Jack Nicholson has become more of a reclusive figure after stepping away from his iconic acting career, and new reports suggest there may be a sobering reason behind his absence from the spotlight.
While the Oscar-winning actor has made a handful of rare public appearances in recent years, insiders now claim Nicholson’s low profile may be tied to health concerns and a preference for privacy as he enters his late 80s.
According to a report by the New York Post, industry sources have revealed why Nicholson is hardly seen in public anymore. It comes after Nicholson was joined by his son at the Lakers after a ‘reclusive’ behavior concern.
This comes months after the 88-year-old actor attended the Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary celebration in February, marking one of his most notable appearances in years. Prior to that special event, Nicholson had largely kept himself out of public view.
Now, insiders claim his retreat may be connected to health issues, as well as a desire to be remembered as he was during the peak of his career. “He doesn’t like to be seen much in public now,” a source said. “I saw him at the Carlyle, and he was a little wobbly.”
The Anger Management star quietly stepped away from acting after his final film role in How Do You Know, in which he co-starred with Reese Witherspoon. Since then, there has been ongoing speculation about whether Nicholson might ever return to the screen.
In a 2023 interview with People Magazine, Terms of Endearment director James L. Brooks admitted he still held out hope. “I keep on thinking he’s going to get itchy and scratch it,” Brooks said. “My theory is it’s not his last movie,” he continued, adding, “That’s what I’m hoping for. He’s the man.”
Even as Nicholson keeps a low profile, those close to him say he remains deeply caring toward the people in his life, including his former partner Anjelica Huston. Huston recently revealed that Nicholson reached out to her during the height of the Los Angeles wildfires, offering his home after she was forced to evacuate her ranch in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
“The phone just rang out of nowhere, and it was him,” Huston told People. “It’s always a comfort when he calls…It was heartbreakingly sweet. I’ve gone back over it several times in my head, and I think next time I’d accept the invitation.”
The pair famously dated on and off from 1973 to 1990 and have remained friendly since their split.
“Life gets in the way,” Huston said. “Also, for some reason, they’ve been doing endless rerouting and road work near his house, so it takes hours to get to him, and that’s always irritating. I always managed to be late going to see him, which is very irritating for him.”
It comes as Rob Reiner’s family issued a 7-word reaction to his violent death.