Jack Nicholson admits he’s a womanizer, ‘but the life of a gigolo always ends badly’

As I’ve mentioned over and over, The Sun (a UK tabloid) often makes things up completely, or they grab quotes from old interview and pass them off as new. So The Sun has a “new” interview with Jack Nicholson which they are claiming is a new piece. I don’t know if it is. It’s interesting and it sounds sort of like Jack, so maybe it’s for real. Other sites are running it as new too, so whatever. You can read the full piece here, and I’m including some highlights below. The gist of the piece is “Jack Nicholson talks about what he’s learned and what he would tell his 18-year-old self.”

What he wishes he knew at 18: “WHAT I wish I knew at 18? Everything — from wishing I learned a foreign language to becoming a good chef. I was a short order cook for a while in New Jersey in between acting jobs. One day, a woman came in to ask for pancakes and my pancake came out about three inches thick. She said: “What the hell is this?” I lost my temper, hit the pancake and said: “Make your own damn pancakes!” So you can add wishing I knew how to control my temper to that list.”

Anger and apologies: “Anger has always been a problem and every once in a while I just have to let it out. I always regret it later. After a couple of hours I calm down and think: “What way could I have solved that problem other than blowing up?” I should have learned how to do that long ago and that would have made my life easier — with less apologising.”

Children: “I also wish I had known how much joy that having children can bring. I didn’t see enough of my eldest daughter (Jennifer, 48, from his only marriage to actress Sandra Knight in the 1960s) because I was trying to make a career. I have a daughter Lorraine (aged 22) and son Raymond (aged 20, both from his relationship with actress Rebecca Broussard, now 49), with whom I was able to spend much more time.”

Fears: “I give out advice all the time. I say: “Do not lie, do not steal and do not be afraid.” Especially, the last one. Fear stops us doing things. I also say it’s the things that you do NOT do in life that cause regret. So I don’t like to think of my fears because that would give away my secrets. I try to make sure that there is some joy in my life every day. It doesn’t matter whether it is watching my daughter act in a play or celebrating Obama becoming President.”

Optimism and gigolos: “I learned years ago to be an optimist, because to be any other way seems to make it worse. I could have told my 18-year-old self the same thing and saved a lot of worrying. I am an extreme person. If someone says: “Jack, you are a womaniser” I don’t deny it. But the life of a gigolo always ends badly. That is one of the reasons I feel uncomfortable about all that “sex legend” stuff. I no longer have the energy to both work and fool around. So the last few movies I’ve done, I have hardly left the hotel at nights.”

He’s had long-time lovers: “There are also women I have seen, intimately, for a very long time over my life. Unexpected, perhaps, but true.”

[From The Sun]

If Jack actually said this stuff, I don’t have any problems with it. He was a hellraiser and womanizer and he had anger problems and all of that, but I really do think he’s probably living a much quieter life at this point, and his wisdom is a double-edged sword. Meaning that he wouldn’t be half as “wise” about life if he hadn’t lived so hard and so fully in his youth. I also wonder if he imparts his wisdom on the pretty young starlets he “mentors”.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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35 Responses to “Jack Nicholson admits he’s a womanizer, ‘but the life of a gigolo always ends badly’”

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  1. mia girl says:

    I just came to this post from the DiCaprio post and it’s blowing my mind how much Nicholson’s life today is looking like DiCaprio’s life tomorrow, including his actual looks. Wow.

  2. dorothy says:

    I love him.

  3. Haha says:

    As an old man…he’s intiteld to enjoy the rest of his life. leaf my hubby alone..

  4. Riana says:

    ” I lost my temper, hit the pancake and said: “Make your own damn pancakes!”

    What a visual. I have to admit I cracked up, I wonder if that lady knew who he was and went around telling friends. “You know I met Jack Nicholson once, he hit my pancake.”

    …and then had to clarify she didn’t mean sex.

  5. poppy says:

    hardly left his hotel room. but did. just not as much as when he had the energy/was younger.
    i like him but he is disgusting. why anyone would let someone so dirty swim in their pool is incomprehensible.

    • Jacq says:

      I agree. The part about ” unexpected long, intimate relationships” gives no credence to any monogamy. It’s like being Hef’s “main girl.” Nahs-tee.

  6. Grace says:

    I love this man.

  7. Kimlee says:

    I love me some Jack Nicholson

  8. Tiffany says:

    The difference between Leo and Jack is that Leo seems to lack self awareness, particularly when it comes to his dating lifestyle. Jack was and still is cool and Leo has become a bit of a punchline. But that is just one girl’s opinion.

  9. SleepyJane says:

    He is so interesting to me, for some reason. Good interview.

  10. HotPockets says:

    “I no longer have the energy to both work and fool around”

    Of course I believe this, he looks like hell.

  11. Kieslwoski says:

    Thank you for posting this. He is the one actor I would love to write a tell all. HE is endlessly fascinating.

  12. Lexi says:

    Omg… He looks so old now. Damn. Time flies. I also agree that Leonardo DiCaprio is heading down the same road as Jack Nicholson. Being a bachelor for life is fine (I mean, I have no plans to ever get married), but if you’re still trying to hit up 20 year olds, it just becomes really sad. Plus, Leonardo DiCaprio is a hell of a lot LESS interesting than Jack Nicholson so there’s that too.

    • Chatcat says:

      What is sad is that a 20 y/o would hit him up! Hell, I’m almost 50 and I wouldn’t go near him/it upon the threat of death. Ewwwww.

  13. lafairy says:

    no matter how much I admire his work he grosses me out. He is just a pervert and a creep, the difference with hef’: everybody is drinking his kool aid and giving him accolades.
    The thing that creeps me out the most , is that I dind’t know that he had a daughter who is the exact same age than the mother of his other childrens. ewwww. the man is jus a perv’, a talented one but still a good ole perv’

  14. Bubulle says:

    Jack Nicholson is just another Sean Penn, Good in the acting departement but he has a very despicable personnality , he won’t get any love from me.

  15. Stephanie says:

    Would you hit it??

  16. taxi says:

    How long was he with Anjelica Huston? Several years, wasn’t it? Did she leave when Broussard got pregnant?

    • RdyfrmycloseupmrDvlle says:

      He was not good to Angelica Huston and I think he really really wounded her. They were together a long time.
      jack, I think got “nicer” as he got older. How ever, I have to say that regardless of all of his flaws, or, maybe even BECAUSE of all of his flaws I do love him. I love his dark humor, I love his self depriciating humor about himself and I love his wit. He is endlessly interesting. There is just something very special about him.
      In contrast…..and, a lot of people are making comparisons to Di Caprio…as much as I love Leo and his amazing acting…as a person he is not nearly as humble, is fairly humorLESS and rather dull and BORING. Yes, he’s all about ECO and all that but, still, …so, what is he? A dull, humorless, eco granola eater? He has no personal pizzaz like Jack, nothing really interesting to say, no humbleness, no tragic flaw….well, his dull addiction to models…I guess….either that or his addiction to beards…well, if he came out….now, THAT would make him interesting! lol

  17. Ann says:

    He’s a pig with women. Can be violent also.

  18. Walice says:

    Jack Nicholson is like no other, and I agree this feels like a rewrite of several interviews, and pieces from some books that have been written.

    He does not do a lot of interviews, unless he has a movie coming out. Are we finally going to see him back on the screen? As an actor – I personally hope he has more to show us.

  19. Sara says:

    Does a gigolo mean you have to avoid exercise and not take care of yourself? Sheesh get on a treadmill and hire a healthy meal making cook for yourself.