After several years of small roles and experimental screenwriting during his early career, Jack Nicholson got his big break in 1969 with Easy Rider. The next year Five Easy Pieces made him a star. Since then the 12-time Academy Award nominee has won Best Actor twice (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and As Good as It Gets).

This critical study examines each of Nicholson’s film roles, as well as his screenwriting and directorial efforts. Fascinating personal insights are provided through interviews with stars such as Mews Small, James Hong, Millie Perkins, Michael Margotta, Shirley Knight, Joe Turkel, Ed Nelson, Hazel Court, the Monkees, several Apollo astronauts, Hell’s Angel Sonny Barger, Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, and many more.

Scott Edwards is an advertising creative director and copywriter, and a winner of ADDY, Telly and EFFIE awards. He lives in Canton, Ohio.

Scott Edwards
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 295
Bibliographic Info: 49 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7094-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3086-1
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments v
Preface 1
1. The Actor as Auteur 5
2. Heroes and Villains 29
3. Men on a Mission 50
4. Pieces of Schmidt 65
5. A More Perfect Union 75
6. The School of Roger 90
7. As Cuckoo as It Gets 100
8. Hippies and Hogs and Horses 120
9. From Ballbusters to Heart Attacks 138
10. The Developing Delinquent 146
11. Writers on the Storm 155
12. Rom-Com Wonder 176
13. Misfits and Misanthropes 193
14. The Dicks Versus the Hoods 204
15. Head Trips 220
16. The Occasional Filmmaker 248
Chapter Notes 267
Bibliography 275
Index 283