Jack Nicholson

For most of his career, Jack Nicholson had a reputation for being a hard-partying womanizer, which often gained more attention than his acting ability.

In his case, that took the form of diligent reading and numerous acting classes and coaches, who he cites in his [Chicago Tribune](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-06-16-8502080135-story.html) interview as being the impetus for taking on "Terms of Endearment." This allowed Nicholson to, in his words, "Surf-ride on that sociological curve," embodying the evolving tastes of a culture that was quickly throwing off the repressive mores of earlier decades. "Terms of Endearment" also gave Nicholson the chance to send up his notorious reputation by playing a retiree who embraces a life of one-night stands in his twilight years. So, when it came time to reintroduce himself with "Terms of Endearment," Nicholson embraced his subversive theory that film should always undermine by taking note of what Hollywood was churning out at the time. [financial](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1983/?grossesOption=totalGrosses) and critical success, with critics [praising](https://archive.org/details/sim_newsweek_1983-12-05_102_23/page/n73/mode/2up) it for its emotional aspect — just as Nicholson had intended. [the key to a successful career](https://www.slashfilm.com/1164819/jack-nicholson-has-one-key-bit-of-advice-for-aspiring-actors/) was the study of the craft so that when your break comes, you're ready. Listening to his acting instincts in this way obviously paid off. "This grew out of my acting teachers who all said the same thing, 'Jack, it doesn't have to be complicated. The actor explains how he's always believed that "The entire theatrical enterprise is to undermine institutions," and says his own success is a result of him being, "Reflective of an earlier audience who didn't find the movie conventions of their time entertaining any longer." The romantic comedy made for an anti-climactic ending to one of the most monumental Hollywood careers in the industry's history. These days the now-reclusive star has given his chaotic antics up, and we as audiences haven't had a chance to see him act since 2010, when he appeared in James L. Even on-set, he seemed to exude a roguish, lascivious energy that prompted Kim Basinger, who worked with him on 1989's "Batman," to