Has Jack Nicholson retired from acting?

Reports Hollywood icon has bowed out due to memory loss.

Has movie legend Jack Nicholson retired? (Credit: Rex)

Update: NBC journalist (and ex-wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger) Maria Shriver told E! News that the reports are '100% false'.  Nicholson himself has not commented on the story.

Original story: Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson has reportedly retired from acting.

The 76-year-old icon could be stepping away from movies after a career spanning five decades, which has seen him appear in a raft of classics and cult favourites including 'The Shining', 'Batman', 'Easy Rider’, 'Chinatown' and ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’.

A Hollywood insider told RadarOnline.com: "Jack has - without fanfare - retired.

"There is a simple reason behind his decision, it's memory loss. Quite frankly, at 76, Jack has memory issues and can no longer remember the lines being asked of him. His memory isn't what it used to be."
The news is yet to be confirmed by Jack or his representatives.

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However, the insider claims Jack “has no intention of retiring from the limelight.”

“He’s not retiring from public life, at all. He just doesn’t want a tribute. He’s happy to tacitly join the retirees club like Sean Connery.”


Jack's illustrious career has included three Oscar wins, two for Best Actor in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and 'As Good As It Gets' and a Best Supporting Actor statuette for his turn in the 1983 film 'Terms Of Endearment'.

Jack has previously singled out his role as The Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 'Batman’ as a personal favourite.

He said: "I was particularly proud of my performance as The Joker. I considered it a piece of pop art."
Jack is also philosophical about his fame, saying he believes he has "done OK".

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In an interview with Esquire magazine back in June, Jack said: "I take responsibility for my successes as well as my failures. But when I look at my professional mistakes, I'm always left with the feeling that maybe I should have done more. These are my private musings.

"I'm such a perfectionist. I always feel over-praised, or whatever. In the abstract, I know I'm a good person, a good professional. But it's nice to be noticed a little bit, ain't it?"

Jack’s last big screen appearance was in 2010s 'How Do You Know', co-starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson.

Will you miss Jack on the big screen? Let us know in the comments below. Meanwhile, here he is up to his old tricks - chatting up Jennifer Lawrence live on air at this year's Oscars.