Jack Nicholson

In a strict Catholic family, he grew up believing that his mother was his sister.
His grandmother pretended to be his mother in order to protect the family's reputation.
It was not until 1974, after a Times Magazine reporter conducted research into his family circumstances, that Nicholson himself learned the truth.

The young rebel and class clown has been passionate about acting since his earliest childhood.
He plays theater in high school and moves to Los Angeles at the age of 17 to live with his sister and mother, who works there as a dance girl.
He keeps his head above water with temporary jobs, and his talent as a draughtsman later lands him a job as an animation artist.

But his heart beats for acting.
He used his salary to pay for his acting lessons, which he attended on the side.
He was finally discovered in 1958 for his first role in the film 'The Cry Baby Killer'.
But his acting career got off to a slow start.
It was not until 10 years later, by a twist of fate, that he landed the role in 'Easy Rider', which helped him make his breakthrough.

Suddenly, it was impossible to imagine Hollywood without Jack Nicholson.
He won his first Oscar in 1975 for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'.
His grin - his trademark.

Nicholson was as notorious for his films as he was for his wild parties and affairs.
He drank, he smoked, he took drugs and had five children with four different women.
One affair led to another - he made a name for himself as 'Jack the Jumper'.

To mark Jack Nicholson's 80th birthday, a documentary has been made that provides insights far beyond his Hollywood life.
It is the story of a lonely star who made film history.

First broadcast: Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 10.15 pm on 3sat