You Know and 2007's The Bucket List, found Jack playing characters who were unlike the roles he made his bones upon (see: One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest). "I had the most chilling thought that maybe people in their twenties and thirties don't actually want to be moved anymore. 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."

    Another hunk of conversational mettle was Jack's regret in the love department and getting old. Known around the industry as "Jack the Jumper," Nicholson admitted he wished that he would have had a relationship that lasted the test of time. His relationship with fellow actor, Anjelica Huston, was on and off for about 16 years and he shows how much their final break-up in 1989 affected him in his chat with The Sun.

    "That annihilated me. I'm kind of childish emotionally and I did make a mistake in the way I handled it," he said. "I would love that one last romance, a real romance, but I'm not very realistic about it happening. What I can't deny is my yearning."

    As for reaching the twilight of his years, the frequent Los Angeles Laker court-side resident commented that he's noticed many changes as he's succumbed to the aging process. "Now I don't have any hair below my sock line, and that means you're getting old, Jackie boy," he said. "It comes out of my ears instead. I mean, how many times have I slashed my earlobes?"

    Nicholson's new beauty routine aside, we hope the venerable acting great can give audiences a few more movements with his performance before his own curtain call.

    (source: vibe.com, picture © Gerhard Kassner / Berlinale)


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(25348 views / 13 replies)
Julie - Tuesday, 18th Nov 2014 @ 05:44

Jack is an icon for an era - like Humphrey Bogart was for his era - and both transcend their time (unlike many who were stars of their day but remain locked in it). Wonderful actor. And I'm glad he mentioned Angelica - she is superb.

Sharon Roark - Monday, 25th Aug 2014 @ 03:17

Mr Nicholson thank you for the path you chose. Ive deeply enjoyed most of your films. Now reading your bio and your life wasn't as easy as I would have thought. I too wish I could meet you. Be well and please dont stop, not yet. Maybe in another 80? smile

steven james - Sunday, 24th Aug 2014 @ 01:47

Mr. Nicholson, you say you like your movies to move people. You have left that mark with me since "The Last Detail". In "A Few Good Men"; The last court scene was the movie. "You want the truth "? Masterpiece!

Georgine Blaney - Tuesday, 22nd Jul 2014 @ 20:37

You age beautifully. Everyone has a regret or two. You are precious to your fans. You never make a misstep.

Your friend,
Georgine

danny justice - Friday, 4th Apr 2014 @ 08:17

Jack Nickolson is the greatest actor in my book . I wish I can meet him one day but I know that wont ever happen..

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