A brief mention of Jack Nicholson in the media has prompted fans of the Hollywood icon to wonder how he is doing these days.
Last week, actor Michael Douglas (82) mentioned at an event that he still sees Nicholson, 89, occasionally.
"He's not working any more. He's well. He has disappeared. I know that," Douglas said. He added that Nicholson is doing fine and spends his days at home, walking around in his slippers. "It happens. He deserves it. I understand," he said, noting that Nicholson is a few years older than he is.
Nicholson appears to have retired, although he has never formally announced his retirement. His last appearance on the big screen was in the 2010 film "How Do You Know." He no longer attends industry events and, apart from a brief appearance in the audience at the "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special, he is rarely seen in public.
According to international gossip outlets, people close to Nicholson say he barely leaves his Beverly Hills mansion and fear that he will die alone after living such a colorful and eventful life.
The National Examiner, however, spoke with sources who offered a somewhat more optimistic picture. They confirmed that Nicholson has become reclusive and is highly selective about whom he allows into his home, but said family members and close friends visit him regularly, particularly his children Lorraine (36) and Ray (34).
Nicholson has six children, although he is reportedly estranged from at least one of them, his daughter Tessa.
The sources added that most people who were once close to Nicholson are no longer invited to his home. They respect his decision, but some continue to worry about him from afar.
As one source put it, "No one has a clue how he's really doing."
'After living such a colorful life'
(Photo: GettyImages)
Over the years, various reports have raised questions about Nicholson's health.
In 2013, Radar Online reported that Nicholson, then 76, had stepped away from acting because of memory problems.
"There is a simple reason behind his decision — it's memory loss," a source told the outlet, claiming that Nicholson could no longer remember his lines as he once did.
Nicholson later denied the claims, explaining that he simply could no longer find roles that interested him.
"I had the most chilling thought that maybe people in their twenties and thirties don't actually want to be moved anymore," he said. He suggested that younger audiences might prefer movies filled with bombs and explosions because that was what they had grown up watching, adding: "And I'll never do that type of movie."
Radar Online did not drop the subject. In 2021, the outlet went further, publishing allegations that Nicholson was suffering from dementia.
"Jack and I have been friends for years and he doesn't leave his house anymore," an unnamed friend said, speculating that Nicholson's son and daughter were looking after him.
The source also claimed that Nicholson was physically healthy but that his mental state had deteriorated, adding: "It's really sad to see such a super talented actor, like Jack, go out this way."
Shortly afterward, Nicholson appeared to respond indirectly to the reports by attending a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game.
A Hollywood legend. Jack Nicholson
(Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
In January 2023, another source told Radar Online that Nicholson had made it clear his home was his castle. Friends nevertheless wished he would venture out occasionally and reassure them that he was doing well.
"His kids will visit, but they're his only connection to the world," the source said, adding: "It's like he doesn't want to face reality anymore — and that's just sad."
Not everyone, however, shares that gloomy outlook.
Nicholson's close friend, actor Danny DeVito, offered a much more reassuring assessment last year.
"I just saw Jack a couple weeks ago — it was his birthday a month ago, and he's great," DeVito told People.