Michael Douglas Says Jack Nicholson Is 'Well' but Has 'Disappeared' From Public Life

Michael Douglas has offered a rare public update on his longtime friend Jack Nicholson, telling an audience in Wales that the three-time Oscar winner is doing well but has stepped away from public life. Douglas, 82, made the remarks while promoting his memoir, "One Helluva Ride," at an event in Swansea, according to The Independent, which first reported the comments on Saturday, Oct. 31. The quotes were subsequently carried by Variety, USA Today and The Hollywood Reporter.

Asked about his relationship with Nicholson, 89, Douglas said: "I would have liked to have acted with Jack. He's not working any more. He's well. He has disappeared. I know that."

He continued: "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."

USA Today reported that it had reached out to Nicholson's representatives for comment.

A partnership built on 'Cuckoo's Nest'

The two men never appeared on screen together. Their professional link is the 1975 film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," which Douglas produced and in which Nicholson starred as Randle McMurphy. According to Variety, the film earned nine Oscar nominations and won five, including best picture and best actor for Nicholson. The Independent noted that Douglas won his Oscar as a producer of the film after acquiring the rights to Ken Kesey's novel from his father, Kirk Douglas, who had previously owned them. The best actor prize was Nicholson's first Academy Award.

Nicholson's other credits, as listed by The Independent, include "Five Easy Pieces" (1970), "Chinatown" (1974), "Batman" (1989), "A Few Good Men" (1992) and "As Good as It Gets" (1997).

An unofficial retirement

Nicholson has never formally announced his retirement, but he has not appeared in a film since the 2010 romantic comedy "How Do You Know," which The Hollywood Reporter noted also starred Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson. He has also rarely been photographed in public since then.

One of his most recent public appearances came in February 2025 at NBC's "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special, which Variety reported he attended with his daughter Lorraine. USA Today reported that Nicholson appeared briefly on camera during the broadcast to introduce a musical performance by Adam Sandler.

Lorraine Nicholson has also offered occasional glimpses of her father on social media. In April, she shared photos on her Instagram Stories to mark his 89th birthday, People reported. Variety reported that one image showed Nicholson clapping and smiling while sitting next to singer Joni Mitchell. People reported that Nicholson has six children.

Others in Nicholson's circle have described a similarly quiet life. The Independent reported that music producer Lou Adler told the "WTF" podcast that Nicholson now prefers "sitting under a tree and reading a book." Actor Carol Kane, who appeared with Nicholson in "Carnal Knowledge" (1971) and "The Last Detail" (1973), told The Independent in 2024 that the two remain in touch. Asked whether he was doing OK, she said: "Oh, he's still Jack."

Nicholson addressed his reduced workload more than a decade ago. According to USA Today, which cited a Vanity Fair account, he told The Sun in 2013 that if he was taking fewer roles, it was because he was less driven to "be out there any more." USA Today said those remarks followed an unconfirmed report that had attributed his retreat to memory problems.

A headline-making memoir tour

"One Helluva Ride" went on sale Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to People. USA Today reported that the book covers Douglas's 2010 throat cancer battle, past drug use and his strained early relationship with his father, along with behind-the-scenes accounts from films including "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct."

The book's most widely reported revelation concerned Kathleen Turner. In an excerpt, Douglas wrote that he and Turner had a romantic relationship while making the 1984 film "Romancing the Stone," The Hollywood Reporter reported. Turner responded in a statement to People: "Good heavens what a fuss about something 40 years ago! I love Michael and I look forward to enjoying the book."

Douglas has also promoted the book at live events. The Swansea Building Society Arena listed its "Michael Douglas: One Helluva Ride" evening for Monday, Oct. 26, billing it as a live stage appearance with a special guest host and stating that every paid ticket came with a hardback copy of the memoir. The venue's listing said Douglas would discuss his first marriage, his struggles with alcohol and drugs, his son's addiction and his battle with stage IV cancer.