Quintessential Jack

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, his first lead role, in Five Easy Pieces, made him a star. In the decades since, the twelve-time Academy Award nominee has won Best Actor twice (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and As Good as It Gets) and become one of the most popular and respected actors of the past half century.Drawing on years of research and dozens of interviews with his associates, this critical study of Nicholson's oeuvre examines each of his film roles, as well as his screenwriting and directorial efforts. Personal insight is provided by Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, James Hong, Millie Perkins, Michael Margotta, Shirley Knight, Veronica Cartwright, Barry Dennen, Salli Sachse, Noah Wyle, Monkees Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork, Adam West, several Apollo astronauts, Hells Angel Sonny Barger and many more.