A Look At Jack Nicholson's Oscar Winning Roles

Jack Nicholson turns 77 today, and is one of the finest actors in the history of film. From his 12 Oscar Nominations (the most for any male actor) to his three Oscar wins a number beaten only by Katherine Hepburn's 4 wins and tied by only 4 other performers) Nicholson has the awards shelf to prove his talent.

In 1970, Nicholson got his first nomination for his brilliant supporting performance in Easy Rider. In '71 he was nominated again, this time for a lead role, in Five Easy Pieces. 1974 would see his third nom for The Last Detail, and in '75 he got nominated for his acclaimed performance in Chinatown (and was robbed of the win. Then, in 1976, he was nominated for the third consecutive year, and this time took home the prize.

He would later be nominated, but not win, for Reds, Prizzi's Honor, Ironweed, A Few Good Men, and About Schmidt.

But let's take a look at those three performances in those brilliant roles deemed worthy of an Academy Award…

Award Year: 1976

Won: Best Actor In A Leading Role

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, an adaptation of a book by the same name written by Ken Kesey, tells the story of R.P McMurphy, played to unimaginable perfection by Nicholson, who claims to be crazy so he can go to a mental hospital instead of a forced labor prison farm when he is convicted of a crime. However, his anti-authority personality clashes with the strict, domineering and almost sadistic nature of the head nurse, Nurse Ratched, embodied by a terrifying Louise Fletcher.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was the first film to earn Nicholson an Oscar win, but also holds the distinction of being only one of three films to ever "sweep" the Oscars, winning in all five of the biggest categories. It won best picture, Milos Forman won for Best Director, Fletcher won for best Lead Actress, Nicholson won for Lead Actor, and it also won for best screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Brad Dourif, Best Cinematography, Best film Editing, and Best Original Score.

If you were wondering, It Happened One Night (1934) and The Silence Of The Lambs (1991) were the only other films to sweep the Oscars.

Award Year: 1984

Won: Best Actor In A Supporting Role

Terms Of Endearment follows a mother and her daughter, played by Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger, over 30 years of their relationship. Nicholson plays retired Astronaut Garrett Breedlove, a womanizing alcoholic.

This was another critically lauded film, getting 11 Oscar nominations, and winning five. The film won for Best Picture, Nicholson for best Supporting Actor, MacLaine for Best Actress, and James L. Brooks for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Actress for Debra Winger, Best Supporting Actor of John Lithgow, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Original Score.

Award Year: 1998

Won: Best Actor In A Leading Role

Nicholson plays misanthropic novelist Melvin Udall, who suffers greatly from OCD and generally dislikes everyone. However, through a serious of various events, he befriends his next door neighbor, played by Greg Kinnear, and falls in love with a waitress, played by Helen Hunt. The film explores Melvin's slow and frustrating progress to become a better, more complete person.

The film was directed by James L. Brooks, who directed Nicholson to an Oscar win in 1984 for Terms Of Endearment. The film also ended up being one of the most financially successful films of Nicholson's career, second only to Batman, with a worldwide gross of $314.1 million off of a $50 million budget.

As Good As It Gets was nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Original Score. It won two Oscars for the performances by Hunt and Nicholson.