Jack Nicholson hasn’t appeared in a movie since 2010, and fans rarely see him in public anymore. But Michael Douglas, who has known the actor for decades, says the 89-year-old is doing well.
Douglas, 82, spoke about his longtime friend during an October 26 appearance at Swansea Building Society Arena in Wales. He was discussing his memoir, One Helluva Ride, with interviewer Ali Plumb when the conversation turned to Nicholson.
Nicholson’s last film was James L. Brooks’ romantic comedy How Do You Know, which also starred Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson. He has never formally announced his retirement.
Douglas and Nicholson never appeared together on screen, although their careers became closely connected through the 1975 drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Douglas produced the film, with Nicholson playing Randle McMurphy.
Michael Douglas Describes Nicholson’s Life Away From Hollywood
“I still see him,” Douglas said, according to The Independent. “He is up there by his house and walking around in his slippers.”
Douglas said his friend was no longer working and that he understood the decision after so many years in the business. He also admitted he would have liked the chance to act alongside him.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Began With Kirk Douglas
Douglas’ father, Kirk, had acquired the rights to Ken Kesey’s novel and starred in its Broadway adaptation. He hoped to play McMurphy in a movie as well, but struggled for years to get the project made before Michael took it over.
In a July 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Michael recalled the difficult task of telling his father they needed a younger leading man. Kirk later sent Nicholson a note praising his performance after seeing the finished film.
Michael also privately considered playing Billy Bibbit. He hadn’t raised the idea when Brad Dourif auditioned, and the performance persuaded him to drop it. Dourif got the part.
The movie earned approximately $163 million and won five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. Nicholson received his first Oscar, while Douglas shared the producing award with Saul Zaentz. It remains one of only three films to sweep the five major categories.
Douglas told The Associated Press in 2025 that he had to persuade him to attend after five previous nominations ended in losses. When Cuckoo’s Nest lost its first four categories that evening, Nicholson leaned back toward Douglas, who urged him to hang on.
Nicholson Returned to Television for Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary
Nicholson made a surprise appearance at NBC’s SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025, introducing Adam Sandler’s musical performance from the audience. The two had starred together in the 2003 comedy Anger Management.
Sandler greeted him warmly before beginning his song about the show’s history. Nicholson sat beside his daughter Lorraine during the celebration.
He has also occasionally returned to his familiar courtside seat at Los Angeles Lakers games. In April 2023, he attended a playoff game with his son Ray and greeted LeBron James before tipoff.
Lorraine Nicholson Shared a Family Photo for His 89th Birthday
Lorraine posted a photograph of her father on Instagram Stories on April 23, a day after his birthday. It showed Nicholson smiling and clapping, with singer Joni Mitchell seated nearby.
She also shared an older photograph of him wearing a Coca-Cola shirt. As Variety noted, Lorraine did not say when the photograph with Mitchell was taken.
His former costar Carol Kane has kept in touch by telephone. In a 2024 interview, the Carnal Knowledge and The Last Detail actress told The Independent that she made a point of checking in on him, even though they didn’t speak frequently.