Let me tell you about Jack Nicholson’s son, Ray Nicholson, who's carving out his own path in the world of entertainment just like his legendary dad! In a candid interview, Ray opened up about what it’s like being the son of one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors and how they relate despite their differences.
Ray Nicholson on Growing Up with a Hollywood Legend
Now, Ray is 32 years old, born in 1992, while his dad, Jack, was born way back in 1937. That's quite a generational gap, right? But despite the differences in their ages and life experiences, Ray says their bond runs deep. In a chat with Deadline, Ray shared how much his father inspires him. “We’re very different people,” Ray explained. “The things that affect me don’t necessarily affect him. But obviously, I love him. He’s my inspiration. Growing up, I ate dinner with him every night. Watching him and learning from him was like getting a masterclass in how to be a human being. So, of course, we’re gonna have some similarities.”
Ray's Journey in the Film Industry
Ray recently attended the premiere of his latest film, Smile 2, where he stars alongside talented actors like Sosie Bacon, Naomi Scott, and Lukas Gage. This horror sequel has fans reminiscing about Jack’s iconic role in The Shining back in 1980, which cemented his status as a horror legend. Now, Ray is building his own legacy in the genre, proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. “As far as talking about it, if he ever did tell me something, I probably wouldn’t investigate it for myself because I’d be like, ‘You’re the best, of course, that’s right,’” Ray joked. “I love him. He’s also my hero. I’m the luckiest kid in the world.”
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Jack Nicholson's Family Life and Parenting Style
Jack, who’s now 87, has had quite the family life. He shares Ray and daughter Lorraine Nicholson with actress Rebecca Broussard. He also has other children from different relationships, including Jennifer Nicholson with Sandra Knight, Honey Hollman with Winnie Hollman, and Tessa Gourin, whose paternity he hasn’t publicly acknowledged, with Jennine Gourin. Jack once spoke about Ray’s determination and mindset when he was growing up. “Ray might not tell you exactly what he’s up to, but once he’s got his mind set on something, he’s gonna stick to it and take care of business, no matter what me or anybody else says,” Jack told AARP The Magazine back in January 2008.
When asked about his role as a father, Jack admitted that his parenting style with Ray and Lorraine’s mom was a bit unconventional. “It was a divided parenthood,” he said. “We’ve always gotten along. I want to be inspirational or some kind of good influence on them without overburdening them. It’s their time of life to find out who they are. I always read to them, from childhood on; I think that’s a father’s responsibility.”
Jack also shared some fun stories about introducing his kids to the arts. “I took them to things I knew they might not love — opera, ballet,” he recalled. “They like going to the ball games with me. And they are very comfortable around show business; they are good set rats. They walked in on my death scene in The Departed. I said, ‘If I can get these two kids really worried, I’m doin’ my job!’”
Lorraine Nicholson's Perspective on Her Dad's Advice
Lorraine, who is also an actress, revealed that her dad gives her advice about Hollywood projects, but she keeps it under wraps. “He gives me top secret advice,” she told Entertainment Tonight in February 2014. “Obviously I’m not going to share it with anyone, because it gives our family a competitive advantage.”
