When icons quietly retire, it never really feels natural, like we’ve gotten a proper send-off for an actor of their caliber. After The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen became a flop, Sean Connery would never pick up another acting job again (although a voice role was released post-retirement). Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson would also decide to quietly retire after one last supporting role in a James L. Brooks film titled How Do You Know? In the movie, Nicholson played the father of Paul Rudd’s character and the role was pretty run-of-the-mill.
In light of Nicholson’s quietly leaving the movie world, his close friend, Michael Douglas, expresses that he would’ve liked to have the opportunity to work with him during their active careers. According to The Standard, Douglas was discussing his new memoir at the Swansea Building Society Arena in Wales when he discussed Jack. “I would have liked to have acted with Jack,” Douglas stated. The legendary actor added,
He’s not working anymore. He’s well. He has disappeared. I know that. I still see him, but he is fine. He is up there by his house and walking around in his slippers. It happens. He deserves it. I understand. He is a few years older than me but I understand.”sponsored content
A few years ago, a friend of Nicholson’s echoed the sentiment on Marc Maron’s podcast. Maron’s guest on the episode was the veteran record producer and Sunset Strip impresario, who is a close friend of Nicholson, Lou Adler.
Near the end of the episode’s close, Maron threw out an inquiry about how Jack was doing when he revealed his own little tidbit about him. “A friend of mine wanted to put him in a movie. And he had a conversation with him. But Jack says, ‘I don’t want to do it.’ He goes, ‘You know what I did today? I sat under a tree and I read a book.’” Adler laughed, saying, “That sounds like Jack.” Then, he added that Jack is just “doing whatever he really wants to do.” He continued, “He wants to be quiet. He wants to eat what he wants. He wants to live the life he wants.” While Jack has been seen at a few Lakers games, Adler says, “I still go but I don’t go to as many. I used to go to every game — Jack and I would be at every game.”