Michael Douglas gives rare update on Jack Nicholson's life away from public eye

SWANSEA, WALES: Michael Douglas has offered a rare update on Jack Nicholson’s life away from Hollywood, revealing that the actor is doing well despite staying out of the public eye. During a recent appearance, Douglas also reflected on their decades-long friendship and expressed regret that they never had the opportunity to work together on-screen.

The 'Wall Street' star spoke about Nicholson's decision to step away from acting and reassured fans about his longtime friend's well-being, revealing that they still see each other.

Michael Douglas shares update on Jack Nicholson's life away from Hollywood

During his October 26 appearance in Swansea, where he discussed his new memoir, 'One Helluva Ride', Douglas, 82, spoke about Nicholson, 89, and his decision to step away from acting. The 'Wall Street' star admitted that he would have liked to share the screen with Nicholson but acknowledged that the actor is no longer working.

“I would have liked to have acted with Jack,” Douglas said at the event, as reported by 'The Independent'. “He’s not working any more. He’s well. He has disappeared. I know that.”

Douglas further reassured fans about Nicholson's well-being, revealing that he still sees his longtime friend. “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,” he added.

Nicholson has largely stayed away from the public eye since his last film appearance in 2010's 'How Do You Know'. His friendship with Douglas dates back several decades, beginning when Douglas produced the 1975 film 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', which became a career-defining project for both of them.

Nicholson also made a rare public appearance in February 2025 during 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special'. He introduced Adam Sandler from the audience at the event. Before that, the actor was spotted at a Los Angeles Lakers playoff game in April 2023, where he was seen hugging and shaking hands with LeBron James.

Michael Douglas recalls Jack Nicholson's contribution to 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

Douglas has previously spoken about Nicholson's contribution to 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', praising his approach to the role and the influence he had on the film's cast. In a 2017 interview with 'The Guardian', Douglas recalled how Nicholson encouraged everyone involved in the production to deliver their best performances.

“Jack encouraged everyone to bring their A-game,” Douglas said. He also singled out the baseball scene in the film, in which Nicholson's character rallies the patients to watch a game on television. “When you look at that baseball scene, with him rallying all the patients to watch the game on TV, that’s just his inherent nature,” he added.

The film received nine Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Douglas also recalled how Nicholson's other film commitments resulted in a six-month postponement of the production. Explaining how the delay eventually benefited the film, he revealed that the casting process involved group therapy-style auditions, with several groups of actors from New York and Los Angeles gradually narrowed down.

“You guys remember Jack was doing another picture? So we postponed the actual shooting for about six months. Then, what we did was the audition process was [a] group therapy session. We started with about five or six groups from New York and LA and began to whittle them down less and less and less,” he shared.

Douglas ultimately described the delay as beneficial to the film's casting, adding, “The postponement of Jack was actually a tremendous blessing for how great this picture was cast.”