Hollywood Legend and terrifying face of smiling evil Jack Nicholson has quietly retired from acting at the age of 76.
He's been working solidly for damn near 50 years, going from edgy cynic in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest right through his movie stealing performance of The Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie, to his later roles as the grumpy old sod in As Good As It Gets.
Nicholson is the most nominated actor in the entire history of the Oscars, having been tipped for gold 12 times during his career. He won the statue for Cuckoos Nest and As Good As It Gets, and is one of only three actors (and the only American) to be nominated for an acting award (lead or supporting) in five different decades. The other two being Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier.
The reason for his somewhat abrupt retirement is simple - He's getting on a bit.
Jack has been experiencing problems with his memory and is just not able to recall all of the lines he needs as well as he could. He hasn't been in a movie since 2010, when he co-starred with Paul Rudd in How Do You Know, and he recently turned down the role of an alcoholic father in the movie Nebraska with director Alexander Payne, with whom he worked on About Schmidt.
He's definitely earned his rest and will be spending retirement the same way he spends all of his days off; going to Laker games. He's been a fan of the team for absolutely ever and is a permanent fixture at courtside, unless he gets thrown out for yelling at refs or something. He won't be stepping out of the public eye, and he wants no tribute or fanfare, he's just gonna slip neatly into relaxation.
No more dancing with the devil in the pale more light. There goes Johnny. Huge bucket of win.
Gazz Wood is a writer from The Northern Film School at Leeds Met University. As well as writing for Wireless he can also be heard on the monthly podcast Possibly of Interest with TV Producer Howard Cohen and special guests from the world of British TV and Cinema, plus his own weekly show Gazz Wood Has A Podcast. He can also be followed on Twitter @GazzPH90
