Jack Nicholson is an American actor, filmmaker, and writer who was born on April 22, 1937, in Neptune City, New Jersey. He grew up in New Jersey and attended Manasquan High School before moving to California to pursue his acting career.

Nicholson began his acting career in the 1950s, appearing in low-budget films and television shows. He gained recognition for his supporting roles in the films “Easy Rider” and “Five Easy Pieces” in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He then went on to star in a number of critically acclaimed films, including “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Chinatown,” “The Shining,” and “As Good as It Gets.” He has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning three times for Best Actor in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Terms of Endearment,” and “As Good as It Gets.”

In addition to his work in film, Nicholson is also a writer and director. He wrote and directed the 1971 film “Drive, He Said” and has also written several screenplays, including “The Two Jakes,” which he also directed.

Nicholson is known for his distinctive voice and trademark grin, as well as his wild, unpredictable personality. He has been a fixture in Hollywood for over six decades and is considered one of the greatest actors of all time. Despite retiring from acting in 2010, he remains an iconic figure in American cinema.